DASH (2 page)

TABATHA

“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” I repeat for the fifth time as I sit at a stoplight on Rodeo Drive.

“That’s what I was told,” Jackie, my best friend, says softly next to me.

“Who was it?” I ask curiously.

She shrugs before she looks down at her cell in her hands. “I don’t know. They didn’t say a name. I guess it was someone he was talking to when you guys got together.”

In all honesty, it doesn’t surprise me that the bastard had been cheating on me. I mean, he is the type to have more than one woman. He likes power and that made him feel like he had some. Fuck, he was probably with her at times while we spoke on the phone. She was probably right there smiling while she probably sucked his dick or something.

“You did the right thing,” she says before she reaches over and pats my arm.

I look over at her with no expression, and she exhales. “I know you loved him but…”

“Stop right there,” I say slamming on the gas as the light turns green. “I didn’t love him,” I say in denial, and she sighs heavily knowing I’m lying. “But,” I add, “I don’t regret leaving that sorry bastard.”

“Good girl,” she says happily, and I tighten my hands on the steering wheel. That’s what Rodger always said to me.

Always!

In and out of the bed. The worst part is that I did everything he said in order to hear him call me that. I wanted to be his ‘good girl’. I wanted his praise. I shudder at how pathetic he had made me.

I sit behind the steering wheel as I drive us to my house and my anger starts to rise. This is the first time I’ve actually got to spend time with my best friend in months. We used to be inseparable. But things started to change once Rodger and I hit the three-month mark in our relationship. He started having me cancel plans with my family and friends, saying he didn’t have time for this dinner or that party. And he didn’t want me to go without him. Blah, blah, blah. Same ol’ bullshit just a different day. At first I didn’t think anything of it and let it slide. Before I knew it he had changed my cell phone number and was driving me to and from school, telling me it was easier to ride together—which at the time made sense.

We first met a little over a year ago at college. He just happened to be in one of my classes. I fell hard and fast for him. I loved him so much that I actually hated the person I had become. Rodger thought people were below him. His father is a congressman, and his mother is some Botox loving, face peel obsessive, highfalutin bitch.

I was raised with money, wore the expensive clothes, and had the prettiest jewelry. Hell I still do, but that doesn’t mean I walk around with my nose stuck up in the air. Some people are lucky in life, some aren’t. I’m a lucky one. I will never take that for granted ever again. Can I be a bitch who throws tantrums? Yep! Can I be a suck up and bait Daddy when I want something? Absolutely! Do I tell it how it is? Of course. I wasn’t raised to hide what I feel. How is someone going to know what you feel or think unless you tell them? 

Well, with Rodger, I kept everything inside. I kept my mouth shut and sat up straight. To him and the men in his family, women were seen not heard. A woman’s place was in the kitchen cooking or on her knees in the bedroom.

I couldn’t take it anymore, I couldn’t hide who I really am. I am a smart-mouthed bitch who has anger issues and a right hook to prove it. If that meant I rolled around in the dirt with the ones he considered scum, then call me the fucking queen of the scum world.

But for some crazy damn reason I fell in love with him. There was just something about him. I wish I knew what it was, because I would have ignored it. He didn’t like to fight or to have me disagree with anything he said. What he had to say was final. Well, last week I overheard a conversation, and I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. It was our biggest fight yet.

“You shouldn’t have said that,” he says tightly as he shuts his bedroom door. His dark hair is trimmed short, and his dark green eyes are hard.

“Why not?” I ask trying to keep my voice low, but it’s hard. I want to scream at him.

“Because my dad didn’t appreciate that. That’s why,” he snaps before running his hands down his white polo shirt. I just ironed it two hours ago, and it already has wrinkles. He hates wrinkles! 

I try to hold my tongue, but enough is enough. “What? I can’t have an opinion about our future?”

He fists his hands by his side as he takes in a deep breath. “Your opinion was not asked. Therefore, it was not needed.”

Simple as that.

He and his dad were talking about where he would transfer to next fall. I was in his parents’ kitchen making him fucking chocolate chip cookies when I had overheard them. Of course, I had stormed off into the living room to find out what the hell they were talking about. When I said, I think he should stay here, it had started a big debate between his dad and me. Was it wrong to not want your boyfriend to pack up and leave you behind?

