Page 16 of Double Dare

“Neither do you.” I give him an ‘I’m serious’ look.

Liam scoffs. “Yeah, I do. I look like a typical addict. I’m a lowlife. I come from a family with more addicts than sober people, and we’re all poor and pathetic.”

“Who says you have to fit that stereotype? Do you want to be one of the sober ones?” I ask.

“More than you know,” he sighs.

“Then you will be. I’ve learned that addicts come from all walks of life. Don’t judge, Liam.”

He smiles at me, a little ashamed. “Dom warned me you’d set me straight. I won’t judge anyone. Thanks, Laken.”

When Dom gets back, we sit around chatting for a bit. I grab them takeout, swap out a bag of clothes with Dom, and head back to my cabin to do his laundry there so the Dare family can’t ask any questions.

Does Dom have what it takes to care for a recovering addict? I don’t know, but if he struggles, I’m telling Rayne. I’ll feel guilty about it later. No one deserves to struggle by themselves.

I’m a vault when I need to be, but the stress of it can be exhausting. After a nap, I scour the fridge for something to eat. Jed is with a client, and Kade is helping Zahn and Remy with something, so I’m home alone. Not that Kade lives here, but…I’m thinking about it.

A knock on the door has me closing the fridge that wasn’t offering up any options. I rub the back of my neck on the way to the front door, pulling it open to find Genevieve holding two bags of what smells like Chinese food.

“Hey, Gen.” I smile at her, looking behind her, but there’s no truck in the lane. “Did you fucking walk here?” Impossible. We’re in the middle of nowhere.

“Evening, Laken,” Gen says, making me smile even more. “Forsyth dropped me off. He’s going to pick up Jedrek and Kade, and I thought you might enjoy some dinner. I should have forewarned you.”

“Come in. Never forewarn me about food.” I step back, inviting her in and taking the bags from her while she takes her coat off, hanging it on the hooks by the door.

“Thank you.” She looks around the cabin, probably remembering the night she spent here with Four. I’m honestly honored our place was the setting for her virginity story. “Are you hungry?”

“Always.” I point to the living room, figuring we can eat by the fire.

“Do you have plates and cutlery?”

“We do,” I laugh. “Or we can just eat it straight from the containers?”

“Oh. Oh! Yes, that sounds…comfortable.” Uncomfortable. “Perfect.” She blushes.

We get set up on the living room floor, the containers on the coffee table. She looks completely out of place, but when I put a fork in her hand and she tells me she’s never eaten Chinese food with a fork, she smiles and starts eating, saying something about new ways of life.

“Thanks for bringing this,” I say.

She chews and swallows before responding. “It’s my pleasure, but I must confess, I wanted to tell you something.”

“Giver.” I shove a whole chicken ball with red sauce in my mouth, choking a bit. Slow down, Laken.

“I just wanted to let you know that Jedrek picked me up from the hospital the other day. We talked, and I offered him my ear should he ever need it.”

“Thanks for doing that.” I smile. “Was that it? Was that the confession?”

“Yes, that’s all.”

I laugh, leaning my back against the couch. “Gen, you don’t have to confess to me when you chat. You’re family, and family talks. I’m grateful he has you!”

Gen won’t slurp her noodles. She bites them off and pats her lips with a napkin from the bag. “Thank you, Laken. I…that is so kind.” She sets her napkin down. “I brought some wine. Would you like a glass?”

“Yes, please.”

“It’s a really nice Cabernet,” she tells me like I know anything about wine, reaching into the bag. She holds up the bottle like it’s some magical elixir. Gen has been teaching me the ways of wine, and even though there are more I don’t like than I do like, I’m developing a taste for it. “We should let it breathe for a little, but we can skip that part.”

Gen gets the bottle open and I pour us each a glass in the stemless wine glasses I’ve never had the chance to use.

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