Page 19 of Dare You to See Me
MALIK
Today was morethan I could ever have hoped for. When I heard Dahlia talking with her friends about going to the beach with her mom, I knew I had to be there. I had to see her again for more than a few moments between drop off and pick up. The minutes she’s in my presence are simply not enough and I need more.
Hendrix and Danté were quite suspicious of my urgency to go to the beach, but Dagen and Kinsley jumped at the chance. Day and Henny are visiting for the weekend and although Hendrix planned a day of relaxing by their pool and other…stuff, all it took was a look for her to convince him to pack up and spend a day by the water. I think they understood my sudden need to go to the beach when they saw my interactions with Soleil.
At one point Kinsley and I were alone, searching for the perfect seashells to go on Dahlia’s castle, when she asked me about her.
“So this woman is more than just your student's parent, isn’t she?”Kinsley’s eyes were glued to the sand and her voice was small.
“I don’t know her well but Kins…I really want to. She has invaded my thoughts since the first day I saw her. There’s just something about her that…”
“That captivates you?”She stopped and looked deep into my eyes.
“Yes. That. Exactly. She captivates me.”
She nodded and kept walking only to throw out,“Sounds like you’re smitten as a Georgia peach.”
We talked a bit more about her, but it seemed that Kinsley wanted to move on. I’m not totally daft to the fact that Kinsley may have a little crush on me. Shoot, at one point I had a massive crush on our little Kins. But she’s one of my best friends, a sister almost, and I could never ruin that relationship for something that could end in disaster. So I just never went there. Even if it hurt her heart.
I sit in my office, editing a video I filmed on the way home from the beach this afternoon. I’m tired from spending the day in the sun and playing with my student in the sand. It felt good to shower off, but the shower soon became something more when visions of Soleil in her swimsuit filtered through. Then I imagined her without the swimsuit and I burst like a pent up hose.
I add a quick caption to the video then post it. I see that I have a few messages but I’m just too tired to respond and decide to do it all tomorrow. I’m just about to close out the app when I get a notification almost immediately.
Sunny_Grl liked your post
My heart ratchets up in my chest, and I feel like a boy whose crush has finally acknowledged him. She followed me back, liked some of my older posts, and now she’s watching me real time. How do I respond? Do I acknowledge it and go like one of hers, letting her know that I too am watching? Do I comment on a post? Send a cheesywhat’s upmessage? All of the above?
I stare at the screen, willing the answer to hit me over the head, but it doesn’t come. So, I decide to send a message as if it’s automated. Sneaky? Perhaps.
With a deep breath, I write.
Hello-
Thanks for the follow. Be sure to like and comment on what you’d like to see more of. And feel free to pop in my DM’s to talk bikes, dancing, or share a joke of the day.
D_King
I read it over a few times before hitting send, then watch the screen go from delivered to seen. I hold my breath when it says she’s typing. But when it goes blank, I blow out a defeated sigh. I was hoping she would reply in some way so I could keep our interaction going.
I close out the message and go to her page that I’ve stalked too many times and flip through her photos again. Each post is another layer to her. Smiles, solemn, serious, happy. Whichever mood she shows, she’s beautiful in every one.
The way she looked the other day in that crop top and shorts that flaunted her ivory skin, so smooth and lean, will live rent free in my mind forever. I don’t know how I made it through the day because every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was her rosy cheeks stained from the heat. The way her hair fell from her bun made her appear to be floating. Her toes were painted in a soft pink and just like her, seemed so delicate and innocent.
She has fried my brain. I can barely focus on anything but her. I feel like all I need is one touch, one taste, to help me move on. But the realistic part of my brain tells me that it would just send me further into addiction. I need to walk away from my computer before I drive myself mad, willing her to respond.
I wander into the kitchen, grab an apple and chomp it between my teeth, then open the fridge to grab a PB&J pocket and juice. What can I say? Being around five year olds most days for lunchtime has rubbed off on my eating habits.
I flip off the lights and settle into my room for the evening. The house is quiet, too quiet, and I think for a minute about hopping on my bike and heading over to Henny’s. But he’d kill me because no doubt, I’d be interrupting he and Day’s freaky time. I didn’t think the good little girl had that side to her, but she’s definitely adventurous.
Of course I’ll never tell Hendrix I know about it. Dagen shares a little too freely with Kinsley, and Kins is always ready to spill the beans.
I pop the last bit of my sandwich into my mouth as I flip through the channels, when my phone dings. I set the apple on my nightstand and pull the phone from the pocket of my sleep pants.
It’s her.
Soleil has commented on my post and now I’m kicking my goddamn feet. I tap on it and read with a giddiness in my belly.
We saw you last week and you gave my daughter a rose. You made her whole day. Thank you.
