Page 11 of Dare You to See Me
“No, Damaris–” she spins on her heel and quickly shuffles off before I have a chance to explain that isn’t what I meant.
I sigh and step over to my closet to gather my things. I’m sure this will be all over school tomorrow. Malik Dare who fucked his co-worker and blew her off. Technically I didn’t blow her off as I continued to speak with her. I just didn’t oblige her with her continual advances.
I reach my truck and hop in. The inside is scorching as I forgot to remote start the engine to cool it down. The heat is still sweltering and it will be at least another month before the temperature starts to dip. I love early Fall in the South. It’s perfect bike riding weather, so I know D, Henny and I will get as much riding as we can every weekend when we’re together.
Rolling up my sleeves as the air conditioner cools the stuffy cabin, I tap Dagen’s name on the screen of my infotainment system when my phone connects.
“Hey handsome. To what do I owe this wonderful surprise?” Dagen, Hendrix’s girl, answers sweetly.
“Hey my favorite sister. How much did you miss me?” I take a look in my rearview mirror before pulling out of my parking space and heading for the exit.
“Oh, I missed you terribly. The entire drive all I could think about was getting to hug you.”
“Who the fuck are you talking to?” I hear a voice boom in the background.
Hendrix may be my brother whom he loves and would fight for, but Dagen is the woman he’s in lovewithand wouldkillfor.
I hear Dagen giggle right before his threatening voice blasts through my speaker. “If you are not Malik or Danté you’d better not let me find out who you are, because I will hunt you down and tear your spleen out of your ass.”
“Goddamn, Henny. Chill out. It’s me.” I can’t help the laugh that follows.
“Why are you calling Dagen?” he bites out.
I reach into the center console, searching for my glasses to shield my eyes from the glaring sun. “Because I missed my little sister and to ask her if she'd like me to get some dessert for tonight. Damn.”
“Oh,” he says, his voice calmer. “Well you could’ve asked me and I would have told you what to get.”
“I could have, but then I’d miss out on hearing you get your panties all twisted up.” I hear him growl and imagine his face turning bright red. “I’m leaving school and heading for your place. Can you ask Day what I should–”
I lose my words when I pass by the little ice cream store and see Soleil and Dahlia sitting outside on a small bistro table. I scan the street for an open spot and come screeching to a halt when I find one.
“Never mind. Send me the kind of ice cream you guys like and I’ll pick up a bunch of stuff. Gotta go.” I hear him protest but don’t wait to find out what, exactly.
I turn off the engine and jump out of my truck, rushing for the ice cream shop before they leave. As I draw near, I hear their laughter and slow my steps. I look down at my feet, trying to act as if I don’t see them even though I keep my eyes glued to Soleil from underneath my sunglasses.
“Mr. Dare!” Dahlia shouts and I lift my head just as Soleil turns around.
“Are you following me, Ms. Dahlia?” I joke and she laughs, her eyes closing and her head falling back. “Hello Soleil. Nice seeing you again.”
She licks the remnants of her ice cream off her lips and I die a little inside. To be the one to taste her lips, know what they feel like, would be the sweetest treat.
“Yes. Quite a surprise. Are you here for an after school celebration, too?” She smiles wide and her cheeks tinge a soft pink.
I tilt my head back and forth. “Kind of. My brother and his girlfriend are in town for the week, so we’re having family dinner. I’m in charge of dessert, so…” I hold my arms out to the side as if to sayhere I am.
“That’s wonderful. It sounds like the perfect way to start the week.”
“Hey Mommy. ‘Member when we had family dinners with Nana and Poppa and Daddy? I miss those.” The bright and bubbly Dahlia’s face falls as she takes a sad lick of her ice cream.
Soleil reaches over and touches her hand, passing her daughter a comforting smile.
“I know my little dove. We’ll go visit soon.”
I clear my throat and ask, “Are your nana and poppa far away?” I don’t ask about her father having learned that he passed first thing this morning.
“Just a couple hours,” Soleil replies. “But it’s farther than the. blocks away like we used to live.”
“So are you two new to Cattywump Bay?” I don’t want this conversation to end. I need to soak up every bit of information as she’s willing to give me.
