Page 37 of Dare
“Ormarried.”
“Orgay,” she adds.
“Betterto know now, I guess, before I got in too deep.”
Sadiehugs me. “I’m sorry. Just don’t let this keep you from trying again. You’vebeen so much more outgoing since you met him.”
“Iagreed to give private lessons at your sister’s school,” I tell her and herface lights up.
“Really?That’s awesome! I’m so proud of you.”
We’reinterrupted by a knock at the door. Sadie looks through the peephole andwhispers, “It’s him. Want me to tear him a new one?”
Astempting as that is, I have to fight my own battles. When he refuses to leaveand threatens to wait me out, my anger boils over. I’m not taking any more shitfrom him. “Wait in the bedroom,” I tell Sadie. “I can handle this.”
Shesteps out of view, and he barges through the door when I open it. I leave itopen, making it clear he isn’t coming past my foyer. I can’t believe theconversation that ensues. I expect him to apologize, claim he was drunk orsomething, but instead he says it wasn’t him. Seriously? That’s the best he has?I know you heard fucking and the girl scream my name, but it wasn’t me.It’s such an insult to my intelligence, I lose my temper, scream at him, andshove him out the door.
Hislast words ring in my head as Sadie rejoins me in the living room. “We’re notdone, Ayda.”
Iwish that were true, that things didn’t have to be this way, but I’m notsharing him with other women. “I’ve got to get to the dance school. Just lockup when you leave,” I tell Sadie, and escape to the solitude of my car.
Theundercurrent of sadness and disappointment I feel is tempered with anger thathelps propel me through the next few hours. Ryan performs the routinebeautifully, and I’m confident he’s ready for the upcoming competition. The newstudent I’m working with isn’t enrolled in this competition, so we have plentyof time to get her ready for the next one that’s over a month away.
Wechoose her music and work out her strengths and weaknesses, so we’ll know whatto work on, and I’ll know what to include in the routine. Her mother comes to pickher up a little early, and thanks me profusely for working with her. I smileand nod and say all the right words, but my mind is still stuck on Dare.
Theschool is empty since it’s now after hours, and I decide to spend a few minutesdancing alone. I crank the stereo and let the music take me far away from allmy worry and heartache. My mind clears as I float around the room, my eyesclosed, feeling the tension of the last few days draining away. It isn’t untilthe last chord fades that I look up and see I have an audience.
Sadie,Dare, and Justus stand by the door with smiles on their faces. I guess Ishould’ve locked up before I began. Sadie rushes to me with her palms up,“Don’t kill me. I talked to Dare, and I think you need to hear him out.”
Sweatdrips from my head as I walk over to grab a towel, and Sadie follows. “How longwere you watching?”
“Justa few minutes.”
BeforeI can respond, Dare grabs Justus’s arm and drags him over to me. “Tell her,” hegrowls.
Justusgives me an embarrassed grin. “Uh…yeah. That wasn’t Dare you heard at hisapartment Friday night. It was me.”
Howstupid do they think I am? And why is Sadie buying their shit? “Nice try, but Iheard her say Dare’s name.”
“Yeah.”His pale face begins to flush. “I sort of told the woman my name was Dare.”
Mygaze jumps from Dare back to Justus. “And why would you do that?”
“BecauseI met her at a…um…party, and I didn’t want her to be able to find me again. So,I gave her Dare’s name and took her to his place.”
Sadiegives me a terse nod from behind their backs. She believes them.
“Ifyou don’t believe him, I have a gas receipt in my car from a station in Ohio,”Dare adds.
Sighing,I shake my head. “I believe you.” I need to get away and process theinformation. “I’m going to shower. I’ll…talk to you later,” I tell Dare.
Hescoffs and takes a seat. “I’m waiting right here. We need to talk.”
Sadietries to hide a smirk and grabs Justus’s arm. “Let’s go. You’ve done enoughdamage for one day.”
“Damage!I saved the day!”
Sadierolls her eyes. “This is the guy you were going to set me up with?”
