Page 37 of Dare You to See Me
Another loudcannonballis shouted across the yard, followed by a resounding splash that sends water flying. Bodies dive underneath the swishing water, and quickly reappear. Malik pops up holding Dahlia in his arms, and Hendrix breaks through with A.J. holding tight to his neck.
“She really seems to love him,” I tell Dagen and her mother, Camille, as I watch their interactions. “A.J., I should say.”
“Oh. Totally. She calls him Chicken.MyChicken, to be precise,” Camille laughs. “She has been smitten with him from day one. And while he may not admit it, I think Hendrix is quite smitten with her. They have a special bond.”
She and Dagen exchange a look between the two of them, and I see Dagen’s eyes shine with tears that she quickly blinks away.
“A.J. insists that she’s going to marry Hendrix. She told me,Day, don’t get mad but I’m gonna marry Chicken. But you can live with us.” We all laugh and I watch as Hendrix climbs out of the pool and flings A.J. around to rest on his back.
“That’s so cute.” I turn my attention back to the pool where I see Dahlia chasing after Malik as he pretends to have difficulty swimming.
“I think someone else has a little crush.” My eyes triple in size and my face pales slightly at Camille’s words.
“H-huh?” I stutter.
“Dahlia. It seems she has stars in her eyes for Mr. Dare.” I chuckle, releasing my breath and giving the okay to my heart to start beating again.
My stomach bottomed out, sick with worry that these two ladies were able to read me like an open book. I’ve tried to play it cool and keep my attraction to Malik in check, but sometimes my face says more than my words.
I take a sip of my tea to quench my parched throat. “I think you may be correct. She talks about him constantly. It’s quite funny. Some days I think she’d rather spend time with him over me.”
“Everyone loves Mal. He’s the funny and kind one of the three. The others are well…”we all look over at Danté who seems to have a permanent scowl on his face, and Hendrix who only smiles at Dagen or A.J. “It takes awhile for them to thaw. Actually, we’re still waiting for Danté. I don’t think there’s any warmth under that icy exterior.”
“Oh I’m sure it’s there.Somewhere,” Camille adds.
My eyes find Malik and Dahlia once more, and he looks over at just that moment. Something flashes in his eyes and a delicious smirk teases me right before diving back under the water.
“Soleil,” Camille calls my name and I begrudgingly pull my attention away from the hottest man alive. “I hope you don’t think this is rude, and please tell me to mind my own goddamn business if you don’t want to answer but, I was wondering what your ethnicity is. Again, tell me to shove it if that’s prying.”
I give her a soft laugh, used to the question being asked. “It’s okay. It’s not rude. If I had a dollar for every time someone has asked me that, I’d be living in this house.” I hold my hands out as if they don’t already know what this gorgeous mansion looks like. “My mother is Japanese. Her parents came to the United States before she was born, so she’s a first generation American. And my father is, was, German. He passed away many years ago.”
Dagen clutches her chest and her face falls. “Oh gosh, I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“It’s okay,” I tell her, shaking my head. “I have an amazing step-dad who helped raise me and has never treated me as anything less than his own daughter.”
A big fat tear tracks down Dagen’s face and her teeth sink into her bottom lip. Camille reaches over, placing her hand on Dagen’s and gives her a couple squeezes.
“I’m sorry. I…did I say something?” I’m sure the confusion in my voice matches what I imagine my face to look like.
“No. You did nothing wrong,” Camille assures me. “I’m not Dagen’s biological mother. Her mother passed away when she was very young.”
“She’s the woman that birthed me. That’s all.” Dagen’s voice is curt and cold and I don’t even bother asking her to elaborate because it’s obvious there’s a lot of hurt behind the story.
With a sigh, Camille continues. “I came into Dagen’s life about ten years ago and as far as I’m concerned, she is mine. My daughter, my best friend, a piece of my heart walking around on the outside. So I understand how your step-father feels, and I’m glad you had him to show you the kind of love only a father can.”
We fall silent, all of us lost in our separate memories but feeling so much of the same. Our eyes wander back to the guys and their little shadows who are laughing and splashing at each other.
“I think A.J. has found herself a new best friend in Dahlia. I don’t think we’re going to get her to leave,” Camille chuckles.
“Oh I’m sure I’ll be dragging a very sad Dahlia home at the end of the night. She’s dying for more friends around here. She’s made friends with some of the kids in her class, but there haven’t been play date requests, so she really hasn’t had time to be with them beyond school.”
“Do you ha–”
“Mommy! Mommy!” Dagen is interrupted by the shrill screaming of Dahlia as she runs up to me. “Can I have a sleepover with A.J? She’s staying here and she said Chicken will let me if I wanna.”
She bounces up and down on her toes, water flying everywhere and puddling at her feet.
“First of all,” I tell her, digging into our beach bag and pulling out a towel. “Quit jumping. You’re splashing everyone. And two, I don’t think it’s up to A.J. if you can stay here atMr. Dare’shouse.”
