Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
brOOKLYN
“You look beautiful.”
Dash grabs my hair and pushes it off my shoulder and out of his way to kiss my neck. His arm wraps around my middle as he pulls me into him while his other hand rests on my stomach.
This weekend has been everything I could have wished for. It actually sucks that we’re going to have to spend some of it at my family reunion. I wanted to shove dating someone in my sister’s face, but now I only want to lie in bed with Dash all day.
“Maybe we should stay here?” I turn in his arms as my hands rest on his broad shoulders.
“You got to meet my mom. I think it’s only fair I get to meet your dad.” I let out a long sigh. “We don’t have to stay long.”
“Fine. We’ll go.” He gives my ass a squeeze and then a quick kiss. “Can we drop by my place after? I want to grab some more stuff.” I want to be able to go to work from here in the morning and I need my things.
“Should I send a moving truck?” I bite my bottom lip, loving the sound of that, but it’s too soon. Right?
“I’ll need to talk to Blair.”
“Is that the only reason you’re not agreeing?”
“I think we slid right past moving in together when we had all the unprotected sex,” I laugh. For all I know I could be pregnant right now.
“You know I’m all in when it comes to you.”
I love how sure he is about us. There are no games or anything. He saw me and wanted me and it’s something I love about him. That’s a word we haven’t used, even though we are talking babies and moving in.
“I don’t want a moving truck showing up at my apartment without talking to Blair first. She’s been so good to me, and the girls are like family.”
“I get that.” He gives me another kiss before releasing me. “I’ll tell the driver we’ll be down in a few minutes.”
“Sounds good.” I grab my purse and dig out my lip gloss.
I might not want to go, but since I have to I’m going to look my best. Dash doesn't have to try with his slacks and a polo. His hair is a little messy from me running my fingers through it—a habit I’ve picked up whenever we’re close.
I exit Dash’s bedroom and then meet him at the front door. He’s there waiting for me with his hand out to take mine. We make our way downstairs and to the waiting car.
“You know when you move in you can decorate it any way you want.” He opens the car door for me and gives the driver my father's address.
“Dash, you don’t have to try and win me over in this. I want to move in.”
“I just want you to feel at home and that it’s your place too.” Gah. This man is so freaking sweet.
“I think you’ll be keeping me too busy to worry about decorating,” I tease him.
He pulls me in for a long kiss and it has me forgetting for a moment where we’re going. That’s until I start to climb on him and I feel the car stop outside my childhood home.
“You grew up here?”
I nod. It’s a beautiful home, but not my taste. My family isn’t as wealthy as Dash’s, but my dad isn't far behind. “What does your father do?”
“Investment banking. He’s a workaholic.”
I don’t think he saw the way his wife and Charlotte treated me.
He was too busy working long hours and his job was always his first love.
He did his part by having someone to watch over me.
The few times I did tell him about something Charlotte did when I was little, he brushed it off as normal sibling rivalry.
After a while I stopped telling him. It hurt when he never noticed or acknowledged it, but it hurt less to say nothing.
Dash exits the car and holds out his hand for me. Cars already line the driveway and I realize it’s going to be a full house.
“In and out, right?” I look up at him and he nods.
“If that is what you want. But it’s going to be fine.”
He leans down and places a kiss on the top of my head and I relax knowing he’s close.
We make our way up the long sidewalk and the front door swings open before we reach it.
Charlotte stands there looking every bit a Stepford wife.
I swear each year she not only looks more like her mother but her hair gets blonder too.
“Well, look what the cat dragged in. I wasn't sure you’d remember where we lived. It’s not like you come and visit your own father.”
Her tone comes off as playful, but I know it's far from that. She opens her arms for a hug and my manners get the best of me. I open an arm and lean into her so it’s only a half hug since Dash won’t let me go.
“I’ve been busy with work.” I try and get my own dig in since she’s never worked a day in her life. Her goal has always been to marry rich, but that hasn't worked out so far. She’s always with someone, but they’ve yet to stay around.
“Oh right, you’re a schoolteacher.” Her brand new nose scrunches for what I’m sure isn’t the first time. “And who is this handsome man?” Her eyes lock on Dash, and I hate it.
He’s not paying her any attention as he looks right over the top of her head and into the house.
“Dash, this is Charlotte.” He finally acknowledges her and his tone is bored.
“Hi.”
I fight not to laugh even though I wish I could be outright rude. It’s just not something I have in me. The only time I’ve ever tried was on our first date and it didn’t work.
Charlotte holds her hand out for him to shake, but he just holds his up and shows her our fingers are entwined. Charlotte laughs as though it’s a joke, but I see the anger in her eyes.
“Is everyone here already?” I ask.
