Page 67 of Dare
Theyall begin yelling over one another, and Dare intervenes, placing his large bodyin front of mine. “Ayda will answer a few questions. One at a time.” Hiscommanding voice and stature says he won’t stand for any bullshit.
“DidTalbot Montgomery attack you with acid six years ago?”
“Yes,he did.”
“Isthat what caused the scarring on your face?” another woman speaks up, and Dareglares at her.
Layingmy hand on his arm, I tell him, “It’s all right.”
“Yes,he threw acid on me at the request of his girlfriend, a fellow ballerina whowanted my scholarship. Thanks to his father, he got away with it, as did thedancer.”
“Willyou tell us the dancer’s name?” another reporter asks.
Thesight of Victoria in that wheelchair flashes before me, now all alone and destitute,removed from the dance world forever, and likely facing charges of her own.“Not today. I’m sure that will come out soon enough.”
Theybegin clambering again, talking over one another, so I hold up my hand. “I’mnot the only woman victimized by Talbot Coulter. I don’t want to go on aboutwhat happened to me. I’ve healed and I’m very happy with my life. I do want toencourage any of the other women he’s hurt to come forward, to make sure henever gets out of prison and never has the chance to hurt anyone again.”
Irefuse to answer any more questions, and we rush to the car. I’ve never been sothankful for silence. The last few hours keep playing on a loop in my head, andnone of it seems real. Dare takes my hand, grounding me, and I smile at him.His love is a calm place in the middle of a storm.
“Let’sgo home.”
Epilogue
One month later.
Dare
“We’realmost there. Don’t be so impatient.”
Aydafidgets in her seat. I swear this woman can’t stand a few minutes of suspense.Okay, maybe it’s more than a few minutes, since I texted her over an hour agoto get ready because I had a surprise for her.
Justusand Jeremy both warned me I’m moving too fast, that asking Ayda to move in withme would be a mistake, but Landon told me to go for it. It took falling in lovewith my own girl to realize how normal his seemingly erratic behavior was whenhe fell for Zoe. These women drive us out of our minds, but as I gaze at her,her dark curls blowing in the cool March air, I know I wouldn’t change a thing.
Ipark on the neat, tree lined street only a few blocks from the dance studio,and she takes my hand, looking around. “Who lives here?” she asks as we climbthe steps of a two story Craftsman style house.
“Wedo,” I reply, nonchalantly, unlocking the front door.
Istride in, and look back at her as she stands in the doorway, her feet glued inplace. “What…did you buy a house?”
“Rented,for now, but we have the option to buy.” A flick of a switch illuminates theliving room and she gazes around at the rich wood and exposed beams overhead.
“We,”she mumbles, taking it all in before turning to me. “Did you maybe forget something?”
“Idon’t think so.” My back rests against the wall while my arms cross my chest.“We can change the colors, of course, or lay carpet if you like.”
Shakingher head, a small smile tilts her lips. “So, we’re moving in together?”
“Yep.”
“Andwhen did you make this decision?”
“Afew days after we met.”
Herexpression betrays how much she likes that answer. She walks over by the largefireplace and leans against the wall, mimicking my stance and crossing herarms. “Maybe I don’t want to move in together. I‘m trying to think back, butfor the life of me, I don’t remember being asked.”
Joyshines in her eyes, and I know she’s teasing. If I wasn’t a hundred percentsure this is what she wants too, I wouldn’t have rented the place. Stalkingover to her, I drop a brief kiss on her lips, then walk around the corner,leaning on the other side of the wall that separates the living room from thefoyer.
“Ayda?”I say, a little louder than usual, so my voice can penetrate the wood andplaster. “Would you like to move in with me? I found a great little house nearyour job that you’ll love.”
