Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
MEETUPS
DYLAN
“Mmm, I could get used to waking up with you in my bed.” I flop onto my side of the bed, still out of breath.
“I could get used to waking up…the way you woke me up.” She laughs and puts her hand over her eyes when I look at her.
“With my tongue between your legs, you mean?” I tease.
“Yes,” she squeaks.
“You liked that, hmm?” I lean over and kiss her shoulder.
“Very much.”
“I’m glad. Can you say, ‘Dylan, I love waking up with your tongue on my pussy?’”
She looks at me with wide eyes and pink cheeks, which cracks me up.
“Too much?” My thumb caresses her jawline. She’s so soft and beautiful.
“I’m not…good at…saying all the things.”
I kiss her cheeks and the tip of her nose.
“You don’t have to be. But this is a safe space.
You can say exactly what you want and what you like, and I will love it.
Everything you do turns me on, Doll, your shyness, that you’re embarrassed to say what you want, and when you get bold too…
like in the middle of the night when you flipped me on my back and rode me like your life depended on it… ”
She giggles, and it makes me hard again.
Bill waddles over from the end of the bed, his tail waving fast.
Dahlia coos sweet things as she pets him.
“I never had a dog…or any kind of pet,” she says. “Are they hard to take care of?”
“Some are more challenging than others, but they’re so worth it,” I tell her.
My phone buzzes on the nightstand, and I laugh when I see a picture my dad sent. Kevin, the adorable white Havanese puppy Goldie brought home, is lying on his back in his little bed. I show it to Dahlia.
“Goldie brought this puppy home, and he’s all about her but also attached to my dad. It’s actually been pretty great for him.”
Dad
Proof of life requested, please.
“This is my dad’s way of saying we’re too quiet,” I tell Dahlia. “Asking for proof of life.” I make a goofy face. “I’d rather take a picture of the two of us, but I’ll keep you out of it.”
“Uh, yeah, for the best.” She laughs.
That’s proof of Kevin’s life. Where are you, pray tell?
I take a selfie with Bill, making sure Dahlia isn’t in the shot, and send it.
Camden sends a photo of a Kitty-Corner Cafe cup.
Goldie
I hope you played nice with Juju!
I show Dahlia the picture Goldie has sent of her making googly eyes at Milo. She cuddles closer, her head on my shoulder.
“Can you tell how ridiculous these two are? He’s a sap about her…and she’s all about him too.”
“They’re adorable,” Dahlia says.
My phone buzzes again.
Noah
Yeah, what’s with you guys? You’re either glaring at each other or blowing up.
I snort when Noah sends a picture of a hammer.
“Who’s Juju?”
“She’s a friend of the family. Goldie’s best friend, and Camden’s…nemesis? They’re always at each other’s throats.”
“Hmm, sounds like maybe they like each other,” she says.
I peer down at her. “You nailed that.”
I’m sensing some sexual tension there.
Dahlia laughs as I type it. “You’re the troublemaker, aren’t you?”
“What gave you that impression?” I chuckle.
A text comes through from the sibling thread, which someone named “Four Men and a Baby.” Pretty sure Tully started that, and Goldie changes it every single time to “One Woman and Four Babies.” It goes back to “Four Men and a Baby” right away…definitely Tully.
Tully
Dylan! Go delete that comment in the fam thread. Dad’s in there.
You think Dad doesn’t know what sexual tension is?”
Tully
Of course he does. He just doesn’t need to hear about ours.
Are you having some sexual tension, Tully? Is that what you’re saying?
Dahlia cracks up at that.
Tully
My sexual tension is handled just fine, thank you very much.
Goldie
Ew! Should I tell you all about how Milo and I are working out any hints of sexual tension we might have? Every. Single. Night.
“Oh, God. No,” I groan.
Dahlia laughs even harder. “They’re so funny.”
“No. They’re not,” I groan again.
Tully
I am scarred for life. No, you should not breathe another word of this, Goldie.
Goldie
Thought so. Goes both ways, fellas.
Noah
Camden, you’re being awfully quiet.
I notice that you are as well, Noah. Why is that?
Noah
My hand works just fine.
Goldie
Milo’s hand works better than any hand I’ve ever had.
“Okay, this is getting out of control.” I press my thumbs to my eyes, while Dahlia cackles.
That’s going too far!
Tully
I just threw up.
Noah
Sorry. I guess I asked for that.
Goldie
That’s what she said.
This is going downhill fast.
A text comes through on the other thread with my dad agreeing about the sexual tension.
“Fuck me.”
Dahlia’s wiping tears away. “Your family is way more fun than mine.”
