Dart and Dash (10 page)

“These are for your parents and Dart, aren’t they?”

He nodded.

“I love this tattoo.” I repeated his words, as I traced the branch, and the three ravens that were perched on it.

I looked up at him with hooded eyes. I could feel his chest rise and fall under my fingertips. I gave him a small smile as my hands made their way down to his belt.

“I do like how you’re not shy with me,” Dash said as I unfastened the leather.

“You know, I used to be very shy.” I unzipped him.

“Really?” he perked his eyebrow.

“Aren’t you glad I’m not now?” I shoved my hand down his pants and began to stroke him.

“So glad,” he moaned, and his head fell back.

I smiled at his reaction as he pushed his jeans down, while I continued stroking him.

“Fuck,” Dash growled, removing my hand, and placed me on my back.

Dash removed his jeans and grabbed a condom from the nightstand drawer. He hovered over me. “Do you want to stop?”

I raised my hips again and bit down on my lip. Dash sat up and took off my thong. He came back down to my lips.

Dash began to rub me gently, before he slid in a finger. I broke away from him, moaning in pleasure. The tension was building, and I knew I wasn’t going to last long when he inserted another finger.

I knew I was panting loudly, but I couldn’t help myself. I was so worked up at Dash’s touch. When I was on the brink of letting go, he stopped.

I popped my eyes open and looked up at him. Dash was rolling on the condom. I wanted him. I needed to feel him.

Now.

Dash positioned himself again and paused, staring at me. Normally, a guy wouldn’t look at me the way he was then. Dash’s eyes weren’t filled with only lust, but with caring and a softness I’d never seen before.

With a swift jerk of his hips, Dash was inside of me. I arched and felt my world spin, spinning for Dash.

Chapter 20 – Daisy

“My, my, Dash Terrance, I’m surprised to see you upright and cooking this early.” I sat down at the table.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I barely slept because whatever girl you picked up in some back alley was very loud last night.”

“Daisy,” Dart’s voice had a firm tone in it.

“For your information, and not that it’s any of your business, I didn’t pick her up in an alley. She and I went out and came back here for dessert.” He sat a bowl of food on the table.

“Do you mean a date? You took a girl out on a date?”

“Well, I’m happy for you Dash,” Dart chimed in.

“Yeah,” I rolled my eyes. “Can’t wait to meet the girl who thinks you’re hot.”

“Daisy,” Dash sat across from me. “You do realize you’re dating my identical twin, right?”

“Dart is nothing like you, even if you two are similar in looks.” Dart was kinder, more caring, and sweet. Dash was nothing of the sorts.

“I feel like that’s an insult.” Dash tilted his head.

“I’m sure it is.” Garnet appeared from the doorway.

Her red hair was wet and high on her head in a messy bun. She had on a large ‘We Are Marshall’ T-shirt that I assumed was Dash’s and a pair of his shorts.

“What are you doing?” The question escaped me before I could stop it. “I’ve tried to call you all night.”

“Oh yeah,” she grabbed a piece of toast. “I got all your messages this morning.”

“You could have answered them last night,” I snapped at her.

“I was busy.” She snuggled closer to Dash.

“Apparently, she heard us last night and is a little cranky,” Dash informed her.

“Enough, Dash.” Dart warned him.

My blood was boiling. Here was my sister, young and naïve, and Dash was taking advantage of her. I stabbed my food with the fork. Dart touched my side, but it didn’t calm me. If anything, I became angrier.

I didn’t pay attention to whatever they were talking about. Garnet was giggling and flirting with Dash, and I’d had enough.

“I’m going home.” I stood up, throwing my napkin down.

“Daisy, what’s wrong?” Dart had a concerned expression.

“I’m not going to sit here and watch your man-whore brother, string my sister along, and turn her into some slut.”

“Daisy.” Dart yelled at me.

“Hey,” Dash and Garnet said at the same time.

“Garnet, he’s bad news for you.” I glared at her and pointed my finger at Dash.

Dart slammed his hand on the table and jumped up. “That’s enough, Daisy.”

“No,” I clenched my jaw. “I won’t allow it.”

“You’re not my mother, Daisy.” Garnet got up from her seat.

“No, I’m not, but I’m your sister; I’m trying to look out for you.”

