Page 71 of The Dating Dare

But she shouldn’t have to explain her past to Seth. Why should she have to tell him about the men she’d been with before him? Then she thought about how she would react if they ran into one of his ex-lovers, a gorgeous model. She would go mad with jealousy. Just imagining it made her stomach twist. And she would feel insecure. She would wonder if she was just one of the women in his long line of casual lovers.

Had that been it? Was Seth seeking reassurance that he meant more to her than a casual fling? Despite their agreement to keep their relationship a fun, simple fling, did he wish it was more than that? Just as she did?

It was too much to think about right now. She was angry and hurt, and too worked up to properly engage in “what if I were in his shoes” exercises. Tara let herself into her house and kicked off her shoes, letting them land wherever they fell. She didn’t know if anyone was home and she didn’t care. She headed straight for her room and fell facedown on top of her bed. Might as well be comfortable while she mulled over her fight with Seth. But even though it wasn’t yet noon, she fell into an exhausted, dreamless slumber.

There was an urgent buzzing sound coming from the purse she dropped on the floor.What the hell is that?As she slowly surfaced from the depth of sleep, she realized it was the text alert on her phone. A glance at the clock told her that she’d been out for more than an hour, and she knew who was texting her.

The buzzing had grown increasingly closer together. After takinga deep breath, she reached her hand into her purse and rummaged around till her fingers wrapped around her cell. She pulled it out and saw that she had twenty-seven text messages.

SETH:I’m a monumental asshole.

She wouldn’t go so far as monumental, but he had been an asshole. As his text messages continued, his insults at himself grew increasingly amusing.

SETH:I’m a piece of chewed gum stuck on the bottom of a second grader’s desk with black pock marks made by a freshly sharpened pencil.

Then the humor slowly leeched out of his texts.

SETH:Tara? Can you say something please?

SETH:I’m trying to apologize. I guess I’m not doing a very good job of it.

SETH:God, Tara. I am so very sorry. I shouldn’t have said what I did. It was none of my business.

The tightness in Tara’s chest eased a little at his apology. But her lack of response increased the desperation in his pleas.

SETH:Please forgive me. I will never act like a jealous fool again.

So he had been jealous. A small smile lifted one corner of her mouth. Although she had every right to feel a bit vengeful after the things he’d said, she shouldn’t enjoy her power over him this much. But it felt good that it wasn’t just her who was tortured by the green beast.

SETH:Did you mean it? Are you done with me?

SETH:Please tell me you didn’t mean it.

SETH:Tara? Are you going to ignore me forever?

SETH:Well, I sure as hell am not done with us.

SETH:Goddammit just say something. Anything.

Tara gasped and sat up on the bed.Oh, no. He was suffering, and she was here gloating over his messages.

TARA:Anything.

The ellipses began scrolling immediately on the screen.

SETH:Just one second. I’m going to collapse on the couch from relief.

TARA:Oh. Take your time.

SETH:Were you torturing me with your silence for fun?

TARA:Maybe…

SETH:I can’t say I blame you.

TARA:You wouldn’t dare after the dick move you pulled.

SETH:No, I wouldn’t. Tell me. What was going on with you? Are you okay?

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