“We’re lunatics.” I wave my phone. “The only good thing out of this convo is that maybe Camden will finally ask Juju out. Doubtful, though. He’s been avoiding that practically his whole life.”
I finish up the texts and set my phone down.
“Okay, what would you like to do today?” I ask.
“Well, I finally got a time out of Christian,” she says. “It’s not until seven, which isn’t long before Chloe’s bedtime, but whatever. We don’t have to do anything special. Just stepping outside on the beach sounds good to me.”
“Let’s spend some time out there then.” I squeeze her against me and ignore my hard-on. I’d spend the day in bed with her, but I don’t want her to miss out on the beach. I kiss her hair and sit up. “Breakfast on the beach?”
Her eyes wander down my body when I get out of bed, and I don’t miss the way she licks her lips when she sees my dick standing at attention.
I point at her. “I’ll never leave this room if you keep looking at me like that.”
“Doesn’t sound all bad.” She presses her lips together, the way I’m learning she does when she’s embarrassed.
“It sounds like heaven, but you’re about to endure winter for another few months. I don’t want to deprive you of the warm weather.”
She sits up, and the blanket drops, exposing her incredible tits. I swallow hard, spellbound at the sight. My dick jerks and I fist it, willing it to settle down. Pointless.
“One more time before breakfast?” she asks, holding out her hand.
“You’re a dream,” I tell her, throwing back the covers and kissing my way down her skin.
Half an hour later, we come up for air and take a shower. When things heat up as I lather suds all over her body, I look up from where I’m bending down by her feet. Her slit is in my direct line of vision and invites me to lick it. I hold up my hand and glance up at her.
“I’ll feel guilty if I don’t show you a good time outside.”
Her lips quirk up. “You’re showing me an excellent time inside.”
My laughter bounces off the glass walls. “Damn, beautiful girl. You are getting so good at the dirty talk.”
I point at her when her cheeks flush and stand up, doing my best to distract myself from temptation.
“You. Stay over there, or we’ll never leave this house.”
She pretends to pout and rinses off. When she turns to open the shower door and I see her perfect ass, those full, round cheeks begging to be bitten, I suck in a breath. She gives me a flirty look over her shoulder.
“Better hurry so we can enjoy the outdoors,” she says.
I groan.
“I changed my mind,” I call when she saunters away, her hips hypnotizing me with their sway.
We prepare some food to eat on the beach, and she seems impressed by what I throw together.
The truth is, I excel at keeping Trader Joe’s in business.
I’m all about a good snack, and they make it easy.
My mom used to say I’d ask for a snack while we were still eating dinner.
We have Trader Joe’s meat and cheese slices, cheddar cheese sticks, lemon zest cookies, pretzel thins, chocolate-covered raisins and peanuts, sliced carrots and celery with dill dip, cinnamon sugar apple chips, and almond windmill cookies.
I hold up the fruit dip. “We could stop and pick up some fruit? I ate it all before I left.”
She makes a sheepish face. “I do especially love the fruit here. It’s better than what we get at home.”
“Agreed. Okay, let’s do it.”
I put the cooler in my Jeep, along with a big blanket, sunscreen, and towels. Chloe’s car seat is there, still in the travel bag. I take it out and strap it in the back seat for later.
“You’ve got practice with that.”
“I’ve had plenty of practice with my nephew, Grayson. He’s three and a half now, so we’ve gone through a few by now.”
She grins. “I bet you’re a good uncle.”
“I try. It’s one of the things I’m looking forward to the most when I move back to Minnesota—not missing out on anything with him.”
We stop at the grocery store near my house for our fruit haul, and I run in because Dahlia and Bill look so comfortable. I grab way too much fruit, but it’s worth it, the way her face lights up.
During the drive, Bill perches in Dahlia’s lap and gives me the side-eye, as if he’s saying Can you believe my luck?
No, dude, I can’t believe mine either.
Dahlia’s quiet as she pets Bill and takes in the view.
I take her to Staircase Beach because it’s one of my favorites and usually a quieter option. Many people don’t know about the hidden parking lot, or they don’t feel like going up and down the long staircase leading down to the beach.
“I love this,” Dahlia says, looking out at the water as I spread our blanket on the sand.
“You look right at home out here,” I say.
She has part of her hair in a messy bun to keep it out of her eyes, the rest falling down her back. She’s wearing a cute yellow shirt and black-and-white-checked pants.
“You’re beyond beautiful,” I tell her.
I swallow hard when she shields her eyes with her hand and smiles at me.
“Thank you,” she says softly.
We eat while we watch the waves.
“Should we take a walk down the beach?” I ask.
She jumps when her phone rings.
“Oh, sorry. That’s Christian.” She answers it. “Hello?” I watch as her face clouds and she opens her mouth to speak several times, but he must keep talking. Her jaw clenches. “I’m coming now.”