“You’re a crappy sister, and I don’t need your help.” Garnet screamed at me and raced out of the house.

I followed her, and when we reached our living room, Garnet began to yell at me. “Daisy, you’re a fucking bitch.”

“How dare you call me that? Since you hit this campus all you’ve done is spread your legs for Dash. Is that the reputation you want?”

“So, what if I do? But, here’s a little bit of information.” She walked right up to me. “You don’t know Dash, and last night was the first night we were together.”

I took a step back. “You said that you two were together before. I don’t understand.”

“I lied.”

“What? Why?”

“Because you’re so quick to assume you know everything, and you don’t know shit.”

I felt the water pool in my eyes. “What happened to you?” My voice cracked. “My sister was sweet and kind. Now, you’re drinking, having sex, lying, and God knows what else. What happened to you?”

Garnet’s eyes narrowed at me, and her breathing was ragged. “You really want to know, my dear, sweet perfect sister.”

“I want to help you.” I ignored her sarcasm.

“Help me? Now, after all these years, you want to help me.”

“Yes,” I reached for her, but she shrugged away.

“You haven’t been in my life since you left for college.”

“That’s not—”

She cut me off. “Don’t you act all innocent, Daisy. The moment you left, you stopped caring about me. To top it off, Mom and Dad put you on a pedestal. It was always how proud of you they were, how great Dart was, and perfect your sorority life was.”

“Garnet,” I shook my head. “Now, come on.” My sister was exaggerating what our parents had said about me to her.

“Don’t,” she pointed her finger at me. “You would only talk about you every time you called home. You never asked about me. When Mom started getting sick, I took care of her. I bathed her. I fed her. I held her head when she was throwing up. I was holding her hand when she took her last breath.” Garnet’s tears fell. “Where were you on your school breaks, or in the summer? Where were you to help? You were in Miami or Cancun or Myrtle Beach or wherever else the sisterhood took you to. What about me? I’m the one that put everything on hold while I was in high school to take care of Mom. I’m the one who lost it all. Mom’s dead, Dad doesn’t care, and neither do you. So, please forgive me, dear sister, that I found a guy that likes me. I don’t care if you don’t approve of him, because I do.” She pushed past me and ran upstairs.

I stood in the middle of the room, and I felt like I had been dropped from a tornado. I processed everything Garnet said. She couldn’t be correct. I mean, I didn’t go home as often as I should have, and I regret that. However, my obligations to the sorority were important to my future career. I know Dad cared about Garnet; he wasn’t that expressive though. I knew she was helping with Mom, but I guess I hadn’t realized how much.

I tried to remember some of my conversations with Garnet, when I would call home. I don’t remember a lot except what was happening with me.

“Oh my God.” I dropped into the armchair.

I was a bad sister.

It wasn’t Garnet’s fault that she was this way. It was mine. She had been holding all these emotions inside, and it had been eating at her. No wonder she had been drinking, sleeping around, and cussing like a sailor. She’d had to grow up too fast, and it was because she had so many responsibilities.

Garnet had been sixteen when Mom became ill. She should have been out with her friends, calling her crush on the phone, and worrying about what college she was going to apply to. Instead, she was a nurse to our mother.

I never really thought about it. My selfish ways had kept that part of reality away from me. I assumed that everything was okay at home even though Mom was sick. I slapped my hand to my forehead. How could I have been that stupid? How could I not have fathomed everything that Garnet had gone through?

I walked up to her room and lightly knocked on her door.

“Go away,” she shouted, but I could hear the sadness in her voice.

“Garnet, please, may we talk?”

She didn’t answer.

“Please,” I begged. I stood there, for what seemed to be an eternity, until I heard the doorknob move.

In front of me stood my sister. Her red hair was drooping from her messy bun. Her fresh, milky white skinned face was blotchy and puffy from her tears. Even her nose was red.

“What do you want, Daisy?”

I cleared my throat and stood tall. “I thought about what you said, and I want to tell you that I’m sorry. You’re right; I put my needs in front of our parents and especially you. I didn’t realize all that you’d gone through. I am truly sorry, Garnet.”

I studied her face, waiting for her to give me some reaction, but she only crossed her arms, and stared at the plush carpet under her feet.

