Page 46 of Chasing Stardust

I wish I could say the same for the rest of the breakfast crowd, openly eyeing me as I nervously tug the bottom of the shirt down my legs until it almost passes for a minidress.

I offer Dash a warm smile. “It’s kind of amazing what a shower and a good night’s sleep will do.”

“You aren’t kidding. I slept like the dead. That’s the last time I stay up for two days straight.” He piles his plate with scrambled eggs and bacon, then adds a biscuit and a scoop of fresh-cut fruit before taking his food to the table by the window. “You coming?”

I quickly fill my plate with a little of everything and join him, sliding my tote under the table by my feet. “I talked to my grandma last night.”

“Yeah?” He unfolds a paper napkin and lays it across his lap. “So did I check out?”

My lips twitch. “I forgot to ask.”

“Did you tell her about . . .” He lifts a brow and grins. “You know?”

I choke on a bite of dry toast, coughing until the whole room stares at me. “No. What she doesn’t know won’t get back to Jeanie. She’d never let me live that down.”

Dash cocks his head to the side. “Jeanie?”

“My sister?”

“Oh, right.” He shoves a piece of bacon between his lips, chewing and swallowing before finishing his thought. “You never said if she was older or younger.”

“Older by two years.”

“Ah.” He nods like someone who’s been tortured by an older sibling. “You’ll definitely wanna take that story to the grave.”

“Definitely.” I slap a cold pat of butter on my toast and nearly tear the bread to shreds spreading it.

“So . . .” He takes a sip of coffee and waits for me to fill in the blanks.

“Oh!” I lick butter from my finger. “I told her I’m finishing the trip. I’ll hang out here for a few days while they fix the car and then head for New York. So, I guess . . .” My mouth goes dry. The thought of saying goodbye sits like a brick in my belly. I know whatever we are has run its course, but I can’t help feeling the loss.

Oblivious to the emotions brewing inside me, Dash chuckles. “A lot of shady characters in New York. You sure you’re up for something like that without a bodyguard?”

“You mean a babysitter?” I roll my eyes and stuff a chunk of pineapple between my lips.

His smile curves up on one side, and he pins me with his stony gaze. “If the metaphor fits.”

“I think I’ll be fine. What about you?” The brick in my gut tumbles around like sneakers in a dryer, demolishing my appetite. “Where are you headed next?”

“Hmm. Haven’t decided yet. Maybe east?” He shovels a forkful of powdered eggs into his mouth.

My hands tremble as I nibble on my shredded toast. “Who knows . . . maybe we’ll run into each other on the road somewhere.”

“Maybe.” He nods, and his eyes glaze over for a quick moment. “Too bad you won’t be in New York for the Fourth. Best fireworks in the country. My dad has a place there, so I’ve seen them firsthand.”

I force a smile. “I hear Hicksville puts on a good show.”

“No way.” He laughs. “You can’t even compare the two.”

Resigned to my fate, I toss the crust onto my plate and slump into my chair. “Maybe someday.”

“You know . . .” Dash takes another bite of his eggs, making me wait for the rest of his thought while he chews. “Since I’m heading east anyway . . . and New York is your next stop. And since your car won’t be fixed until at least Tuesday, if they get the parts before then. Stuff gets lost in transit all the time.”

Butterflies burst through my insides as I sit on the edge of my seat, waiting for him to get to the point. If he’s thinking what I hope he’s thinking, I’m ready to say yes. Come on. Ask already!

“You could maybe . . . tag along with me?” His eyes stay fixed on his plate, as if his offer is no big deal. “I’ve got room.”

I snatch a strawberry from my plate and shove it between my lips to keep from squealing. “That’s true. That car is ridiculously large for one person.”