She glances at me apologetically, and I nod, already standing up and gathering our things.
“No, Christian. You should’ve called me sooner. Get her things ready.”
She hangs up, and her hands are shaking when she tries to help me put our things away.
“I’m so sorry,” she says. “Chloe hasn’t stopped crying. He thinks maybe she has a fever.”
“Please don’t be sorry. She’s the reason you’re here.” I fold the blanket and set it on top of the cooler.
We start our trek to my Jeep. It’s the fastest I’ve ever made it up that staircase.
“I’m happy to take you, but you can also take the Jeep if you want to do this on your own,” I say, once we’ve reached my vehicle. “I can get a ride, no problem.”
“I’d really appreciate it if you drove,” she says.
“On it.”
She pulls up the address, and we’re not far. It’d take twice as long if it were a weekend or the end of the day, but we’re at his house within fifteen minutes. It’s a nice house, about five minutes from mine and at least double the size.
I pull in front of the house and am surprised when she grabs my hand.
“Come with me, please.”
“Gladly,” I tell her.
I jog around and put my hand on the small of her back as we walk to the door. She rings the doorbell, and a girl who looks a little younger than Dahlia and me opens the door, looking frazzled. The sound of crying comes from a distant room.
“Thank God.” The girl slumps against the doorway. She yells over her shoulder, “Christian, she’s here!”
Dahlia moves past her, and I’m not sure whether to follow or not, so I stay put. The girl turns to look at me, and she straightens.
“Hey,” she says. “Who are you?”
“Dylan—”
“Hello, Dylan,” she says, grinning.
The way she purred my name is a little unsettling, but I step inside.
The crying stops, and Dahlia walks back into the room holding the cutest little girl I’ve ever seen.
Her hair is dark and curly, and her eyes are darker than her mom’s, but she still looks like her mini-me.
Her face is red and wet with tears. Chloe’s head rests on her mom’s shoulder as she takes hiccup breaths.
Behind Dahlia is a man I’m assuming is Christian.
He’s holding a pink suitcase, and his eyes narrow when he sees me standing there.
“Who are you?” His tone isn’t as friendly as the girl’s.
I walk toward him and hold out my hand. “Dylan Wh—” I pause and clear my throat, catching myself before I blow our cover. “Excuse me, frog in my throat.”
He looks at my hand and shakes it reluctantly. “And you are?”
“Dylan is a good friend,” Dahlia says. “Is everything there?” She points at the suitcase.
“Oh, I can take that,” I say, reaching for the bag since I’m closer.
Christian looks pissed, but I ignore it, smiling easily.
“Thanks, man,” I say, taking the bag.
I move toward the front door and open it. Dahlia walks briskly toward it, whispering reassuring words to Chloe.
“We need to talk about this, Dahlia,” Christian says. “I can take you to court if I have to.”
I’ve just met the guy, but I already don’t like him. It’s the condescending tone and expression. The guy’s dripping in arrogance.
“Don’t threaten me, Christian,” Dahlia says evenly.
“I can take you to court for back pay if you’re just dying to go to court.
Despite you wanting nothing to do with”—she points at Chloe’s back to avoid saying her name out loud—“for the past two years, I haven’t kept you from seeing her.
It’s not my fault that she doesn’t know you well enough to be comfortable here.
It was my mistake to expect her to adjust easily.
When I bring her back for New Year’s Eve, if she’s not comfortable when I’m ready to leave, she’s coming with me.
You want to see her, you can come to Minnesota.
We need to ease into this. That’s the way it’s going to go. ”
Fuck. She’s hot when she lays it out like that.
We walk out of the house, and Chloe gasps when she sees Bill in the window.
“Puppy!” she says excitedly.
She giggles when she gets in the car, and Bill walks over to sniff her.
“That’s Bill. Isn’t he cute?” Dahlia says.
I watch as she buckles Chloe into her car seat.
She kisses her forehead, and Chloe holds on to Dahlia’s cheeks with both hands.
“Love you, my sweet girl,” Dahlia whispers.
“Yuh you, my sweet mama,” Chloe says.
The craziest thing happens. I get a lump in my throat, watching the two of them. I blink rapidly, feeling like I might goddamn cry of all things, and I hurriedly paste on a smile when Dahlia turns back to look at me.
“Baby doll, this is my friend Dylan.”
I wave at Chloe, my smile growing. “Hi.”
Chloe sniffles, still recovering from her tears.
I don’t know who’s most surprised when a small smile breaks out, and she waves back.
“Hi,” she says shyly.
Dahlia looks at me with wide eyes and grins.
Holy shit, I’m in double trouble.