Page 103 of Some Kinda Romance

After I sent it, the ticks turned blue, letting me know that he’d already read the message. He didn’t keep me waiting long for a reply either.

Dash: Shit. I’m sorry. I was hoping you were still sleeping and that I’d be able to explain it in person when I saw you tonight. How are you feeling?

Me: Much better, but this is about you. Are you okay? That looked intense.

I desperately wanted to speak to him, but he was at work and I figured texting was probably better while he was there. It’d sounded like he was already getting some flak for having been gone so often. I couldn’t give his people the added incentive to cause trouble for him if he was on the phone to his girlfriend all day.

Girlfriend.

Another thrill ran through me at the moniker. I’d been that to him in the past as well, but back then, it’d been a looser term. There had still been so much for us to figure out and we definitely hadn’t been as sure of what we wanted.

It felt like we were on solid ground now rather than alternating between head-in-the-clouds and rock-bottom.

Dash: I’m fine. I don’t know what came over me, though. I am sorry.

Me: I’m not mad. At all. Are you almost done at work?

Dash: Just about. Should be another hour or so. Want me to come back to your place?

Me: Please. Really want to see you. As soon as you can!

Dash: You got it. I’ll bring dinner?

Me: Don’t worry about it. Just get here!

Dash: Am I in trouble or something? I thought you weren’t mad.

Me: I’m not. Just eager. I can’t wait to see you.

Dash: Same. I’ll be there ASAP. At least give me a clue what I’m walking into, though. Getting nervous over here…

Me: I’m finally feeling a lot better. Thought we might finish what we started in Vegas.

With that, I dropped my phone on the bed and shed my dirty clothes, dropping them in my hamper once I reached the bathroom. After drinking some water from the filtered faucet, I glanced at my reflection in the mirror, instantly happy that I’d already decided to take a shower before he arrived.

I looked like hell warmed over, my face all pale and my hair hanging lifelessly around it. Dragging in a deep breath, I exhaled slowly, thinking back to the video and to how he’d taken care of me while I’d been sick.

I knew Julie had said it was normal to take care of someone you were in a relationship with, but I’d certainly never had a boy holding my hair for me. Or staying with me through all that extreme grossness, bringing me water, and pills, and my things once I was in the shower.

As I climbed into the cubicle in my own bathroom and started the water, I tried to imagine what it was like to be married to someone like that. Someone who took me away just because. Who sat with me and brought me soup when I was sick. Who brought over flowers simply because it was Tuesday. Who spent his nights worshiping my body and his days supporting me in my career and whatever else I tackled in my life.

I knew Dash and I weren’t there yet, but he’d said he was serious and serious usually ended that way. While I could definitely see myself and my future with him, I didn’t know if I was quite ready to think about that just yet.

What I was ready for, however, was the surprise I wanted to have waiting for him when he showed up. I was excited to finally get to be who I was, to explore what I wanted to explore and to have a guy with me who wanted to be there with me through it all.