Chapter 27 #2
I meet Dylan at the diner where his mom works, though I don’t see her currently on shift. It’s my first time there, and the place seems cool enough—a somewhat dinged-up snapshot straight out of an old 80’s movie.
Spying Dylan’s familiar brown mop of hair facing away from me, I slide into the booth beside him. “Hi there, stranger. Long time, no see.”
His face lights up like I’ve given him the world when all I have to offer is me.
Still, it seems to be enough, his lips pressing gently against mine.
I return the kiss, one hand exploring his thigh while the other rests on his cheek.
We pull apart several heartbeats later, and he fixes me with a grin.
“You know, most people sit on the opposite side of the booth.”
I feign surprise. “Ridiculous!” I drape an arm over his shoulder, tugging him snug against my side. “Then how would we manage to snuggle?”
He squirms to free himself, and I settle for holding his hand instead. “I think most couples save the cuddling for after they leave the restaurant.”
“Well, then most couples are doing it wrong.”
Dylan chuckles, eyeing me up and down. “You seem to be in good spirits. I take it everything went okay with your aunt?” His eyes narrow and he squeezes my hand warningly. “You didn’t chicken out, did you?”
“Of course not! I’ll have you know I expressed myself openly and honestly.”
He raises his brow. “And?”
“And it was awful,” I sigh, eliciting another chuckle. I play with the wrapped silverware on the table. “But it was…cathartic, too. I’m going to try harder to let her in from now on. And to…to talk more about my mom.”
He squeezes my hand again, more gently this time. “I’m proud of you.”
The intent look he’s giving me is too much, and I clear my throat, nudging him with my shoulder.
“So, what about you? I don’t see any more bruises on you at least.” I glance at the black eye he’s sporting, even more prominent today than it was last night, and crack my knuckles.
“Which is good for Tommy’s continued health. ”
Dylan rolls his eyes. “No beating up my brother. He’s still a dick, but we talked some and…” He shrugs. “It’s too soon to tell, but maybe things will be better between us.”
The server arrives to take our drink order. I get a Sprite while Dylan orders a Diet Coke. From the familiar way the server talks to him, it’s clear they know each other. He probably knows everyone here thanks to his mom and the extra shifts he’s picked up over the years.
“And your mom?” I ask once the server drops off our drinks. I take a long sip of my Sprite. “Did you talk to her too?”
“Yep.” He bites his lip as he swirls his straw around his cup. “I told her I was planning to put off college. She objected. Strongly.”
I snort. “Good. For the record, so do I.”
“Yeah well, then I guess you’ll both be pleased to hear that I think I’ve decided to go after all.”
My eyes widen as I stare at him. “Seriously?”
He nods, taking a big gulp of his soda. “I’m going to apply to some options closer to home that’ll be cheaper, and I’ll still try to pick up some part-time work when I can to reduce expenses.
But it looks like I’ll be training to be a vet after all.
” His hazel eyes lock on me, shining golden in the sunlight streaming in a nearby window.
“Thankfully, someone taught me that my own future matters, too. Even if it took Tommy of all people to make me accept it.”
Gazing into his eyes, taking in the illuminated planes of his face, I know that no sketch I ever draw of him can do him justice. Warmth floods me, filling me up from the tips of my toes to the crown of my head, and I know another thing with absolute certainty.
“I love you.” His breath catches as I shift in closer to him, never looking away from his wide eyes. “I think I have for months, even when I’d convinced myself I didn’t deserve you, that I had to push you away.” I smirk. “Thanks for being too stubborn to listen.”
He leans in, sealing our lips together. The warmth pervading me heats to a blistering inferno. “Any time,” he murmurs as we part. His gaze devours me hungrily, sweeping me up and down. “And for the record, I love you, too.”
We stare at each other for a long, fraught few heartbeats before approaching footsteps herald our server’s return. “You boys ready to order?”
I realize I haven’t even glanced at the menu, and I turn to Dylan. “Any recommendations?”
He smiles, closing the menus and setting them aside. “Just give us two of my regular, Cynthia.”
She returns his smile. “Coming right up.”
