Page 33 of Dare You to See Me
“So are we riding tonight?” I ask him.
He sighs and scoops a pile of leaves that have fallen into the blue water, disturbing its peace.
“I don’t know. I kind of wanted to do a few things before Dagen comes in tomorrow.” He doesn’t take his eyes off of the net that dips in and out of the water.
A beer dangles from my fingers, hanging between my spread legs. “You guys are in Waco ninety percent of the time. We never see you anymore. D and I would really like to spend some time with our brother. I mean, we love Day but we need guy time. It sucks missing our third wheel.”
This time he does pause and slowly turns his head to look at me. His brows are knitted together and his bright blue eyes look dark.
“Mal. Dagen is in her last year. We have a house together. I can’t just leave her there by herself all the time. Once she graduates we’ll move back.”
I stand from the lounger and step towards him. “Henny. She’s been on her own for three years. I think she’ll be fine for a week.” His jaw ticks and I see his nostrils flare in anger. “Dagen’s okay, man. What happened to her was horrible, but it wasn’t your fault. She knows that.”
“It was my job to protect her and instead I hurt her. I need to make sure it never happens again.” His voice is choked and he stands rigid.
I grab his shoulder and squeeze. “You both lost so much. It isn’t fair. But you can’t keep her in bubble wrap and stand guard. You’ll suffocate her.”
His shoulders relax and he drops his head with a nod. “I know you’re right. I just can’t help myself. I want to protect her from hurt and heartache. She’s suffered enough in her short life. I want the rest of it to be good.”
“Bro. It will be. You both will have a good life.”
Hendrix is like a tall pine tree. Strong and sturdy, silent and reliable. But when the wind blows hard enough, he bends and howls, fighting against what threatens to break him. Almost losing Dagen just about broke him. It’s going to take all of us, his family, to hold him steady.
“You’re so going to marry her,” I joke, jabbing him in the ribs.
“I am. Hell. I’d marry her now if she’d say yes, but she wants to finish school first. I never thought it was a life meant for me, but I don’t think I’d survive without her.”
I wipe away a pretend tear and sniffle. “Can I be your maid of honor?”
He pushes me off of him with a sneer that holds no weight. “Get the fuck out.”
The net begins swirling in the pool once again, scooping up leaves and pine needles. I watch the ripples in the blue water, thinking about how Dahlia and I jumped in the foamy waters at the beach. I want more days like that. I want to know more about Soleil, and I don’t want to do it under the guise of a helmeted, harmless biker.
“I like Soleil.” I blurt out.
“Huh?” Hendrix looks at me confused.
“Soleil. The mom of my student. I really like her.”
“No shit, Sherlock. A blind man could see that.” He scoffs with a shake of his head.
I take another pull of my beer that is growing warmer by the second. I step over to the grass and pour the last of it out then toss it in the trash can sitting by his backdoor.
“Ask her out,” he says simply.
“I can’t.”
“Why not? Will you get in trouble at work?”
My mouth drops open, ready to explain the reasons why I cannot, but the only thing holding me back is myself.
“You know, maybe a group setting would be best. Dagen’s parents have spoken to us about coming for a visit. I’ll reach out to Vaughan and see if they want to come this weekend. A.J. and Sloane will come along and that will give you a reason to invite her and her daughter to join us. Her little girl…”
“Dahlia,” I add.
“Dahlia. She seemed pretty excited at the idea of meeting Dagen’s siblings.”
“Yeah? You’d do that?”
