Page 85 of Irresistible

You can see Dakota anytime. She misses you too.

Now? Is now good?

Marlow

Are you here?

No, but I wish I was. I can be there in ten.

Marlow

Come on. She’ll be awake for at least another forty minutes…I think. She’s pretty tired from her weekend too.

I’ll be there in eight. Unless you need me to pick up anything?

Marlow

We’re good. We’ll even share our ice cream with you.

I cannot wait.

I brush my teeth and add a few more strips of condoms to my shaving kit. I pause in my closet and grab a dress shirt and pants, leaving them on the hangers, and I stuff pajama pants, a T-shirt, and work shoes in my backpack. The level of excitement in my chest is borderline troubling, but I’m too happy to be concerned.

I’m knocking on their door with a minute to spare and Marlow opens the door, smiling, Dakota peering around her legs.

“Wyatt!” Dakota yells, rushing at me with a hug.

“Sweets!” I yell back, hugging her hard.

“How did you know I wanted to see you so bad?” she asks.

“Because I wanted to seeyouso bad,” I tell her. I push her hair away from her cheek and she beams up at me. “Ahh, I feel better already.”

“Were you sick?” She frowns.

“No, I was just missing you,” I tell her.

She leans her head against my side and takes my hand. I kiss my fingers and press them to Marlow’s cheek as I’m tugged away. When I glance at her over my shoulder, she’s still standing there, her expression sweet and vulnerable.

“Where are you taking me?” I ask Dakota.

She stops us in front of the refrigerator.

“We have free choices of ice cream.”

“I love free ice cream. Yes, please.”

Free,” she says, lifting up three fingers. “One, two, free.”

“Oh, yes.” I nod. “Even better.”

She opens the freezer dramatically, as it takes all her strength, and holds out her hand like a game show host. “See?”

“I do. Which kind are you having?”

“Strawberry.”

“Solid choice. What about you?” I ask Marlow.