“You know,” she raised up and looked me dead in the eyes. “I thought when I was younger that we would always be best friends. It really hurt me when you pushed me away. I’m not saying you had to change your whole life, but you could’ve at least asked how I was doing or something. You could have come home one weekend and given me a break. You don’t know how hard it was watching Mom deteriorate. You and Dad were gone, and I had no one to lean on.”

My heart was breaking as I listened to her words. My sister had taken on a huge burden, and I hadn’t helped at all.

“I know you don’t believe this, but Dash is an amazing person. He has helped me a lot, and you shouldn’t be so quick to judge.”

“Dash? Dash helped you?” I couldn’t comprehend which was more shocking. If it was all that she just confessed, or the fact that Dash was being helpful.

“Yes, and I was confused about my feelings for him, but after everything, and after talking to him, I figured out that I do like him.”

“You do?” My jaw fell. Garnet liked Dash. Could this day become any stranger?

“Yes.”

“Do…do you love him?” I stammered, still trying to figure out what in the world is going on.

Garnet rolled her eyes. “We aren’t like you and Dart.”

A small smile crept onto my face. Dart and my relationship was a special one. “Could we be sisters again?”

“Daisy, were always sisters, but you need not be so self centered.” Garnet’s words hit me square in the chest. I had been that way for too long.

I wrapped my arms around her before she could push me away. “I love you. No matter what, I love you.” I kissed her cheek, and I walked away, knowing I needed to fix two more things.

I strolled across the street. For the first time, I was nervous. If Dash had done all these wonderful things for Garnet, then I had to be wrong about him.

Right?

Another first was me knocking on the door. Dart answered.

“Why didn’t you just come in?”

“I figured you were still mad at me.”

Dart cupped to my face. “I am upset because you were intentionally hurtful to Dash, but I love you.”

“More than Dash?” I winked, teasing him.

“I’d rather die than choose between you two.”

I giggled, kissing his lips. I felt so safe with him. Dart was my home.

“Is Dash here?”

Dart nodded, stepping to the side to let me walk in. He guided me into the living room, where Dash was playing the Xbox.

“Dash,” Dart semi-yelled his name to get his attention.

“Well, hello Daisy. Have you come to call me more names?” He put the controller on the table and stood up.

“Dash, I just had a long talk with Garnet. Well, it was mainly her yelling at me. However, I did learn some things. She said that you’ve been helping her.”

He crossed his arms.

“I wanted to tell you thank you for that.”

He continued to stare at me, not saying anything.

“I’m sorry I was rude to you.” I felt Dart rubbing my back.

Dash continued to stand there and look between Dart and me. “Daisy, you and I haven’t liked each other, but because Dart loves you, and you’re Garnet’s sister, I accept your apology.” He turned away and walked out of the room.

Chapter 21 – Dart

I woke up Wednesday morning more tired than I was when I went to bed. I had stayed up late finishing homework, and I needed to get ready for practice.

I sat at the kitchen table, eating some toast, and heard Dash moving around upstairs. I couldn’t believe how much Dash had really changed in the past few days, and it was all because of Garnet.

“Good morning, Dart.” As I finished my thought, she appeared in the kitchen, looking as if she just rolled out of the bed.

“Morning, Garnet.”

“Hey, Dart,” Dash slapped my shoulder.

“Are you almost ready?”

“Yep,” he gave Garnet a quick kiss, and I rose from the table to give them a private moment.

When they were done, we all walked out of the house. The sun was starting to rise, and the sky was a mixture of soft yellows, reds, and oranges.

“I’m going to walk her home. Be right back.” Dash informed me.

I nodded at him. I sat in the driver seat, waiting for him, and sent a quick text to Daisy. I knew she was still asleep, but I missed her 

I missed you in my arms this morning. I love you.

I watched the display of the text was sent, thinking of the past three years with her. She was my everything. I wanted her all the time, and not just physically.

Daisy was a good person, who supported me in whatever I wanted to do. When I brought up the idea of moving to North Carolina this past summer, she asked if I’d thought it all through. The truth was I had.

I never thought about going into real estate, but for the last two summers I had worked with Mr. Bowlings, and I’d enjoyed it. We had traveled to all of his properties. Even though his company was based in North Carolina, he had real estate holdings all over the east coast.

