Plot Twist(39)

But before he could plan out the next step, his phone pinged. He stopped the video recording and saw a message.

@craftycindy getting your hands dirty?

Normally Dash would respond back with something flirty or quippy. But now, seeing her name didn’t feel right. The idea of engaging with her on any kind of flirtatious level made him uneasy. He wasn’t dating Sophie—he knew that—but even flirting with someone else didn’t sit well.

@tokcrafty2me making a new mug set, actually ??

He kept the text simple, factual, no hidden innuendos. Before he could go back to filming, another message came through.

@craftycindy when are you going to show me your mug, tho?

Dash cracked his neck, a little annoyed that she was trying to coax more out of him. She had occasionally suggested Dash show his face, but he never had. He knew what she looked like from her videos, so it seemed a little unfair in some respects, but remaining anonymous was important to him.

@craftycindy I won’t reveal your identity, Batman.

She wasn’t going to let this go. And maybe it was wrong, but Dash thought there might be a way to shut the whole flirtatious thing down quickly, so he replied.

@tokcrafty2me lol, my girlfriend is the only one who sees my mug
@craftycindy Girlfriend? Since when?
@tokcrafty2me It’s pretty new
@craftycindy Does she know about the drinking, Dash?

He nearly dropped the phone. What had she just said? Dash reread the message, certain that the lack of sleep was causing him to stress-hallucinate. But no, she had said his name. How did she know who he was? Had he accidentally revealed his first name somehow? His heart raced as he tried to determine how to respond, or if he should respond.

@tokcrafty2me Dash? You have me confused with someone else.
@craftycindy We’re meant to be together, Dash Montrose. Will she love you like I can?

Dash swallowed down a lump of pure terror. He was no stranger to stalkers. His family had dealt with their fair share throughout the years—one had even broken into their house looking for his dad when Dash was a kid. If this woman somehow knew his full name, did she also know where he lived?

Calling the cops absolutely crossed his mind. But then he’d have to reveal his TikTok account to them and turn over the messages where he confessed to being an alcoholic, and he wasn’t convinced they’d keep any of those facts a secret. He’d been in Hollywood long enough to know that everyone could be bought, for a price.

So instead, he took off his apron, grabbed his keys, wallet, and phone, and made for the door. He couldn’t be alone in his house, not while knowing that Cindy had figured out who he was. He needed to talk, but there was really only one person for that.

“Hey, buddy, you know I don’t like to do this, but I’m going to have to cut you off.”

Chris’s hand clapped on Dash’s back. When Dash glanced up, he was met with furrowed brows and plenty of concern, which made him clutch the plastic bag closer to his chest.

“I haven’t even gone to the chocolate section yet.” They were in Gimme Some Sugar, a beautifully curated candy store in West Hollywood that had just opened next to Lisa Vanderpump’s bar, Sur. Which also meant that, even though it was the middle of the day, they could hear (and feel) the blast of frenetic pop music from the iconic bar next door. Dash was surprised that he didn’t have a headache from the bright fluorescent glow of the overhead lights, but maybe the black-and-white candy-striped overhang, or the metallic bins that lined the shop like sugary presents, had all conspired to keep his brain focused on the promise of candy.

“Your bag is completely full.” Chris bounced slightly to rock Luna in the carrier. “And I don’t think Luna is going to sleep through another nineties pop anthem. They’re too catchy.”

“I told you I have a stalker, right? I need to stress eat. You and Luna can wait outside.” Dash wasn’t exactly desperate to stay in the store, but he needed to be out of his house and away from reality for a little while.

“No, my friend, this is my intervention. I’m cutting you off.” Chris gave a hand signal for Dash to stand up and, reluctantly, he did. Dash paid for his candy, and they walked out.

The busy West Hollywood sidewalk was wide and cluttered with restaurants and shops. Dash popped a gummy crocodile in his mouth and chewed, the instant hit of sugar giving him a rush of dopamine. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw two guys walk out of a MedMen dispensary. One of them gestured toward Dash and whispered something to the other. Great, he’d been spotted. Dash angled the baseball cap lower on his head to cover his eyes as they walked.

“Do you want to talk about how you’re kind of going from zero to sixty?” Chris kept a protective hand on the baby carrier as they walked.

Dash swallowed his candy. He’d told Chris about Sophie, their time in Ojai, and his front yard... And then he’d told Chris about how his online friend had turned into a very real stalker. He’d gone from someone with absolutely nothing happening in his life, to a lot of somethings happening. He didn’t want to delve into those again, though, so he tried to deflect.

“What does everyone have against sugar? It’s delicious.” Dash popped another crocodile in his mouth to emphasize his point. The candy was already sticky from the heat outside, and he licked his fingers.

“You know I’m not talking about the candy.” Chris stopped under the shade of a blooming jacaranda tree that had littered the sidewalk with wilted purple petals. “You originally wanted to get a new tattoo, which we’re not doing. You and I both know that you need to take change slowly. You’re not erratic, but this new thing with Sophie has thrown you off. And you need to focus on making sure you’re safe from this person who has somehow figured out who you are.”