Page 90 of Chasing Stardust

“Fine.” He huffs and pulls out his phone. “I’ll just book a room and pay for it online.”

“You’ll still need a valid credit card to check in.” The woman’s cold smile sends a chill down my spine.

Dash’s expression crumples as he turns to me. “I don’t understand what’s happening.”

“Maybe you should call the bank,” I whisper.

With a curt nod, Dash retrieves his card from the woman’s bony fingers and storms through the lobby.

My dirty sneakers slap against the marble as I chase after him, barely catching the words card and declined before the double glass doors close between us. By the time I reach him, he’s half a block away, pacing the sidewalk with his phone pressed to his ear and his fingers knotted in his tangled hair.

“How is that possible? Reopen them!” He comes to an abrupt halt and drops the hand from his hair. “What do you mean you can’t? Who reported them stolen? I don’t care what your system says, I didn’t—” His eyes widen, and his breath stills. “I’ll call back later.”

He disconnects the call and turns his back to me as he dials another number.

“You crossed a line this time,” he growls into the phone, his body trembling with suppressed rage. “You had no right! Those belong to me! I pay the bills, not you!” The vein in Dash’s neck pulses as he works to keep his emotions contained. “I told you, I made a promise!”

Dash stops pacing, and a dark laugh rolls up his throat.

My stomach plummets.

“No, Dad. I never promised you anything. I said I would consider your offer, but I needed time. You agreed to give me the summer.” His nostrils flare as he goes back to pacing. “The whole summer!”

The urge to go to him is so strong, and I grip my tote with both hands to keep from reaching out. Even arguing in hushed tones, his voice echoes through the night air as he lights into the person on the other end of the line.

“That’s extortion! You wouldn’t . . .” The color drains from Dash’s face, and he comes to an abrupt halt again just a few feet away. “That was a gift! Hello? Dad? Damn it!”

For half a second, I expect him to hurl his phone into the dark abyss. Instead, he pockets it and grabs my hand, pulling me down the sidewalk.

“Slow down!” My pulse skyrockets as I struggle to keep up, tripping over my feet every few steps. “Talk to me.”

“We need to hurry.” Dash picks up his pace, dragging me into the parking garage.

“Why?” My voice echoes through the dark space. “Dash, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?”

“Stop!” Dash’s panicked voice turns my blood cold. He drops my hand and runs toward a man standing at the back of a tow truck. “Please! You can’t do this!”

“Sorry, man.” The guy doesn’t bother to make eye contact as he finishes securing the Tesla to the flatbed. He double-checks the cables and climbs into the cab. “I’m just doin’ my job.”

Dash stands frozen on the concrete as the truck growls to life and slowly pulls away. I want to scream at him to do something, but I’m as paralyzed as he is. Once the taillights disappear around the corner, I notice our bags sitting in the empty parking spot like abandoned orphans.

“How could your father do that?” I release a juddering breath. “Does he realize he’s stranded us in downtown Detroit? At night?”

Dash turns to me, his face deathly pale in the eerie overhead light. With his hollow eyes shimmering, he reminds me of a lost child. “I don’t think he cares. As far as he’s concerned, he gave me fair warning, and I didn’t fall in line.”

“He told you he was going to have your car towed?” My voice comes out like vapor, dissipating into the shadows.

“Everything with him comes with strings. But I didn’t think he’d actually do it. So much for my graduation gift.” Leaning against the concrete wall, Dash deflates and slides all the way down until he’s sitting in the empty parking stall. After a long moment of silence, he gazes up at me, his expression anguished. “I’ll fix this, I promise.”

“How, Dash?” A wave of panic threatens to drown me. “How will you fix it?”

He lowers his eyes. “I don’t know yet.”

“I’m sorry,” I whisper as guilt chases the fear in my veins. This is all my fault. If Dash hadn’t been helping me, this would never have happened.

“No.” He squeezes my hand, flashing a sad smile. “You have no reason to be sorry. This is my fault. I’m the one he’s angry with.”

“But if you weren’t here with me . . .” I swallow a sob.