Dash walks straight over to me, takes my face in his hands, and kisses me.

“Good morning,” he says with a lazy smile, when we finally come up for air.

It is now.

“Hi,” I say, breathless. “And also how do you look so perky? You were dead to the world a half-hour ago!”

“Claude’s hangover cure, it’s magic.” Dash grins.

“Zelda said the same thing. I’m definitely going to need one of those before we catch our flight.” I step out of his arms, trying to gauge his mood. Was that a ‘last hurrah before reality’ kind of kiss?

Or a ‘let’s go steady?’ make-out?

“What time’s our flight?” I ask, going back to packing.

“About that…” Dash sits on the edge of the bed, watching me. “What would you say to road-tripping back? I’ve always wanted to take a mini-tour of the motels of the eastern seaboard,” he adds with a playful grin.

“Phineas Henry Dashford the Fourth, slumming his way through Motel Sixes? This I’ve got to see,” I laugh.

“So you’re in?” he asks, and for a moment, I think I see hope in his eyes. “It’ll take a couple of extra days. You know, if we want to see the sights.”

“Sure,” I agree. I manage to sound casual, but inside I’m thrilled about extending our time together. “I can get Frederik to cover my shifts at the store. Lord knows, I’ve earned it, all the times I took his shifts while he was off auditioning for So You Think You Can Juggle.”

“That’s a real show?”

“Maybe.” I grin. “You’ll have to see if it’s showing on the motel TV.”

I finish packing, detour to breakfast to grab one of those miraculous bloody Marys to-go, then meet Dash in the foyer to say our goodbyes.

“I’ll see you back in the city,” Piper promises. “I want that makeover you promised.”

“Done,” I smile. “I’ll have you in bright red lipstick in no time, trust me.”

“Red?” Zelda repeats. “Isn’t that rather bold?”

“That’s the point,” Piper and I answer in unison—then laugh.

“Thank you so much for your hospitality,” I tell Zelda, and meaning it. Sure, she put me through the wringer, but I’ve grown to admire her grit—and singing voice. “I’ve had a great time.”

“It’s been lovely getting to know you,” Zelda says, surprising me with a kiss on the cheek. “I look forward to seeing a lot more of the two of you. Right Dash?”

“Sure thing.” He replies, looking a little uncomfortable, and he’s not the only one.

“Is it just me, or are you feeling kind of scuzzy, too?” I murmur, as we head down the steps to the rental car he’s booked for our road trip.

“No, I am,” he sighs, loading our bags in the trunk. “I wanted them to like you, I just didn’t expect them to like you this much.”

“What can I say?” I joke. “I’m irresistible.”

“Yes, you are.”

Dash gives me a smoldering look, then holds the car door open for me. It’s a classic Corvette, and I have to admit, I love sliding into the front seat like an old-school movie star.