Page 62 of Chasing Stardust

“I haven’t made it that far. I’m sort of reading along based on where she wrote each entry. So I can feel like I’m right there with her.”

“Oh, honey.” G-Lo clears her throat. “Why don’t you skip ahead a little? Maybe it’ll give you some fresh ideas. Follow her lead. Drag that boy into a tent for some—”

Dash peers through the driver’s side window, and I jump.

“Gotta go! Call you when we get to New York.” I end the call before she can finish her thought.

“Boyfriend?” Dash climbs in with a drink carrier and two white paper bags. His messy hair is even more disheveled than normal after spending the night in the car.

I shake my head. “My G-Lo.”

He nods, his smoldering gaze drifting to my lips.

My mouth goes dry, and I swallow reflexively, squirming under his scrutiny. What a confusing creature he is. “W-What’s in the bags?”

My question breaks the spell, my lips seemingly forgotten as Dash’s eyes light up. He places the bags between us, last night’s anger melting in the morning sun. “I got doughnuts. I wasn’t sure which kind you like, so I got one of everything.”

“Wow. Thank you.” Once again, his thoughtfulness catches me off guard.

His head bobs, his cheeks flushing crimson. “And coffee. I figured we both needed a healthy dose of caffeine.”

“Oh, thank God!”

Grinning, he hands me my cup.

I bring the coffee to my lips and release a groan as I inhale the fragrant steam.

“I added exactly three sugars and one and a half creamers,” he says.

Pausing mid sip, I raise my eyes and lock my gaze on his. “How’d you know?”

Dash smirks. “I’ve spent the better part of three days with you. I think I know how you like your coffee by now.”

An uncomfortable tightness grips my chest, and tears prick my eyes. “Damian would never . . .”

Confirming my earlier suspicions, he scowls and shifts his attention to the world outside his window. The man is too honorable to put the moves on someone he thinks is spoken for. I bet he’d never skip his girlfriend’s mom’s funeral, either. He’s Damian’s polar opposite. Just one more reason to like him.

Dash moves into my peripheral vision, and my quick intake of breath catches his attention.

“It’s just coffee, Zoey.” He fidgets with one of the white bags, his face turning even redder as he hands it to me.

“And doughnuts,” I remind him.

My gaze drifts to his lips as I contemplate taking G-Lo’s advice. Now would be the perfect time to tell him I broke up with Damian.

“Hey, Dash?”

He lowers his coffee and meets my gaze. “Yes?”

The confession rests on the tip of my tongue for several seconds, but instead of coming clean, I panic. As badly as I want to kiss him, I can’t right now. I haven’t brushed my teeth since yesterday. “Uh, thanks for breakfast.”

“You’re welcome.” A deep furrow settles between his brows, as if he’s trying to read my mind. “You okay?”

“Fine. Great. Starving.” I reach into the bag and pull out the first doughnut my fingers touch—a cream-filled, chocolate-frosted delicacy—and sink my teeth in with a groan.

17

Drive-in Saturday