Page 16 of Dare
Hercheeks redden as she shakes his hand. A pang of pure irrational jealousy floodsthrough me. Sunny is beautiful, with blonde hair and pretty blue eyes. She’stall and curvy, everything I’d expect a man like Dare to look for in a woman,and I suddenly feel like a grungy loser.
“Sunny,”she replies, before turning to me. “I live in the next building, apartment 3B.Come by sometime. I’m always stocked with junk food.” Her sincere smile drawsthe same from me. She’s really nice and funny. And I definitely need to makesome friends.
“Iwill.” I grab a paper towel for her to wipe Brody’s face. “Bye Brody. Hope youget a bunch of candy.”
Theymake their way down the stairs, leaving me alone and face to face with Dare.“You didn’t have to bring dinner,” I tell him. “I mean, just because I unlockedyour door for you last night doesn’t mean you need to do anything. It was nobig deal.” Great. I’m babbling. I can hear the tremble of nerves in my voice,so I’m sure he can. I don’t want to lose what I have with him, as pitiful asthat may be, so I figure the best thing to do is treat him like I would anyfriend, let him see I don’t expect anything more from him. That’s not exactlyeasy to do when he’s standing before me in a black suit I want to tear off him.
Hisexpression is serious as his gaze locks with mine. “I don’t do anything I don’twant to do, Ayda.”
Christ,I know what I want to do, but I doubt it’s what he has in mind. “Okay.”
“Now.”He unpacks the bag and places two large containers on the counter. “I’ve gotspaghetti and chicken alfredo. Plus, some garlic bread.”
“Itsmells fantastic.” I grab two plates and some silverware. “There are waterbottles in the fridge, or soda if you’d rather have that.”
“Water’sfine.” It’s funny how fast we fall into sync and my nerves calm down. We’vespent hours talking through the walls, and this feels no different. We take ourfood to the living room to eat in front of the T.V.
“Puta movie on if you want,” I tell him, running to answer the door again and doleout more candy.
WhenI return, he’s chosen the vampire movie I rented. “Why are women so intonecrophilia?” he teases.
“What?”I ask, sure I heard him wrong.
“Whydo women want to fuck dead dudes?”
“Hey,these vamps don’t twinkle or fall in love. And I don’t want to fuck them.”
“Goodto know.” He takes our dishes to the kitchen while I deal with another group oftrick-or-treaters.
Thistime I open the door to a group of teenagers too old to be trick or treating.The two girls are dressed as what I assume are strippers, although one wears aheadband with cat ears attached. The boys haven’t bothered with a costume,though they’ve splashed some fake blood on themselves and one has a bunch oflatex hanging off of his face.
“Trickor treat,” one of the girls says, and I dutifully add candy to their bulginggrocery bags.
“Thankyou,” the same girl says, before they turn to leave.
AsI’m shutting the door, I hear one of the boys laugh. “Damn, did you see herface? It was scarier than your mask.”
Theyall laugh, and another boy replies, “Yeah, but there’s no peeling that shitoff.”
Peopletalk shit, and teenagers more than most, so I try to shake it off. I’m used toremarks like that, and being laughed at, but I really didn’t need it tonight. Hangingout with Dare hasn’t been as awkward as I’d feared, and I’d kind of forgottento be worried about how I look. Now, I feel self-conscious about facing himagain, but there’s no hope for it. I’m sure he’s realized by now I’m not goingto try to get with him or anything, so I’m hopeful we can continue thefriendship.
We’verun out of candy, and I hang a note on the door so no one else will knock, andreluctantly return to the living room.
Darestands in my living room and I’m struck again by how gorgeous he is. Themuscles in his back bulge and flex as he removes his tie and rolls up hissleeves. I’m frozen in place, watching him when he turns and a smirk lifts hislips. “You’re checking me out.”
Myface instantly heats and I roll my eyes. “No, I’m not. I’m just wondering whyyou’re wearing a suit.”
Themirth leaves his eyes. “I had to go to a funeral today. A friend of mine diedof a heart attack.”
“Oh,I’m sorry.”
“It’sokay. Jed and I weren’t really close, but I had to go pay my respects.” Helooks at me. “My friend Justus was close to him though, so we all went out todrink in his memory last night. I don’t usually get trashed like that.”
“I’msurprised you remember last night,” I tease.
“Oh,I remember.” Finally, we settle down to watch the movie.
ChapterFour
