Page 73 of Small Town Swoo
“But he doesn’t know us. You and I are the only two people whose opinions matter on this subject. We know who we are and what this is.”
“Right,” I said. But I felt like Xanderdidknow us.
Dash turned around and looked at me. “Our friendship is none of Xander’s business. But neither is your ass, so put on some clothes, and we’ll go downstairs and tell him to fuck off if he’s going to be judgmental.”
I laughed and jumped off the bed. “Deal.”
Xander was sitting at the table with a cup of coffee when we came downstairs, but other than a quick exchange of looks between the brothers—Xander’s said,Dude, you didn’t listen, and Dash’s responded,Yes, I did but you were wrong—no mention was made of the fact that I’d obviously spent the night.
Or that Xander had seen my derriere.
After a few minutes, he disappeared into the basement to look for some kind of screwdriver, and Dash leaned back in his chair. “See? All good. What are you up to today?”
“Not much. Some house stuff.”
“I was going to ask you if you wanted to go to Show and Tell with me, but it’s okay if you’re busy.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Are you kidding? I’m never too busy for Show and Tell.”
And later that afternoon, when I stood in the back of Mrs. Fletcher’s classroom watching Dash interact with twenty-one second graders, I knew I’d made the right choice.
Owen and Adelaide introduced him and took turns telling their classmates about their uncle, the famous actor. But when the teacher asked if anyone had ever heard ofDashiel Buckley before or watchedMalibu Splash, not a single hand went up.
“Really? No one?” Mrs. Fletcher asked. “He’s probably the most famous graduate of Paddington Elementary!”
“But if we’ve never heard of him, is he really that famous?” one kid asked.
“Does he play football?” asked another.
“Is he on TikTok? Because I’m not allowed on TikTok.”
I covered my mouth and stifled a laugh.
But the kids loved the games Dash suggested they play—charades and story building and something called Mirror, Mirror in which he faced them and had to mimic their movements and expressions. I noticed how he drew even the shy kids into the games without forcing them. The students had so much fun, they didn’t even want to go out for recess and fussed when Mrs. Fletcher said they had to go outside, Show and Tell was over.
He was so good with them, got right down on the carpet, read them a story with very animated voices, and gave out high fives and hugs when Mrs. Fletcher told the kids they had to let him go.
“He’s a natural with children,” she said to me as the kids lined up to say goodbye. “Are you planning to have kids?”
“Me?” I was confused for a second, and then I realized she assumed Dash and I were a couple. “Oh, we’re just friends.”
“You’re not together?” Her jaw dropped, and she placed a hand on her chest. “Oh, I’m sorry, I thought for sure you two were an item when I saw him with you at Moe’s the other night!”
“No.” Heat rushed my face, and I’m sure my cheeks were turning red. “He was just helping me out.”
She chuckled as one of the kids hopped onto Dash’s back. “Well, he’d make a great dad.”
“He would,” I agreed.
Eventually, all the kids said their farewells and made their way out to the playground. Out in the hallway, Mrs. Fletcher thanked Dash profusely for coming. “The kids love anything to do with performing,” she said. “You even got some of the most reluctant ones out of their seats participating.”
“It was a teacher at this very school that got me into acting,” said Dash.
“Was it really? Who?”
“Her name was Ms. Walsh,” said Dash. “First grade.”
“Oh, yes.” Mrs. Fletcher nodded. “I remember Jessica Walsh. She got married and moved to Indiana. She was a great teacher.”
