Page 98 of Allure

"We'll see how tonight goes and go from there."

“That’s all we can do,” I murmur.

“Yeah, fucked up my life is right,” he grumbles, but this time, his comment makes me laugh because it’s true. This is crazy and fucked up, but that’s our lives. We’re doing our best to change things for the better, and that won’t be easy, and it’s dangerous. There’s no denying that, but I’m willing to do what it takes.

I have to. I’ve been having so many nightmares about the attack on the nights I haven’t been too exhausted to have no dreams at all. For my sanity, for women everywhere, I will put my life on the line. If I’m killed, so be it, but I have to do this.

For my past.

For my present.

For my future.

I’ve done a hugely questionable thing in the past, and this is how I can atone for it.

I will have peace again.

That is more important than anything else.

* * *

“My car won’t start,” I tell Dawn when I get back to the dorm.

“Are you serious?” she asks. “What do you think is wrong with it?”

“Hell if I know. I’m not a mechanic,” I grumble.

“Wait, you have karate tonight, don’t you? Do you want me to drive you?”

“And do what during class?” I ask.

“I can get work done.”

Shit. I can’t have her around.

“Do you need the internet for your work?” I ask casually. “Because it’s so spotty there. I hate it. And Sensei will be there, and he sometimes shuts it off. I think he does that to try to get the parents to watch the class. Some kids need their parents watching to be on their best behavior.”

None of that is a lie, although if you don’t care about having Wi-Fi, then this won’t matter.

“Actually, I was planning on going to the library,” Dawn admits. “You’re a safe driver. Why don’t you just use my car? I don’t need it tonight.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course! The last thing I want is for you to be walking to and from class, and I know there’s no way you’re going to ask Declan for a ride.”

“He’s probably already there,” I mumble. “I could walk and see if he’ll bring me back to campus.”

“No. Drive yourself. It’s fine.” She dangles her keys. “If you want to head to the gym after, not an issue. I went earlier today. I sent you a text, but I’m not sure if you got it.”

“I didn’t. I’m sorry.”

She makes a face and tosses me the keys, which I fumble but manage to catch. “First time going all by myself. Heather wasn’t able to go.”

“Maybe you can try to find some other friends,” I say. “I haven’t had any luck. One woman helped me some, but I never got her name, let alone her number.”

“There should be an app for finding workout buddies,” she says.

“Seriously! Do you know how to make an app?”

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