“Yep.” She finally steps back and lets us in. “The men are in Daddy’s office.” She points to the double doors with one open. “Why don’t you go introduce yourself to our father? Brooklyn’s gotta help us in the kitchen.”
“I want to say hi to Dad first.” I’m not about to leave Dash without introducing them, and even then I don't want to leave him at all.
“Fine.” Charlotte rolls her eyes. “Meet me in the kitchen.”
As soon as she’s gone, I whisper to Dash, “She doesn't even cook.”
“Doesn't look like she eats either.” I snort, but Charlotte would take that as a compliment.
“Are you going to be okay if I leave you with my dad for a little while?” I ask before we walk into his office.
“I’ll be fine.” He gives my hand a squeeze. “I want a chance to talk to him.” Before I can ask about what, my dad is coming out of his office.
“Brooklyn.” He opens his arms as he walks toward me and wraps me in a hug. Dash lets go of my hand this time so I can hug him back.
“Hey, Dad.”
“You brought someone.” He smiles over at Dash, holding out his hand. “Dash Belmont.” Dad says his name, clearly already knowing who Dash is.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Tanner.”
“Call me John.”
“Thank you for having me, John.”
“Anyone who is a friend of Brooklyn’s is welcome in our home.”
“We’re more than friends,” Dash says, and my face heats. I’ve never brought anyone home before.
“Right. Come into my office and we’ll talk. A few of us are already having drinks.” Dash looks down at me, and I think he’s waiting for me to agree. I smile up at him and nod.
He knows I don't want to stay long and is silently telling me if I give him the word he won’t leave my side.
“I’ll be in the kitchen.” Dash gives me a quick kiss on my lips right in front of my father before I rush off.
When I enter the kitchen I only see Charlotte and a few people dressed in all black with aprons on. They’re plating food while she sits and drinks a glass of wine.
“Dash Belmont. Really, Brooklyn? You know pregnancy makes you fat.”
What the hell does that even mean?
“You know Dash?” I say instead. I’m not talking to her about Dash and me having babies.
“Everyone knows the Belmonts.” She gives me a dramatic eyeroll.
“We don’t run in the same circles.”
“Because you’re just an innocent schoolteacher. You’re so pathetic.”
I’m living my life and somehow that makes me pathetic.
“Why is that? Is it because I landed someone like Dash, you have to find a way to belittle it? You can try all you want. I know he loves me.” Even though we haven't said the exact words, I feel it. He loves me and I love him.
Charlotte throws back her head and laughs.
“This is worse than I thought. I was sure you were in on it.” She keeps on laughing and my stomach tightens.
She’s too excited about this. “You think he loves you? Let me guess. He wants you to have his baby too?” She stops laughing, leveling me with a stare and a happy smirk.
She picks up some paper from the kitchen counter and I realize everyone in the kitchen has gone quiet. I’m sure they’re hanging on to every word.
“Have a look.” She walks over and drops the stack of papers in front of me.
“What is it?” I look down, thinking they’re legal documents.
“Nothing much, just the Belmont Trust.”
My eyes scan over the first page and I know I should push it away because I have no right to look over this. But the way she’s laughing and how smug she is, there has to be a reason.
“In ten months he has to produce an heir or he loses it all.” She points at the date on the paper and I see Dash’s birthday is the expiration date.
I shake my head. This can’t be right. “I thought maybe you were in on it and doing some sort of marriage of convenience, but you actually bought it. Brooklyn, honey, you’re so trusting. You really should know better.” She shakes her head at me.
She’s right, I should know better. Dash really is the jerk all my friends thought he was.
I bet when he saw me so desperate for love and willing to trust anyone, he knew I was a perfect target.
Why else did I fall for all of this? It must have been written all over my face that first night and he knew I was an easy mark.
“Are you gonna cry? Come on, let's not make this more pathetic than it already is.”
One of the servers tries to hand me a napkin. “Are you okay?”
“Get back to work,” Charlotte snaps at the woman and snatches the napkin from her hand. She tosses it down onto the counter and scoffs.
“There’s no need to be rude.” I look over to the woman. “Thank you.” I give her a small smile and she nods at me before grabbing a tray of food and leaving the kitchen. The others follow her out, leaving me alone with Charlotte.
“So, are you going to scream at him or run out of here crying?”
“I feel sorry for you.” I sniff as I pick up the napkin and wipe my tears away with it.
“For me? I’m not the one being made a fool of.”
“I’d rather be made a fool than be someone who enjoys watching someone else’s pain. I’ll be a fool any day over what you are.”
“What am I?” she shrieks, and I realize my words hit a little too close to home.
“A miserable person.” I turn around and slowly make my way out of the kitchen.
I’m not running out of here, but I’m leaving. I’m going to my apartment with my real family who love me without conditions and limits.