Chapter Twenty-Seven #2
“Oh, you’re too sweet! Some days I feel young, and others, I feel my age.”
“You’re still young, Mom,” Danae says before taking a sip of her orange juice. “Age is just a number.”
Conversation wanes a bit as breakfast winds down. Until Danessa begins asking me questions about my and Dash’s quickly formed friendship. I keep the details as vague as possible, not knowing how much Dash would want me to share.
“Well, he certainly seems smitten,” Davina points out, forking the last of her pancakes. “It’s good to see him excited about a relationship again.”
A small, tight knot forms in my midsection. I haven’t asked Dash about his ex-girlfriend yet because it’s really none of my business. It’s not like he’s grilled me about my past. But I desperately want to.
What was she like? Who was she? Why did they break up?
“It’s been a minute since he dated anyone,” Danica adds. “Kinda wondered if maybe he was going to become a monk or something.”
“Danica,” Donna scolds.
“What? I’m being for real.” She spreads a pad of butter over her sourdough toast. “Max told me that Dash told him he wasn’t attracted to anyone after Sa—”
“We don’t speak that name, remember?” Danae points a finger at her sister.
The table goes silent for a moment, then Donna clears her throat. “Dash had a bad breakup almost seven months ago. As far as we know, he hasn’t dated anyone since.” Until you, her eyes seem to say.
“I see.”
“The two of you are dating, aren’t you?” She gazes at me with such hope I couldn’t tell her no if I wanted to.
“We are,” I say carefully. “We’ve only been on two dates, though.”
She nods like she already knew that. “You’re going to the gala with him, though, aren’t you?”
“The gala?”
“On Saturday?”
A thread of anxiety wraps around my heart. “He hasn’t mentioned it.”
“Oh, I’m sure he will. He told us all about it on Friday night. It’s some fancy dinner they’re hosting for all the players. Apparently, everyone is encouraged to bring a date.”
A fancy dinner? This weekend?
I think of how much time it took me to get dressed for brunch. I’m certain I don’t own anything anywhere near appropriate for a gala. If he even asks me…
“That’s why we’re going to take you shopping,” Danica says with a wink.
“You’re…what now?”
Danessa shoots her sister an annoyed glance and sighs. “We wanted to take you shopping today and find you a dress for the gala. If you’re okay with that.”
“Oh, I couldn’t—”
“Dash said you might say that,” Davina cuts in. “But we were told not to take no for an answer.” Her smile is kind, if not determined.
“I…I don’t know what to say.” Overwhelm threatens to steal away the courage it took me to come out today. But knowing that Dash wants me to attend the gala with him as his date, seeing how thoroughly he’s attempting to take care of me, I’m filled with gratitude.
Donna reaches behind Danessa to pat my shoulder. “No need to say anything at all, dear. We’re just happy to get to spend some time getting to know you.”
“And looking at fancy dresses.” Danica shimmies into an obviously annoyed Danae, giving me the impression this is a regular thing she does.
Danae rolls her eyes. “I’m glad I brought my book.”
I laugh, unable to help myself. This is one of the most entertaining family meals I’ve ever been a part of. Except it’s not my family. These aren’t my sisters. And somehow, I’ve got to shop with them today like they are.
***
It only took hours to find a suitable dress for the gala. My feet ache the same as if I’d been standing on them at the salon all day, but now, I have a fancy new dress to show for my pain.
Donna finishes up with the clothing boutique’s cashier, pocketing the credit card she says Dash gave her. I want to shake my head every time I think about him doing something like this for me. He says it’s not too much, but how can I feel like it’s not when he told her to spare no expense?
The woman at the register hands me two large garment bags. “Here you are, Miss.”
I thank her, holding the bags aloft.
“All right, girls.” Donna hooks her purse strap over her shoulder. “Are we ready for lunch?”
Danessa angles our way, holding her phone up to eye level. “Let me just text Dash and let him know we’re ready to eat.”
“Okay, you go ahead,” Donna says.
“And we still need to check out,” Davina notes. “We’ll meet you guys outside.”
Surprising me, Donna hooks her arm with mine and steers me toward the door. “I’m so glad you found something you liked, honey.”
“Me too.” I smile each time she calls me honey. It’s sweet, just like her. Dash’s mom exudes the same warmth and charm as him. “Today has been really enjoyable.”
Donna beams. “I’m so glad you had a good time, too. I wish we could be in town for more than just a few days. I’d give anything to be able to meet your mother.”
I almost trip over my feet as the shock of her statement ripples through me. Dash and I have only been on a couple of dates, and his mom already wants to meet mine?
“I bet she’s just like you,” she adds, “kind and patient with all of us DiFrancos.” Her light, but raspy laugh has me smiling.
“She is definitely kind and patient.”
When we reach the door, I hold it open for Donna to pass through first.
“Dash told me you lost your father.”
My surprise forces me to lose my grip on the door, and it whacks me in the leg. “He did?”
Her expression fills with compassion. “I hope it doesn’t bother you that he told me. He was just telling me all about the things you two have in common.” She meanders toward a bench along the sidewalk and sits, patting the spot beside her.
As gently as I can, I lay the garment bags over the back of the bench and sit beside her. “It doesn’t bother me really. It’s actually nice to talk about it with someone who understands all I went through.” I swallow, tugging lightly on my necklace. “The grief, I mean.”
Donna sighs and leans back. “It never leaves you, does it?” When I shake my head, she pats the top of my knee. “It’s never left me either. And it’s been a long time since Dash’s father passed. But he was just…special, you know? Just like Dash.”
Thinking of him being like his dad brings a new appreciation for both his parents. I wish I could see pictures of him from when he was growing up.
“I can tell Dash is just as smitten with you as you are with him.” Donna nudges me with her shoulder, and a small chuckle escapes me.
“Glad I’m not in this alone, then.”
Donna shifts, eyeing me with a touch more scrutiny than before. “Have you two talked about the future at all?”
My heart squeezes painfully at the thought. “Not really. He mentioned that his career is sort of up in the air right now with his injury, but he’s not sure—”
“Wait.” Donna holds up a hand, blinking rapidly. “His injury? You…you mean his shoulder? I thought that had healed.”
I slam my mouth shut, wishing I could take the words back.
Donna stares at me, eyes narrowed. “Ruby, what injury was he talking about?”
I lick my lips, positive I messed up. Do I tell her the truth? Or direct her to Dash?
“Honey, I’m his mother,” she reiterates. “If he’s hurt, I should know. Don’t you agree?”
“Oh, of course.” My fingers tangle together, twisting back and forth. “I just, um, I’m not sure I know enough about the situation to even be discussing it.”
She offers me an apologetic look. “It’s okay. You told me enough. I’ll be having a conversation with my son later, whether he likes it or not.” Smiling, she pats my knee again in a move I’m sure is meant to reassure me.
Except it does the opposite.
Worry slithers through my veins, ratcheting up my pulse.
I unknowingly, but no less completely, threw Dash under the bus. But how was I to know he hadn’t told his mom about his shoulder?
Dash’s sisters exit the boutique together, and Danessa greets us first. “Dash says he’ll meet us at the restaurant. Ready?”
I swallow. Ready or not, here comes a confrontation I wish we could all avoid.