Page 65 of Dare You to See Me
“Not at all. I agree wholeheartedly. I just really hope that isn’t something you bought for yourself.”
His jaw dropped with a small smile.“No. I didn’t buy it for myself. It was given to me by a student who obviously thought I was awesome.”
We had a good laugh as he made us omelets –the only thing he can make, according to him– and ate together before I had to pry Dahlia away from him. She would’ve spent the entire day, and probably another night, if I had let her.
She was sad but when she went skipping into class the next morning, she was all giggles and smiles. Malik high fived her as she walked into class then discreetly touched my hand with a wink.
During one of his breaks he texted me,
Malik: Hello beautiful. I just want to tell you how much I miss you and wish you were in my arms. Date this Friday? Just you and I?
As badly as I wanted to do just that, I wasn’t sure that I could keep pawning Dahlia off on Kyle and my parents without her getting suspicious. I replied to him with what I thought was a clever idea.
Me: How about we happen to dine at the same place and we invite you to join us?
Malik: Sure. I just really want to be able to hold your hand and kiss you whenever I want. Can’t do that with my best and favorite student watching my every move. Unless you want to tell her?
Me: No. I’m not ready for that.
Malik: Then dinner run in, it is.
I knew he was disappointed but for now, that’s all I could offer him. Until I felt Dahlia was in a place to handle what being in a relationship with her teacher meant, our alone time would be few and far between.
I plate the omelet and set it down in front of Dahlia who sits at the counter, doodling on a paper.
“What are you drawing?” I ask her, turning my head to get a better look.
“A picture for Mr. Dare.”
I squint my eyes and see that the drawing is of three people –presumably Malik, Dahlia and myself– standing under a tree, holding hands and smiling big. I have flowers in my hand and Malik is holding something brown in his.
“What’s Mr. Dare holding?”
“Your brownies. He said that your brownies are the best he’s ever tasted.” I bite my lip thinking about what he tasted after Dahlia fell asleep that night.
I run my fingers through her long hair when the doorbell rings. We both turn our heads in the direction of the door, wondering who could be at our house at seven-fifteen in the morning.
“Finish up. We’re leaving in twenty minutes.” I walk to the door thinking, perhaps, it’s Kyle paying us an early morning visit, but she wouldn’t ring the doorbell.
That’s not her style. She’d just use her key and barge right in.
I look out the peephole and deepen my already furrowed brow.What in the hell is he doing here?
I flip open the locks and slowly pull the door open.
“Good morning,” he says, far too chipper for this early in the morning.
“Wesley? What are you doing here?” He stands with Mason next to him, both looking like they were invited.
“I thought we could drive to school together. Perhaps you and I could stop for a coffee on the way back.”
Is he fucking for real?Who just shows up at someone’s home uninvited? And let’s not forget that I barely know him and sure as shit didn’t give him my address.
“Um. How did you know where I lived?” I cross my arms over my chest and stand sturdy in the doorway.
“It was easy. I have your phone number so I just did a reverse search for your info.”
My stomach turns and bile works its way up my throat. This man went to such lengths and now I’m thinking I need to find a way to make all of that go away.
