Both their eyes linger on me, waiting for my answer. I shift on my feet, not too sure what to say. I don’t know the guy that well, but he seems nice enough. What if he turns out to be a dickhead though? Then everyone will blame me in the end.

“I mean, I don’t think I know him well enough to make this judgement.” I think of Sierra having to deal with her overbearing older brother yet again and feel a pang of sympathy for her. I then come up with an idea that has less pressure on me if Tom turns out to be a bad boy. “What if you tell her she can go to a movie with him? Max and I will be there Friday night, so we could keep an eye out on her, and you wouldn’t have to worry so much.”

I feel like squirming as Dash looks at me, thinking about my idea. He’s wearing a red cap today, and earlier I saw another girl take it off his head to put it on hers.

I didn’t like that.

The cap suits him, though. As does the black t-shirt he’s wearing.

“You wouldn’t mind doing that?” Dash asks, turning his attention to Max.

“Not a problem, bro,” Max replies, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’ll even threaten him a little, if you like.”

“You’re the best,” Dash replies, flashing his dimples. “I have to stay home this weekend to look after my younger sisters, so I won’t be able to keep an eye on Sierra.” He slaps Max on the shoulder affectionately. “Got to get going.” He turns that violet gaze on me then, and I think I stop breathing. “Thanks, Viola.”

“No problem,” I manage to get out then watch him as he leaves.

He stays home all weekend to look after his sisters?

“That’s nice of him to stay home with them,” I say, trying to wrap my head around Dash and exactly who he is.

“Yeah,” Max says, bumping me so I move forward. “Sometimes he brings them to the basketball games if Sierra can’t watch the younger two. He’s a really great brother. Four sisters, though…that’s a lot to take on.”

I have to agree.

“What if they ditch the movie or something?”

Max just grins, flashing white straight teeth. “I’ll have a little talk with Tommy boy before Friday.”

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” I ask, shaking my head. Max is an only child, like me, and I can picture him doing this to his sister if he ever had one. I guess the closest thing he has to a sister is me, and since I don’t really have much of a love life, his bullying skills have been put to rest until now.

“I am, actually,” he says, looking amused. “Look at us, chaperoning teenagers.”

“Teenagers who are like a year or so younger than us,” I point out, smirking. “That probably makes us a little too responsible for our age, if you ask me.”

Max stills. “You’re right. We should turn up to the cinema drunk.”

I laugh, even though I know he’s totally serious.

Chapter Four

“He’s just putting his arm around her,” I whisper to Max, grabbing his arm and pulling him back into his seat. “You can’t do anything to him over that! Imagine if this was you out on this date. You’d be doing way worse than that.”

“We’re not talking about me, though,” Max grumbles, sitting back down. He pulls out a pair of binoculars from his pocket and I scrub my hand down my face.

“You’re freaking kidding me right now,” I mutter to myself, watching my best friend as he peers through the binoculars. I’m pretty sure he can’t see shit through them; he’s just trying to be dramatic.

“I take this shit very seriously,” he says, shoving a handful of popcorn into his mouth.

“I can see that,” I say dryly then look back at the screen. “I think Tom must really like Sierra to put up with all of this shit, to be honest.”

“Time will show his true intentions.”

I roll my eyes and block him out as he grumbles about not having a close enough view of where Sierra’s hands are. When the movie comes to an end, we wait for the two of them outside. Max pulls Tom aside for a chat, leaving Sierra and me alone.

“This is ridiculous,” she says, pursing her red lips. “But Tom has been so sweet! He asked me out again. Don’t you think he’s so good looking?”

I don’t, but anyway…

“You two look cute together,” is all I tell her.

“I know!” she beams, letting me know it was indeed the right thing to say. “I want him to kiss me. It will have to be in the car before he walks me to my door, because Dash will come out with that death stare of his, trying to intimidate Tom.”

I wonder if Dash will come out of his house bare-chested.

“Vi, let’s go,” Max says, walking in front of a very red-faced Tom. I can only imagine what happened there.

“Bye,” I say to Sierra and Tom then follow Max to his car. “What did you say to him?”

“Just told him to take her straight home, and Dash will be messaging me when they get home, so we’ll know exactly how long they took to get there,” he explains.

“Jesus,” I whisper, sliding into his black Honda. “That’s pretty rough.”

“I know,” Max says, grinning.

“I think the power is getting to your head, Max,” I say, my forehead furrowing. “Can we get something to eat on the way home?”

“Yeah, I’m starving,” he says, reversing the car. “What do you feel like?”

“Fries,” I say, squinting. “Lots and lots of fries.”

We’re ordering our food, when Max checks his phone. “Sierra is home. Mission complete.”

“You’re such a goofball, Max,” I tell him, smiling widely. “And I thought you were bringing alcohol?” I tease.

“I have a game tomorrow,” he says, rubbing his palm on his chest. “The best player can’t rock up hung over, now can he?”

“Dash isn’t going to be hung over though,” I say, smirking.

Max throws me over his shoulder, right in the middle of the diner, my arms flailing in the air.

“What did you say, Vi?”

“Nothing,” I say. “Oh, my God, put me down, Max! Everyone is staring!”

“First, tell me what I want to hear,” he says cheerfully then starts to tickle my ribs.

“You’re the best basketball player ever,” I say quickly, rushing out all the words.

He puts me down and I fix my hair, which is all over my face. “Jerk face.”

He steps toward me again, so I quickly retreat.

“You two are a very cute couple,” the lady in front of us in line says.

My cheeks heat, but Max just brushes it off like he always does and wraps his arm around me. “Thank you, ma’am. She’s a pain in the ass, but she’s mine.”

The lady giggles and then faces forward.

I glance up at Max.

He looks down.

We both smile.

*****

When Dash doesn’t come to school Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, my teacher asks me if Dash and I are good enough friends that I could drop his work off for him, so he doesn’t fall behind. I’ve never been to his house, but Max showed me where it was one day, so I know how to get there. Papers in hand, I park in his empty driveway and walk to the front door, knocking three times. The door opens a few seconds later, and Dash stands there, bare-chested, just like he always opened the front door in my imagination. He had a lean, toned, athletic body, one that is definitely better in person than what my mind had come up with, and his skin is smooth and tanned.

“Viola, what are you doing here?” he asks, scowling down at me.

I raise my eyes to his. “Oh. Right. I was asked to drop this off for you. Is everything okay? Are you sick or something?”

I hear someone coughing loudly from inside the house.

“I’m fine,” he says, taking the papers from my hand. “My youngest sisters are sick and my mum has to work, so…” He shrugs it off, but he also avoids eye contact.

His sisters are sick, so he has to miss school to look after them? What kind of bullshit is that? What about his education? Or the fact they aren’t his children? I school my expression, not wanting to show the anger I feel on his behalf.