The first summer I worked for him, I was in Georgia. I worked as Mr. Bowlings’ assistant. I was learning the ins and outs of real estate. The one thing I enjoyed the most was how he was able to purchase a home, remodel the home, and sell it for almost double the price. I had seen those types of people on reality shows, but never saw them in real life.

I was hooked after that first transaction. When Daisy and I suggested moving to North Carolina, Mr. Bowlings offered me a position in his company. I couldn’t have been happier.

I knew I wasn’t going into the NFL. Not one scout had ever talked to me, unless I was standing next to Dash. I was okay with that, because that was Dash’s dream, and I knew he would make it.

My dream was to be with Daisy. I had always known that she wanted to move back to North Carolina and be an RN down there. I wanted to build a life with her, and settle down wherever she wanted.

Settle down?

I had thought about those words. Daisy and I had talked about our future, but we’ve never discussed that.

Marriage.

Dash jumped into the car, and I didn’t think about that word again as we headed to the stadium.

~~

After practice, a short weight lifting session, and classes, I was finally home. However, I wasn’t tired. All day an idea had been creeping around in my head.

When I walked into the house, Dash was at the dining room and had homework spread out around him. He was reading from a large thick textbook.

“You busy?”

“No, Dart, this is what I always do in my free time,” he mumbled still looking at the book.

“Well, can you take a break?”

“I could, but this paper will not write itself.”

“Dash,” I said firmly to gain his attention.

He finally glanced up. “You okay?”

I pulled out the chair next to him and sat down. “I need to talk to you about something.”

I watched as an unsure, panicked look washed over his face. “Dart?”

“It’s not bad,” I rushed out, to keep him calm. “But, it’s something I want to discuss with you first.”

“Okay,” his voice was perplexed. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. That’s it.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I mean it’s good news. I’ve been thinking about it all day, and I want to ask Daisy to marry me.”

“Today?”

“No, I haven’t worked out all the details, but I want to go ring shopping tonight. Daisy’s going to be in the lab for a few hours, and I figured it was a perfect time. I really want you to go with me.”

“Hold up,” Dash shut his book and pushed it away, setting his elbows on the table. “You want to marry Daisy?”

“I’m not sure why you’re shocked by this. We’ve been a couple for over three years. We’ve already made plans for our future after we graduate in May. You know this.”

“What if you get drafted?”

“Dash,” I gave him a serious look. “You know as well as I do, I’m not going to the NFL. Don’t act like you don’t know my future plans with Daisy.”

“But—”

“No, Dash. No ‘but’. Daisy’s my soulmate. She’s my life, and I want to marry her.”

We didn’t drop our gaze from each other as he took in everything I’d said to him.

“Dart, you are my twin, and I love you. If you want to marry Daisy and run off into the sunset together, then I’ll be there for you.”

“Wow,” I blinked a few times, shocked by his words. “Sex with Garnet is really changing you.”

He smiled. “Well, it’s good sex.”

“I don’t want to know.” I covered my ears, shaking my head side to side.

Dash laughed. “Fine, but when did you want to go shopping?”

“Now.”

“Well, I don’t know anything about rings, do you?”

“Shit,” I dropped my head into my hands. “I have no clue either.”

“You could use your secret weapon.”

“Huh?”

Dash rolled his eyes. “Garnet. Garnet is your secret weapon.”

“Oh yeah,” I didn’t even think about her helping me out.

“Hang on.” Dash reached for his phone. When she answered, he asked her to come over to our house.

A few moments later, she walked in. “All right, what’s up?”

“Go ahead, Dart. Tell her.” Dash smiled.

I took a deep breath and told her everything. Garnet’s eyes grew big with excitement.

“Wow, she’s going to be so happy. Dart, I mean it when I say congratulations.”

“Thanks, but I have two favors to ask of you.”

“Shoot.”

“One, please don’t tell her. Two, I don’t know anything about rings. Could you help me?”

“I won’t say anything and hell yeah, I’ll help. When are we going?”

“Right now.” My heart was beating joyously at the fact everything was coming together smoothly.

“Let me run and grab my purse.” She raced out our house.

“Well, come on Dart, let’s go get a ring.” Dash stood up, slapped my shoulder, and headed out the door.