Well, good riddance you sorry bastard!

I pull up to my house and open the door for Jackie to enter before I slam the door shut and lock it.

“Whoa. You okay?” she asks setting her purse down softly on my kitchen table.

“Yes. I just need to blow off some steam,” I say rolling my shoulders.

She smiles as she pulls her phone out of her purse. “How about we go to a party tonight? I just got a message from Blake that his friend is having one.”

“Sounds perfect.” That’s exactly what I need—a party and some alcohol.

“That’s my girl. Go ahead and start getting ready, and I’ll make you a pre-party drink.”

DASH

“I can’t believe that you are going to be racing for Johnny Knight,” Blake says excitedly.

I shrug, trying to not be as excited as he is. I still find it all too hard to believe. And I won’t be doing any jumping up and down until tomorrow when those papers are signed.

He pushes my shoulder, trying to knock me off balance. “You know you’re going to kick ass,” he says before he looks down at his phone and sighs.

“Calm down, man,” I say. It’s like the fifth time he’s looked down at it in the last two minutes. The party has been going for two hours now. The house is full. People I have never even met are showing up. Guess that was bound to happen from people posting the shit on the internet. Some are already starting to walk sideways from the alcohol they’ve consumed. So far, I’m on my third beer. Not really wanting to get hammered just yet, ‘cause I would hate for my parents’ house to get destroyed.

“She said they were coming.” He sighs. “But that was over five hours ago.”

“Then they’ll be here,” I say lifting my beer to my lips. “What’s up with you and this Jackie girl anyway?” I ask once I pull my beer away. “You two serious?” He’s been talking about this girl for over a month, yet he hasn’t brought her around anyone. I was actually starting to think that she was imaginary.

He shakes his head. “Not that serious.”

I smile. It totally is, but I’ll let him be in denial. “So what’s her friend look like?”

He shrugs and then looks at me with a smirk. “You haven’t even met her have you?” I ask with a frown. He did say she was hot.

“No. But I’m sure she’s hot. Hot girls hang out with hot friends,” he says matter-of-fact. I laugh. “If she’s not what you want then you could always call Valerie. That’s a guaranteed ride,” he mumbles.

I shake my head. “Fuck that.” Valerie is the last girl I want, but I’m sure she’ll show up at some point here tonight. She’s an ex. I took her out for a ride today because she needed some time away from her house. Then after I was let out of jail she blew up my phone with how much she hates me and what a jerk I am and how I could have killed us. I would prefer not to hear that shit tonight.

I turn around to throw my beer in the trash when I hear Blake speak. “There you are, baby. I thought you weren’t gonna show up.”

I turn back around to see him pull a pretty petite blonde into his arms as she speaks. “Yeah. It took me a while to get Tabatha ready.” She giggles referring to her friend.

“Where is she?” Blake asks looking around the kitchen.

She turns to look at the entrance of the kitchen, and then I hear a female’s voice snap, “Get out of my way.”

I watch as the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen enters my parents’ kitchen. The first thing I notice is her tight-as-fuck jeans. The kind that look painted on. They gather tightly around her ankles, allowing her to showcase her black heels which make her look about six inches taller than she is. She’s wearing a black shirt that at first glance looks see-through.

It makes my mouth water.

She has her dark hair pulled up in a high ponytail and her lips are the

color of a cherry sucker. You can tell she has makeup on, but it’s not overdone. Honestly, she looks like she just rolled out of bed and said fuck it! It’s hot as hell and sexy as fuck!

She walks in like she fucking owns the place—head held high and shoulders back. Her hips sway as she walks in her ‘bend me over the counter and fuck me’ heels. She holds up a red cup in her right hand and shakes it. Her beautiful red lips frown when all you hear is the sound of ice clinking together. Her light brown eyes look around, and she smiles when she sees the alcohol displayed on the counter as if she’s at a buffet. She goes to fix herself a new drink when my friend Brandon walks in and notices her.

“Hey sexy,” he says walking up behind her.

She turns and gives him a look from hell that only turns me on more. “Go away,” she sneers.

I chuckle as he turns and walks off rejected. Feisty. I like that in a woman!

