Page 131 of Before We're More Than Friends
Little did I know that I’d die too, because as soon as I opened the door, Arielle sprang into our faces. “I knew it!” she shouted.
Dallas and I jumped, my keys dropping onto the marble floor. Penrose barked before sniffing my keys.
“What the hell?” I snapped, my free hand flying to my chest. “Arielle!”
“That rhymes,” Dallas said, trying to slow his own breathing from the cardiac-arrest-inducing scare.
I rolled my eyes.
“Sorry!” Arielle giggled. “I just saw you guys pull into the driveway from my room and rushed all the way down here!” She rubbed Penrose’s head. “I’m guessing it went well from the glitter on Dallas’s lips.”
Dallas touched his lips as he gazed at the tall ceilings.
“I think lip glitter is the last thing he’s thinking about,” I said.
Arielle laughed again. “Well, you should think about it because your lip gloss has never looked worse.”
I tossed Penrose’s leash at her arm, hoping it would somehow hurt.
“Your house is so freaking cool,” Dallas said, his wide eyes searching the foyer and living area. Gosh, if he was shocked by this, he’d faint at all the other rooms in the house. Especially my bedroom.
Oh, gosh, why did I just think that? Gross!
“Can I get you a drink or something?” Arielle asked, freeing Penrose from her leash. “You look like you’re about to pass out.”
“Oh.” Pink bloomed across Dallas’s cheeks. “I’m good.”
“You don’t want to see our kitchen?” I asked, nudging him.
“I don’t think he can handle the kitchen,” Arielle said.
“Hey!” Dallas crossed his arms over his chest. “I totally can. I can handle the entire house.”
“Then let’s start.” Once Dallas let Houston relax, I led him into the kitchen, since he’d already gotten a good view of the foyer and the main living space. Dallas’s jaw dropped at how spacious it was and how the family room was even bigger.
I looped back to the dining room, where he was once again shocked at the grand furniture and how clean everything was. Shoot, he was even impressed with the plain study we had. We let him into the backyard and turned on the lights to give him a tour of the huge patio and pool area.
“Okay, I think I want to move in here,” Dallas said as we let him back inside. “That backyard and pool blow the one my family has to shame. And Ineedthat hot tub.”
I giggled. “It’s why our friends wished we held events here.” And once upon a time, we did have events at this house, untilMom went downhill and preferred to maintain her façade at the country club.
“You should show him the upstairs, Raina,” Arielle said with a wink and a smirk that made me want to slug her in the arm. “Show him where Penrose likes to hang out.”
I shot a glare at her. “Um, that’s fine?—”
“I don’t mind seeing the upstairs,” Dallas said, rubbing Houston as he begged for attention. He probably wasn’t enjoying this house as much as Dallas was.
I sucked in a breath. Well then. “Let’s go.”
The two of us went upstairs, Penrose following behind us before she went into my room. I showed Dallas the upstairs living room, game room, and home theater—I didn’t have it in me to go into Dad’s gym—all which shocked him to his core. Finally, it was time for my bedroom.
“Are you ready?” I asked, my pulse speeding against my will.
Dallas nodded with a nervous smile.
I creaked open the door and revealed my room, where Penrose was on the plush carpet, playing around with the clothes in my hamper. Dallas gasped louder than he had at the other rooms, his jaw on the floor once again.
“So this is where you’ve been writing to me and making your jewelry?” Dallas asked, taking in the purple luxury. If only he knew what the bathroom and walk-in-closet looked like, though no way was I taking him inthere. “This is a grand paradise.”
