Page 90 of Meet Dare

“I heard them.”

He motions for me to continue. “Go on. What did they say?”

I repeat the words that have haunted me for years. “It would be easier if we didn’t have to drag Cedar with us.”

“Those words sound damaging but you probably heard them out of context.”

I scowl. “It’s hard to imagine what context would make those words okay.”

He marches toward the door. “I’m going to prove you wrong.”

I squeeze his shoulder to stop him. “Let it be. I’ve processed it.”

He snorts. “Processed it? You haven’t even begun to process it.” He brushes my hand from his shoulder and shoves his feet into his boots. “On the bright side, I won’t be camping on the hard ground tonight.”

He opens the door, grabs his backpack, and hurries down the stairs.

“You promised you can keep a secret,” I shout after his retreating form.

“I got this!” he shouts back.

‘I got this’ is not a promise to keep his mouth shut. Crap. I rub a hand over my face. I shouldn’t have told him. I should have hitched my house up to my truck when Cassie broke things off with me and left this town.

But, despite everything, I’m not ready to give up on my princess.

Chapter 30

Never stick around when you can run from a problem ~ Cassie’s rules for surviving this thing called life

Ihear a knock on my apartment door and freeze. Damnit. I thought I was fast enough. I shove my suitcase under the bed before straightening my ponytail and strolling to the door as if nothing’s wrong. Because nothing is wrong.

I open the door to discover Beckett standing there holding a key in his hand. I cock my eyebrow.

“I didn’t think you were going to answer.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “Where’d you get the key from?”

“I’m not at liberty to discuss it.”

“I thought Lilac preferred to break in.”

He shrugs. “Why break in when you have a key?”

I hold out my hand. “Gimme.” He immediately places the key in my hand. Red flag! “And the other key you’re hiding in your pocket.”

“It’s not in my pocket,” he grumbles as he removes a key from his wallet.

“Nice doing business with you.” I try to shut the door, but he plants his gigantic foot in the doorjamb to stop me.

“We haven’t begun to do business yet.”

“I don’t have time for this.”

He pushes his way inside. “You’re making time.”

“I’m serious. I have plans.”

“Which are hereby cancelled.”

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