Page 21 of Dare
Maybeit’s because I managed a day in public without wanting to crawl under a rocksomewhere, but I decide I’m not ready to go home. It’s getting cooler by theday and I really need to shop for some new winter clothes.
Sadiepicks up the phone on the first ring. “Hey, woman. Are you still working?” Iask, unlocking my car.
“Nope.Had an early day. What are you doing?”
“Justthinking about heading to the mall. Want to meet me?”
Thepause in her response is long enough that I start to wonder if the calldropped. “You want to go to the mall? Voluntarily?”
“Ineed some clothes, and I’m starving. I want one of those giant cinnamon rollsfrom the food court. You want to come or not?”
“Absolutely,just had to peek out the window, see if there were any flying pigs in the area.Meet you there in twenty?”
“Veryfunny, bitch. I’ll be by the north entrance.”
Sadiebounds up to me a few minutes later, her blond hair whipping in the wind, andlinks her arm through mine, leading us inside. “So, does this guy you’re ‘sortof’ talking to have anything to do with why you’re suddenly willing to shop inthe middle of the afternoon?”
“No,that’s no big deal, I told you.”
“Haveyou actually met him face to face yet?” she asks, as we grab our cinnamon rollsand sit at a nearby table.
“Uh…yeah.He brought me dinner.”
Istop there, but I know Sadie will never let me off that easy. “And?”
“Andhe kissed me,” I admit, feeling my cheeks heat when I recall what the kiss leadto.
Nearbycustomers glance in our direction when she squeals. “You slept with him!”
“Sadie!Shut up!” Christ, tell the whole mall. “I didn’t sleep with him. We just…Imean…he just,” I stumble over the words, finally leaning toward her to whisper.“We made out and he fingered me, okay?”
Hersmile is wide and mischievous. “I’ll bet it was way better than okay. Damngirl, he’s a pile of sexy. Did you, you know, return the favor?”
“No.”
“Whythe hell not?” She pops a chunk of cinnamon roll into her mouth.
“Hisfriend showed up.”
“Cockblocked.Bummer. So, when are you going to see him again? We should go to the spa, getyou a wax, do our nails, the works.”
Iknew Sadie would run with the information. I love how excited she gets, it’spart of what makes hanging out with her so fun, but I don’t want her to getcarried away. “I don’t think I’ll be seeing him again.”
“What,why not?”
“We’retoo different.” I shrug, keeping my eyes pointed at the shoppers flowing by.
Sadiesighs and shakes her head. “Bullshit. You’re making excuses. You’re scared.”
Damnit. I can never put anything past her. “He didn’t see me naked, just slid hishand down my shorts. Once he sees me, it won’t go well. I’d rather have a goodmemory of him, and maybe be able to keep talking to him occasionally.”
“Justbecause one asshole was too blind to see what you have to offer doesn’t meanthey’ll all react that way.”
Rationally,I know she’s right, but she has no idea how it feels. The only guy I datedafter my injuries showed me exactly what to expect. His name was Lawrence andwe met a few weeks after I was released from the hospital. Back when I stillbothered to wear makeup, spending hours finding the best way to cover thefacial scars as completely as possible.
Theywere still discernible, but not as instantly visible as they are withoutmakeup. We dated for a few weeks, and everything was good until the first nightI brought him home with me. No amount of concealer can cover the marred skinthat runs down my right arm and covers my ribs on that side. Luckily, my neckescaped damage, but my right shoulder bears skin that’s crumpled and misshapen.
Iknew before we even finished fucking that he was done. I didn’t miss the way hewinced when he saw me bare. His eyes were closed most of the time and he wascareful not to touch me anywhere near the scarred tissue. Blurting a lameexcuse about having to work early the next morning, he couldn’t get away fromme fast enough after we were done, and I never heard from him again.