“What’s wrong with her?” Blake asks turning back to Jackie.

She sighs. “She just broke up with her boyfriend.”

I smile. Bitches who are recently single are the best. They’re looking for payback—and I’m willing to be that for her tonight. Big sacrifice on my part, I know. But what can I say? I’m a gentleman.

I stand back and watch her fight with the gin bottle for a few seconds before I make my way over to her. “Need some help?”

She looks over at me. Being this close to her, I get a better look at her eyes. They have a golden hue to them. Her beautiful eyes hold mine for a few seconds before she looks me up and down with a straight face. She huffs as she hands me the bottle as if just that act of defeat was intolerable.

“Here you go, sweetheart,” I say handing it back to her.

She stands up to full height but even with her heels she still has to look up to me. “Listen. I’m not here to be someone’s
sweetheart.
If that is your plan for the night then keep looking.” And with that she spins around and walks back out of the kitchen.

“Sorry,” Jackie says, coming over to me as she holds hands with Blake. “I had already made her a few drinks. The ex keeps blowing up her phone. Think she plans on getting wasted.”

I rub my hands together. No need for her to apologize. I think I can handle a woman who has an attitude. “No problem. But I’m telling you right now, she’s not leaving this house wasted.” I understand how bad breakups can go, but I won’t allow her to leave this house. The possibility of her getting in a wreck is too big; I’ve put myself in danger daily, but that’s my life. Others, I care about.

She gives me a big smile as she lifts a set of car keys. “I’ve got her car keys.”

Blake reaches up and snatches them out of her hand. “Now I have them. I’m not letting you drive either, baby,” he coos before he leans down and captures her lips with his.

I chuckle as I turn around and leave the kitchen in search for Tabatha.

TABATHA

I open my eyes and moan at the bright light that assaults my sensitive eyes. I close them and place a hand over my face. I have a pounding headache in need of some Advil. Slowly I rub my temples as I take in a deep breath.

I open my eyes slowly this time and glance around the room I’m in. I don’t recognize anything—from the cream walls to the immaculate clean tan furniture and spotless wood floors. Seriously, I could eat off of them. I’m sure as hell not in my bedroom. Did Jackie and I not go home last night?

Beside me, I hear a faint sound of snoring. My head snaps to the left, and I wince from the sudden movement. But my breath catches and my heart pounds in my chest when I see the back of a head covered in brown hair that’s a little longer than what I’m used to on a man. I quickly lift the sheets and look down at myself. I’m naked.

“Shit,” I say a little too loud making the dark-haired man stir beside me.

What the hell did I do last night?

Last thing I remember was Jackie coming into my bedroom and telling me to get ready. I had a few hours before we had to be at Blake’s party. Then I started drinking while getting ready. Rodger wouldn’t leave me alone. She finally dragged me out of the house as she complained how late we were.

I have to get out of here!

I take a quick look around the room to locate my clothes.

I spot my skinny jeans wadded up over in the far corner. They aren’t hard to pinpoint since they are the only thing lying on this bedroom floor.

I throw the covers off and run over to them. I pull them up not caring about my underwear. Those babies are too fucking small to even look for.

I place my hand over my breasts looking for my bra—where is that at?

I spin around and spot my shirt tossed behind the couch. Who has a couch in their bedroom? I snatch it up and start to put in on when I notice that it has been ripped.

That motherfucker.

I smile to myself. At the time, I probably liked his enthusiasm. Now, not so much. I spot a man’s t-shirt on the floor underneath the desk. I see
Dash
written across the back with a number
23
placed underneath it. 

That’s the only shirt I see, so I grab it and put it on.

Grabbing my purse from the other side of the room along with my heels, I step out without waking him or leaving a note.

Seriously what would it say?

Thanks for a night I can’t remember and for losing my favorite pair of panties? Oh, and when you find my bra, can you please return it?

No, that’s just tacky. It’s bad enough I woke up in bed with a man. And let me set the record straight—this sort of thing has not happened in a long time.

I mean yeah, I like sex as much as the next girl and have had a couple of one-night stands before Rodger. I at least knew those men, though. It just happened once, therefore, one-night stand.

