Page 38 of The Deal Breaker
Dash paused the movie before looking her way. “You’re watching me more than the TV.”
Iris’s cheeks burned. “Just making sure you’re okay.”
“About?”
Was he serious? Then she remembered this was Dash. “The breakup.”
“I’m fine,” he blurted. “It was bound to happen, eventually.”
Inevitable.She was correct. Raina had been the same as the other women he dated. Relief surged through Iris. Strange, because she wanted him to be happy.
“Someday it won’t feel that way.” He deserved somebody to love, even if hearts, flowers, and violins weren’t his thing. “You just haven’t met the right woman.”
He grinned. “Not sure she’s out there since Wes told me video game characters didn’t count.”
Iris laughed. “Well, if one came to life, she would be all over you.”
His brows lifted. “You think?”
“You’re a catch.”
It was his turn to laugh. “We both know my net worth is the biggest appeal. I’m too nerdy for most women.”
“You’re you. Authentic. Real. That’s all that matters. Who cares if you’re eccentric?”
“Eccentric is another word for weird.” He shifted on his end of the couch so he faced her. “I am that.”
“A good weird,” she added, knowing his joking was a self-defense mechanism. “Somewhere, there’s a woman who will feel as if she’s won the lottery when you fall in love with her and she with you.”
“If,” Dash corrected. “Not when. I’m not sure love even exists.”
“It does, which is why I saidwhennotif.” Someday he would believe love conquered all. “You deserve a happily ever after.”
He got a faraway look in his eyes. “Do you still want one?”
Her lips parted. “You remembered?”
Dash shrugged, but his gaze never wavered from hers. “I may not be good at dates and other stuff.”
That was why she filled in his calendar each month and ordered or made reservations for the occasion. Janice would take over doing that tomorrow. “That’s what digital calendars are for.”
He nodded. “You couldn’t stop talking about having a June wedding, a husband, four point five children, a dog, and a cat.”
“Three kids and you forgot the house with a fireplace and big yard.”
His lopsided grin made him seem ten years younger. A part of her wished they could go back to when they were besties. The two of them against the world.
“I was close,” he said. “Cut me some slack.”
“You were. And I will,” she agreed. “I’m impressed. I told you that before my mom got sick…”
Dash pushed the plate toward her. “Have another.”
“Enabler.”
“I believe that would be you for baking them.”
Iris did the only thing she could. She took a brownie and bit into it.
