Page 107 of The One Night Dash
“Ethan!” Mom gasps, scandalized.
“What?” He holds his fist out to her like he expects a bump. “What’s good for the gander is good for the goose, am I right?”
Everyone loses it. Joel’s shoulders are shaking in the driver’s seat, trying to keep his composure, while Briar’s still muttering about crusty-ass crotches.
“Shit, shh, he’s coming!” Briar whisper-yells, which of course makes it louder.
Dash opens the door, sliding into the front passenger seat, expression unreadable. Mom glances back as Rick takes Sofie’s front seat, and both cars pull away from the curb.
That’s when Dash turns in his seat, eyes locked on Briar. His voice is low but sharp. “What the hell was that?”
Briar crosses her arms. “That was a loudmouth skank?—”
“No,” he cuts her off, shaking his head. “That was in a fight. You ruined the moment two people were getting engaged. That was supposed to be special. And you did it in front of a full camera crew.” He exhales hard. “Jesus, Briar …”
“That person said Savannah should have been an abortion,” I blurt before she can fire back.
Dash’s gaze stays on Briar, who scowls like she’s ready to keep swinging. “Celeste has it on video,” she snaps, “if you don’t believe me.”
He flicks a look at me. I shrug, small, likeshe’s not wrong. He turns forward, jaw tight.
After a beat, he says, “Send me that video, C.”
“Where are we going?” Caleb asks, breaking the tension.
“Koa’s place,” Dash answers. “He’s got room for everyone. Sofie’ll head there once she’s done.”
“Do I get money for selling it to the media?” Celeste pipes up.
“Celeste,” Serena warns.
“No, you get warm, fuzzy feelings for doing the right thing,” Dash says flatly.
Briar nudges Celeste, grinning. “We can combine our warm fuzzies to make a blanket, a big comfy one to sleep under at the KOK’s house.”
Dash turns slowly, eyebrows raised. “Really?”
Briar bats her lashes. “It’s his name. Koa Kelekolio. KOK.”
“You’re being ridiculous,” he mutters.
“Hey, Briar?” I say sweetly, and she turns toward me. “How big is that blanket going to be?”
She smirks, already catching on. “Plenty big for three.”
“Perfect,” I say, grinning.
And just like that, the laughter dies, replaced by silence so thick you can hear the tires on the road.
It carries us all the way to Koa and Nalani’s.
When we finally pull in, Dash tries to break it, his voice low. “Noelle?—”
I shake my head, cutting him off before he can get the words out. “I’m not the one you need to smooth things over with.”
He takes it, nods once, and when the doors open, he does exactly that—heading to Briar first, not with anger this time but the blunt edge of a man who’s seen too many people get hurt. As we all shuffle inside, I hear him.
“You can’t fly off like that. Someday, it’s gonna be the wrong place, the wrong person. And you’ll get hurt. I can’t have you getting hurt.”