But I don’t make it a point to sleep with random men I don’t know at parties. That’s how girls end up with a disease or worse, dead or missing. So I’m just gonna chalk it up to a lapse of judgment and alcohol-induced horniness.

It’s totally a thing. Plus, I just went through a breakup. Doesn’t that allow me one night of craziness?

Slowly and quietly I make my way through this mansion as I try to do the walk of shame without being seen.

Long ass hallways with expensive artifacts hanging from the walls make me think this guy does not own this house. He looked way too young. His parents probably own this and he lives with them.

I roll my eyes. I always find the ones who need their mommy and daddy to support their asses.

That’s why his room is so clean. I bet his parents are out of town for business, and he had the maid come and clean so he could throw a party. That’s what I would do. And by looking at the beer cans and empty liquor bottles covering the floor, I would say that is probably what happened.

I turn down another hallway and walk past several shut doors. I can hear movement behind the last door I come up on.

“That feels so good,” a woman’s voice says softly. “Right there,” she moans.

I come to a stop and stare at a soft yellow painted door.
Please don’t be Jackie
. She has to be here somewhere, right? And that could easily be her horny ass.

“You like that, Val?” a man’s deep voice says next, and I release a sigh of relief. Not Jackie. “What are you?” he demands, his voice rising.

“I’m your bitch,” she hollers out in a high pitch voice.

I cover my hand over my mouth trying not to laugh.

“I’m your bitch, baby,” she repeats.

Okay, so the
bitch
is totally into her role, but he’s not buying it.

“You can do better. Now. Tell Daddy what you are.” I hear a slapping noise followed by a moan. And I can only guess it’s his hand hitting her ass.

“I’m your little fuck toy,” she calls out. “Fuck me. Use me,” she continues.

I roll my eyes and walk away from the door.

Yeah, I don’t need to know all the ways he feels he needs to degrade her. That’s what Rodger did to me. Made me feel degraded. Made me do things that I wouldn’t have normally done before him. I have more self-respect for myself now.

“Right,” I mumble to myself.
This coming from a girl who had a one-night stand with a stranger.
I shake my head at myself.

“Thank God,” I whisper harshly when I finally make it to the front door. I let out a sigh of relief that instantly turns to fear when I walk outside and don’t see my car.

I see a black Bentley, a red Ferrari, a yellow Porsche, and a couple of sports bikes. Yep, none of those are my white BMW.

Looking down and digging through my purse, I locate my cell phone. Pulling it out, I thank the Lord that it’s not dead. I also cuss out loud when I notice I have three missed calls from the ex himself. I ignore them and call Jackie. The one who left my ass here. In my car. The bitch!

I impatiently tap my foot as I squeeze my eyes shut waiting for her to answer. Damn headache!

“Hello?” she sleepily answers on the third ring.

“Wake your hung-over ass up and come get me,” I demand looking around to make sure no one is gonna walk out of the house and see me.

“Where are you?” she asks sounding more awake.

“Wherever you left my ass at last night,” I snap.

She groans. “I’m coming.”

“Hurry your ass up,” I say before hanging up the phone.

I make my way down the stone steps and white stucco pillars. I walk past the cars in the circle drive and continue to walk down the long driveway.

I’m going to kill her!

Why would she leave me? We never leave one another behind.

As I start to come to the end of the long paved driveway, I stop and try to look through my purse for my sunglasses.

“Shit,” I cuss when I realize they are not in there. I remember having them while driving to the party last night. They must be in my car.

I huff, throw my purse back over my shoulder, and squint trying to block the hot sun that is just intensifying my annoying headache.

I come to the end of the driveway and see a tall, wrought iron gated entrance.

Well, this can’t be good.

I come up to it and look for a button that I can push, but the only button I see is on the opposite side sitting in front of the guard shack.

Hmm well, so much for the Lord being on my side this morning. I start to look around to make sure I didn’t miss something to help open it from this side. I could go back and try to see if there is a gate opener in one of those cars.

I turn around but stop before I can take a step. I really don’t want to go back there and set off a car alarm. I’m trying to get out of here unseen. And what are the odds of them being unlocked? Not likely!

I look around once again to see if I can find another way out. When I come up with nothing on this side to help me with, I decide the best thing I can do is climb and jump over the fence. It seems to run the full length of the property. It’s not like I can just walk a few feet down and walk off their property.