“What did you just order me?” I ask with a hint of trepidation.
His grin is deliciously wicked. “I guess you’ll have to wait and see.” As we settle in to wait, he glances around us, then lowers his voice. “What about dreamwalking? Are you going to keep taking those sleeping pills?”
I slowly shake my head. “I don’t think so.
Things didn’t work out how we hoped with Greta, but that doesn’t mean I can’t still do some good.
” I shift, the faded vinyl seat squeaking.
“My aunt said she uses her psychic sessions to help people work through their issues. Maybe I can do something similar after I graduate. You know, find a way to help people like my mom with my…my gift?”
Gift. The word feels odd on my tongue. It’s the first time I’ve truly thought of my power that way. Perhaps that’s a step in the right direction. Perhaps that means I’m finally beginning to heal.
Dylan furrows his brow. “What, like sleep hypnosis or something?”
I shrug. “Dunno. Maybe.” A fleeting grin flits across my face. “Or maybe I’ll be a superhero like you said, slipping in and out of people’s dreams in the middle of the night to rescue those in need.”
Dylan takes a long draw of his Diet Coke until his straw makes a slurping noise. “You know, when you put it like that, it sounds less heroic and more outright creepy.”
“Hey!” I shove him playfully in the shoulder, and he chuckles, holding up his hands defensively.
We’re still laughing when Dylan’s phone chimes.
He checks it, then glances at me, a question in his eyes.
“That’s from my friends, asking if I want to meet up.
” When I hesitate, he quickly adds, “But no pressure! I can tell them I’ll see them later if you want to keep hanging out just the two of us. ”
Firming my jaw, I shake my head, ignoring the anxious twinge in my gut. “Nah. Tell them to come join us.”
“You sure?”
I nod. “Why not? I can’t keep hiding from the world forever…right?”
Dylan’s face splits into a beautiful grin. “Right.”
By the time his friends arrive, we’re finishing up our meals. I’m still not exactly sure what Dylan had ordered. All I know is it was some sort of sandwich absolutely stuffed full of toppings, and it was damn delicious.
“Hey guys,” Dylan says in greeting. I nod at the three of them as they slide into the booth across from us, Cat and Robbie together with Alexis at the end.
“Hey, Dylan,” Cat replies. Her gaze flicks briefly to me. “Ash. I’m surprised you answered. Lately, it’s been hard to pin you down.”
Before Dylan can reply, I say, “Sorry. My fault. I’ve kind of been monopolizing all his time.” I rest my hand on top of his where it rests on the table, snaking our fingers together.
Cat hmphs, seeming at least somewhat appeased by my response.
Alexis looks at our linked hands and smiles. “It’s good to see you so cheerful, Ash. You’ve seemed a bit down the past couple weeks.”
“I was. But Dylan spent the night last night, and we worked a few things out. In bed.” Dylan brightens to beet red while Cat barks a laugh.
Alexis huffs, fixing me with a disapproving frown. “I already have to deal with that kind of crude humor from Cat. One of you is bad enough.”
“Aw, come on, Lex,” Cat says, leaning into Alexis’ side and batting her eyelashes. “Don’t lie—you love us.”
“‘The course of true love never did run smooth,’” Robbie says.
Dylan squints. “Why does that sound so familiar?”
“Because it’s a quote from Midsummer Night’s Dream,” I reply, nudging him. “And Shakespeare has a point.” I meet Dylan’s gaze, holding it as I squeeze his hand. “Still, it’s worth every second of the bumpy ride.”
Cat’s eyes narrow on Dylan’s face. “Speaking of bumps, what the hell happened to your eye? It looks like someone dumped an entire tube of black mascara on it.”
Dylan blushes self-consciously. “It’s, um, kind of a long story…”
As he fills his friends in on what had happened with Tommy, our server returns to check on us. Cat, Alexis, and Robbie order their own meals while Dylan and I grab some shakes.
Conversation and laughter ebb and flow around me, and I allow myself to relax as much as I can. For the first time in as long as I can remember, with Dylan’s friends across from us and Dylan himself by my side, I feel like I truly belong.