Page 8 of Dare
“Don’tyou know how cruel it is to tempt a man with baked goods and not share?”
Shedoesn’t reply, and I hear her shower kick on, effectively ending my teasing. Ohwell, I have shit to do today that doesn’t include the obstinate girl nextdoor. After a quick shower, I text Justus and arrange to meet him at the gym.
UnlikeLandon, Jeremy, and me, Justus has a moral objection to taking stolen moneyfrom the credit card scammers unless it’s used to help a victim. He choosesinstead to work as a stripper. He must be good at it, because I’ve seen theridiculous amount of money he pulls in. We all like to give him shit about it,I mean, one of our best friends shakes his cock in women’s faces for money.That shit is just funny.
Thetoe of my shoe comes into contact with a sealed plastic container when I stepout of my door. I’ve noticed containers like this left at Ayda’s doorstepbefore, and now I know it’s because she gives food to the homeless man wholives in the parking lot. Maybe he returned the container to the wrong door?That idea is quickly squashed when I pick it up and realize there are two largecinnamon rolls inside. Ayda left me breakfast, but why didn’t she just knockand hand them to me?
Ilearned long ago not to try to analyze the perplexing minefield that is thefemale thought process, so I scoop up the rolls and take them with me, eatingthem both before I make it out of the parking lot. Damn, they’re good.
Justusis just pulling into the gym lot when I arrive, his mop of blond curls whippingin the wind. “Hey, lovely locks.”
“Fuckoff, Hulk.” Justus pulls his hair back and wraps a black band around it.
“You’rejust jealous because my dick is bigger around than your bicep.”
“Andyet, I still get mine wet way more often.”
Laughing,we head inside. I began working out in prison because it was about the onlything that passed the time other than reading. It surprised me how quickly Igrew to love it, and one of the first things I did when I got out was sign upfor this twenty-four hour gym. Justus and I go a couple of afternoons per week,and I also meet Landon here for a few night workouts since he can’t go outduring the day.
Landonhas a rare disease that forces him to stay out of the sunlight. He deals withit well, but it also isolates him, so I try to get out with him at night when Ican. Since he’s met his girlfriend, Zoe, he’s been pretty occupied, though, soI’m back to working out during the day.
Wehit the weights first, spotting each other, then head for the treadmills forsome cardio. “What’s up your ass today?” Justus asks. “You’re in your ownlittle world. You need to get laid that bad?”
“Fuckyou. I’m just thinking. I realize that’s a foreign concept to you.” Actually,my mind keeps wandering to Ayda. I haven’t once spoken to her face to face, butshe won’t get out of my head. I realize it’s strange that she’ll talk to me,but doesn’t want to meet, and I could use another opinion on it.
“Youknow the girl who lives next door to me?”
“Theone you can hear using her vibrator?”
Damn,why did I ever tell him that? “Yeah, we’ve been hanging out…sort of.”
“Whatdo you mean sort of?” He increases the speed and incline of his treadmill, andI do the same, matching him.
“Wecan hear each other through the walls, especially in the bedroom. We talk andwatch T.V. and shit.”
Justusraises his eyebrows. “You only talk through the wall?”
“Sofar.”
“Doyou even know what she looks like?”
“Sweet,tight little body, an ass you want to take a bite out of.”
“Whatare you waiting for?”
Iwipe my forehead with the back of my hand. “She’s my neighbor. If she turns outto be a psycho, I’ll never get away from her.”
“That’strue. Why only talk through the wall? Ask her to come over, see if she’s crazybefore you fuck her.”
“Iplan to. So far, she isn’t having it.”
Justusthrows back his head, laughing as he steps off of the treadmill. “Dare finallyhas to chase a woman. Priceless.”
“Whydo I tell you anything?” I growl, accompanying him to the locker room.
“Noidea, dude.”
Mystomach is growling like a pissed off bear, so I stop at a burger joint on theway home. After ordering a double bacon cheeseburger with fries and a drink,Ayda’s voice pops into my head, telling me she feeds the homeless man who livesbehind the dumpster. Turning back to the drive through speaker, I add,“Actually, double that order.”