I shake my head at myself. I am too hung-over for this bullshit. I squeeze my eyes shut and rub my hand over my throbbing forehead. Why did I have to drink so much last night? Everyone knows that alcohol is only a temporary fix. The morning after all you are left with is a bad ass headache. You’re still gonna remember the heartache and betrayal.

Taking a deep breath and trying to forget about Rodger, I open my eyes. I notice a tree that stands off to the right. To any other person it would be too hard to climb. Good thing for me, I started climbing trees as soon as I could walk.

I go over to it and adjust my purse over my opposite shoulder so it hangs across my chest. That’s all I need—to climb this bitch and have it fall off once I get to the top.

I spit on my hands and then rub them together. I know, classy. I feel like a pitcher spitting on the ball. Nothing can be nastier than that. I dated a baseball player once. Why do we find them so sexy when they spit on the one thing they all touch? Oh yeah, the tight fucking pants that showcase those beautiful round asses.

It only takes a few seconds for me to figure how to get up it. I grab ahold of the lowest branch and lift myself up. At this moment I’m thankful Jackie made me take all of those stupid yoga classes with her back in the day, which has left me limber. Climbing far enough up, I swing my body around and come level with the fence.

  “This is going to hurt,” I whisper looking at how far the fence is from the ground. There’s not a tree for me to climb down on the other side. I’m just going to have to jump. And I’m guessing the distance to be over six feet.

“Let’s go to the party,” Jackie had said. “It will be great,” she had said.

“Great my fucking ass,” I mumble.

Taking one last deep breath, I swing my legs over the fence and jump down. My feet instantly sting when they hit the ground. I don’t even try to catch myself, which could injure my body worse. I just let go and crumble to the grass.

I roll over onto my back as I let out a growl of frustration. The fact that I had to sneak out of the house—from some guy whose name I don’t even remember—couldn’t have been the worst part of my morning. No, I also had to listen to someone taking care of their morning wood. Yeah, today is not my day.

I groan at my sore body as I get to my feet. I don’t even bother to brush myself off before I start to limp my way off down the street.

I am in the process of dreaming about a hot bath and curling up in my bed for an early afternoon nap when Jackie passes me and then does a U-turn, coming to a stop beside me. I pull open the passenger door and fall inside thankful for the cool air-conditioning.

“Do you want to drive?” she asks, car idling in the street.

“No,” I growl. “Just get me home.”

“What the hell happened to you?” she asks looking me up and down with a sour look on her face. “Did you sleep outside or something?”

“Just take me home.” I can explain the situation to her after I sleep off this hangover.

She looks from me to the clock on the dash. “Don’t you have a test you have to take today?”

Shit! “How do you know that?”

“You told me that like thirty times last night before I left.”

I look over at her. “Speaking of leaving…” I huff. “Why
did
you leave me?”

She frowns. “You said I could.” But then she gets a dreamy smile on her face.

“Thanks.” She sighs, and I can’t help but scowl. Glad she remembers how good her night was.

“Just drive me to the college. Please,” I say, pulling my sun visor down to look at myself in the mirror. I look like a horror movie gone wrong. My dark hair still looks freshly fucked, only with a few added leaves in it. What makeup is still on is smeared across my face. And my light brown eyes are bloodshot.

She frowns. “You’re going to go to school like that?” Her dark blue eyes look me over and her frown deepens before she scrunches her nose.

“I don’t have a choice, Jackie.” I sigh. “If I miss this test, I’ll be in deep shit with my dad. Just take me there. I don’t think the test has a hygiene requirement.”

She nods her head and starts to drive off. I run my fingers through my hair and try to take off what’s left of my makeup, before I lean my head back against the headrest and close my eyes—trying to remember what the hell happened last night. I remember showing up at the party with Jackie. I remember making myself a drink in the kitchen. I remember Rodger calling me and pressing ignore before I ended up just turning my phone off. But this morning it was on. When did I turn it back on? I don’t remember.

Then we made our way to the back of the house to the game room where I proceeded to smoke a guy who asked me to play a game of pool. The same guy who had helped me make my drink in the kitchen.