Page 96 of Dare You to See Me
“Oh, so you weren’t stalking her and pretending to be someone else just to get your rocks off?” She arches a brow and crosses her arms over her chest, refusing to let me break through her armor.
“It’s complicated. And if she’d only just listen, I could explain. I wasn’t trying to deceive her. King just…I thought it was the only way I could have her. And then when she came around to me, toMalik, the whole King thing came to an end.”
“How many other women did you pull this shit with?”
“None. I swear to you. I never did any of the things I did with Soleil with any other woman. It was only her. I only want it to be her. Dammit Kyle, I’m going blind without her. My world is going dark and I-I have to get her back.”
She blows out a harsh breath and I think she’s going to break and agree to help me. Her eyes narrow as she continues to stare at me and I hope she sees the desperation. I’m holding onto life by a finger. I don’t know how long I can hold on before I plummet.
“Just leave her alone, Malik. She’s already suffered a tragedy once in her life. She won’t survive a second. Walk away.”
She turns on her heel, the clicking of her shoes growing faint as she puts more distance between us. My heart is a ticking time bomb, waiting to implode.
Christmas came and went with no word from Soleil. The sun rose and set with me sitting on my couch, staring at my phone and willing it to ring. Their presents still sit under my tree, untouched and longing to be opened.
Henny called, Danté texted, and Kinsley pounded on my door, but they all went unanswered. I don’t have the strength to do anything but pray for Soleil to come back tome.
Kids file in, all of them wishing me a happy new year, but I can barely force a smile out. It hurts to breathe without her. Dark circles hang under my eyes from not sleeping, and today when I got dressed for class, my clothes sagged on my withering body.
Food, sleep, the outside world; none of it matters if I don’t have Soleil.
My eyes search the halls for any sign of her and Dahlia. The clock ticks closer to the start of school, but they are nowhere to be found. Just when I’m about to lose all hope, I see one of the counselors walking towards me, Dahlia clutching her hand.
The smile that I was working so hard to show appears without any encouragement. The worry that she wasn’t coming began eating at me. When the two of them get closer, Dahlia breaks free from the counselor and comes barreling towards me.
I squat down, my arms open wide and waiting to hold her. She squeezes me tighter than she ever has.
“I missed you,” she whispers in my ear. “Are you feeling better?”
I pull back to look at her, confused. “Do I feel better?”
“Yeah. Mommy said you’ve been real sick and that’s why we couldn’t see you. So are you better? Can I have a sleepover in my room?” The counselor clears her throat and I pry my attention away from Dahlia.
“Why don’t you go in and start your morning warm-up. I’ll be right in.” I set her down and watch her hang up her backpack, then place her lunch kit in the bin before taking her seat.
“Mr. Dare,” the counselor says. “Mrs. Brooks has requested a change of class.”
“What? No. I don’t understand.” I lean against the door to steady me as my knees grow weak.
“I guess there was a personal matter and she would feel more comfortable with Dahlia in another class.”
I clutch my chest as it cracks open. “Can you give me a couple days before doing that? I’ll reach out to see if I can rectify whatever it is.”
She agrees to give me that but says she will look at which teacher will fit her best.
I run to my desk and open my inbox. My fingers work furiously as I type.
From: [email protected]
RE: Dahlia
Soleil-
Please don’t take Dahlia away. She’s thriving in class and I worry what could happen if you switched her.
I understand you don’t want to talk to me. But I promise, I would never do anything to hurt Dahlia or jeopardize her learning. She would be devastated and so would I.
