Page 9 of Dare You to See Me
“We’ll have to press pause on this because I’m going into a deposition, and who knows how long this will take. Some days I really love my job, but most of the time I don't. I need a sugar daddy who wants to keep me tied to his bed and make me his sex toy. Sigh. That’d be the dream.”
“You have serious problems, you know that?” My smile grows as it usually does when we talk.
“I know. But it’s why you love me. Bye bestest. Talk later.”
“Bye bestest.” We blow kisses then hang up.
I continue adding memos to all of the calendars and color coordinate mine to help me keep track and make sense of everything when I get a notification from my inbox.
M. Dare
Hello Mrs. Brooks…
I blink, staring at the words for a few moments, debating on whether or not I should open it. I can’t imagine it’s anyone but Malik Dare, but I’m nervous and curious as to why he’s sending me a message so early in the school day.
I finally click accept, and there in my inbox is a unread message from the man I have been admiring all day.
Hello Mrs. Brooks -
I just want to give you a little update and let you know that Dahlia is doing great. She has become quite the helper and is a very intelligent young lady. Hopefully this gives you some peace of mind. Have a great rest of your day.
~Malik
I read the note over and over, if for no other reason than to try and imagine what his voice would sound like. The timber that greeted me this morning sends chills down my spine and sends a signal straight to the place between my legs that has been so neglected over the last year. Aside from the occasional zinger with the toy Kyle bought me, I’ve been on a pretty steady drought in my sex life.
I chew on my lip, wondering if I should respond or not, but I think it would be quite rude to not at least acknowledge his message. I type out a quick response and hit send.
Thank you for the update, Mr. Dare. Please feel free to contact me via my phone should you require anything.
~Soleil Brooks 993-9770
I watch the message go from sending to sent and panic just a little. I quickly exit out and focus back on the work that I have neglected all morning. My eyes scan the notebook that I’ve scribbled in when another ding draws my attention away.
My hands shake as I click to open it and smile at what it says.
Mrs. Brooks…I thought I told you to please call me Malik. Only my students call me Mr. Dare.
My fingers move on their own volition.
Mr. Dare…I will address you as Malik if you promise not to call me Mrs. anymore.
Ms. Brooks?
He replies back instantly, the email thread growing longer.
How about first names? Thank you for reaching out, Malik.
You’re welcome, Soleil.
I decide to end it there, not wanting to appear as if I’m waiting for his next word, and get back to working like I should have been doing all morning instead of drooling over Dahlia’s teacher. I focus and let work consume me until my alarm buzzes, letting me know it’s time to go pick up my mini me from school.
I park and walk through the main doors of the school, following the rest of the kindergarten parents who speed through the doors, all of them probably curious about their kid first day.
My fingers twist nervously in front of me as other parents talk to one another. Many of them appear to be friends, or at least friendly, with one another. Meanwhile, I’m the loner with my back plastered to the wall. I don’t know a soul in this town aside from the cashier I’ve gotten acquainted with from the grocery store. My neighbors seem younger than me and don’t have any kids, so there are no kids for play dates on my street.
It was one thing that had me so nervous for Dahlia. We’ve spent weekends in either Gulfport at the beach with Kyle, or back home with Mom and George over the summer, when I should have been taking her to local parks and libraries to try and make friends.
A soft bell rings and the kids begin to cheer on the other side of the door. I see Malik’s back as it blocks the small window into the classroom, and I hear him mumbling to the kids, probably giving them instructions.
