Plot Twist(86)

“So you might be wondering about why I put my relationship status in the corner there as complicated.” Sophie pointed to the text on the screen. “The truth is that I am in love, but the person I love is dealing with a lot of personal things they have to work out. And as much as I’d like to be with them, I’m giving them the space they need. I don’t know if we’ll be together at the end. But I do know that I have my happily-ever-after, because I love them, and that’s all I need.”



40

DASH

Dash woke up early, as the chiming bells and bright light demanded. He went through the motions and made coffee, drank a cup as he waited for the hot water in the shower to kick in, put on fresh clothes, brushed his teeth, and combed his hair, then finished a final sip of coffee while he stared out the window and watched the sun rise.

He made his way down to the communal snack room and grabbed a handful of blueberries, then walked to the animal pens. He took his basket into the henhouse, fed Heather a blueberry—though she had no new eggs for him—then collected eggs from the others. He had breakfast. He went to individual therapy, then group. But mostly, he was waiting for four o’clock to roll around—visiting hours.

In the late afternoon, Dash typically hit the gym and the occasional art class. They even had a state-of-the-art kiln on site.

But he was really, really hoping to see Sophie. He wanted to know if anything had changed, regardless of what it meant for them as a couple. Not being able to be near her for two weeks had left a dull ache in his core. Reminders of her came in bits and pieces: the sound of her infectious laugh, or the thick strands of wavy hair that fell across her eyes and the black lashes that hid underneath them. When he was struck with a memory, he felt consumed by the need to go see her. But he couldn’t, because he hadn’t been able to control himself and his emotions, and now he was starting over again.

“Dash, there’s a package for you. I left it in your room.” Geon shuffled through a stack of letters and didn’t look up as Dash nodded and headed for the stairs.

When Dash got back to his room, the world’s smallest gift bag was on his bed, matte black and the size of his palm. When he peered inside, there was a single neon gummy worm. He picked up the worm and studied it. Was this a joke? There was a small card next to the bag and, when he opened it, a message.

Want more? Follow the clues. Your first one: karaoke.

Dash looked up. There was a karaoke machine in the game room. He took the stairs down and headed there. When he reached the game room, he walked past two members who were deep in a game of Scrabble and jogged directly to the machine, which had another, but larger, gift bag resting on top. There were two gummy worms this time, and he read the next clue as he chewed one.

I never would’ve gotten to know you had it not been for my sad night out. And you impressed me with your ability to lift...

He raised his eyebrow. He had carried Sophie into her place... The work-out room! He popped the second gummy worm into his mouth and headed to the work-out center. He raced past the row of treadmills and ellipticals, past the Pilates machines, and straight to the free weights, where he spotted another gift bag, slightly larger, along with a note.

You aren’t perfect, and neither am I, but I adore every imperfect part of you just as much as the perfect ones. I’ve even begun to watch your favorite show, Dating Roulette, despite how much time they spend by...

The pool. Lord, the singles were always by the pool. Dash plucked out three gummy worms, ate them all at once, and ran out of the work-out room and toward the pool. When he got outside, he ran past benches and tables where other people in the program were already meeting and spending time with their loved ones. He couldn’t waste another moment without seeing her. He ran as fast as he could toward the pool, which was perched on top of a hill that overlooked the mountainsides. When he got there, bags of candy were scattered around the deck like roses. A giant balloon arch curved over the top of a table, and on the table were bowls of various kinds of gummy candies. But the most important thing was missing: Sophie.

“Soph?” he called out as he walked the perimeter of the pool. “Sophie?”

“I’m coming!” she called back to him.

He frowned as he looked over the hedges surrounding the pool. He searched and eventually saw her climbing up the hill, carrying a large box. She smiled up to him and his eyes began to sting with the threat of tears.

He hadn’t known how much his body had missed her until he saw her there. She was radiant, in a deep emerald sundress with a plunging neckline. And he was grateful they were up so high, because the wind coming off the mountains sent a breeze that blew her dress tightly around her so he could see the gorgeous lines of her curves. He saw nothing but her as he sprinted. When he reached her, he took the box out of her hands, set it down beside them, then lifted her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist and pressed her mouth to his. He tasted salt and lemons and the sweetest kiss he’d ever known.

They eventually pulled apart, and she looked into his eyes and said, “I didn’t realize you’d figure out the clues so quickly. I had to run in these wedges just to catch up. I’m exhausted!”

“I couldn’t help but run. I’ll always run toward you from now on.”

“I’ll make sure not to scale any mountains from now on, then.” She beamed at him.

He laughed.