Page 10 of Dare You to See Me
The knob turns slowly and the door begins to open. I see the smiling faces of the kids that stand patiently in line and search for Dahlia. I spot her bopping up and down in the middle, her pigtails swinging and her smile wide.
Parents smile and wave to their kids and begin to move closer. The first kid sees his mom and takes a step, then pauses when he remembers something. He turns towards Malik and they do a series of claps and slaps as if it’s a secret handshake before he runs off.
The next kid in line does the same, a handshake unique to them, and it continues. When it’s Dahlia’s turn, I watch with rapt attention. She presses her palms together as if in prayer and Malik does the same. They smile at each other and pat the back of their hands against the other and do a series of hand slaps and claps, laughing all the while and ending with a double high-five. Dahlia giggles and wraps her arms around his neck.
He gently pats her back and she tells him, “Thanks for the best first day, Mr. Dare. I’ll ask Mommy to pack an extra brownie tomorrow so you’re not jealous when I eat mine.”
He clenches his jaw to keep from cracking up and waves back at Dahlia. She skips over to me and leaps into my arms.
“Hi my little dove. I missed you.” I squeeze her tight to me and close my eyes, inhaling her usual sweet scent now mixed with the smell of crayons and glue.
“I missed you too, Mommy. But I also had the most best day, so I guess I’ll come back tomorrow.” She slips her little hand in mine and looks up at me. “Oh. And Mr. Dare said my brownie looked yummy so I told him I’d bring one special for him. I think he was jealous so I don’t want him to feel bad.”
I smile, her heart always so big and always so thoughtful, and look up to see Malik staring right at me. Our eyes meet and suddenly my stomach goes topsy turvy with nerves. He has a smile on his face, but his stare is intense and sends a bolt of electricity up my spine. He watches me for a moment longer before another student steals his attention. When the spell he has over me is finally broken, I lead Dahlia out into the parking lot where our car waits for us.
More parents and kids file out of the school from the various kindergarten classes, and I buckle Dahlia into her carseat. Cars make their way to the exit and I slip inside the driver's seat. But before I can drive off, I look back at the doors to the school. I search for faces that may be staring back as the feeling of someone watching us comes over me.
“How about some ice cream for my favorite girl?” I ask Dahlia, looking at her through the rearview mirror.
“Yeah!” She cheers, throwing up both arms with her hands in little fists. “Mint chocolate chip. Mint chocolate chip.”
She sings and I smile, and we both laugh all the way to the ice cream parlor as she tells me about her day. Every time she mentions Mr. Dare, all I see is that smoldering look in his eyes as I walked away.
I better stop at the drugstore on the way home and load up on batteries. I have a feeling my little B.O.B. is going to be going through quite a few.
FIVE
MALIK
I standin the shadow of my classroom, lights off and staring out the window as Soleil and Dahlia get into their car, smiles visible through the windshield, and drive off. My eyes stay locked on the white SUV as it turns left out of the parking lot and fades out of sight.
My body thrums with the need to rub the silky strands of her dark hair between my fingers. Her exotic eyes still call to me from underneath her dark lashes that felt like they were burning a hole into my skin as she watched from her spot against the wall. I may not have been looking at her the entire time she stood there, but I felt her. I smelled her. Or maybe it was her scent that still lingered in my nostrils from this morning. It was so potent I swear I could taste it.
A knock at my door has me swinging around. Damaris Chase stands there with a wide smile and eyes that sparkle. She is definitely gorgeous with her flawless brown skin, honey colored eyes and silky hair with golden strands amongst her ebony curls. But after seeing Soleil, the woman who will be mine, everyone lacks the luster she has.
“Hey Ms. Chase. How was your first day?” I slide my hands into the pockets of my chinos and step away from the window.
“Malik. The kids are all gone. There’s no need to call me Ms. Chase.” She smirks and leans against the door frame. “It was…not bad. You?”
“Pretty good. I have a good bunch of kids.” She bites her bottom lip and I want to punch myself in the balls for having slept with her after the end of the school year party.
I never should have gone there and normally wouldn’t have, but we both had way too much to drink and she looked fucking delicious in that tight white dress. But I’m afraid that since then, she has been persistent about reliving our night.
“So a few of us are going out forwe made it through the first daydrinks. Wanna join? Or…” she steps closer and smooths her hand over my shoulder. “You and I could have our own little celebration.”
I give her a tight smile and take a step back, carefully taking her wrist to stop her petting. “Thanks Damaris, but I’ll have to miss out. My brother and his girl are in town and we’re having a family dinner. Maybe another time.”
“What do you mean your brother is in town? Doesn’t he live here?” She looks annoyed as if I’m feeding her a bunch of lies.
“Cattywump Bay is his homebase, but his girlfriend lives in Texas while she’s finishing school. So he’s been splitting his time between the two cities.”
“Oh. Well, I could go with you.” This woman is not getting the hint.
I guess I’m going to be blunt. Nice, but blunt.
“Damaris, I really think you’re a beautiful woman, but we never should have slept together and I’m sorry for that. We’re co-workers and I crossed a line. I think it’s best if we remain friends who work together.”
Her flirty smile turns tight and I can tell she’s holding back emotion. “Yeah. Sure. Of course. Sorry to bother you. See you later.”
