Page 24 of Dare You to See Me
“Oh. Um…th-thank you. I, uh…” She swallows and fumbles with her words, and now I feel like a creepy asshole for making her uncomfortable.
I make a one-eighty turn and steer in a completely different direction.
“So, what do you do Soleil?” Probably one of the most impersonal, boring questions anyone can ask, but I need to salvage the moment.
She smiles and looks at her lap for a moment and I imperceivably lean back, giving her some space.
“I am a virtual admin assistant.” She picks her glass, taking a small sip before continuing. “I have a handful of clients that I manage their schedules, translate notes, manage their various tasks, and sometimes attend virtual meetings. It’s all very boring, really.”
I move my head slowly from side to side. “No, actually. It seems very interesting. Especially the virtual part. How does that work?”
“I meet with each one via video conference once a week to go over pertinent information, and then we exchange notes and emails throughout the week. It’s great for me because I can tailor my hours around Dahlia’s. I’m home if she were to become ill, and if the day is busy I can work after she’s gone to bed. Without any family here, I really needed to find something that would allow me to be present. You know?”
“That is really great. So many parents don’t have that option. Most of the single parents I know work very long hours. You’re a really good mom, Soleil. Not only can I see it, but Dahlia tells me daily so it must be true.”
The cutest giggle falls from her mouth and she bites her cherry stained lips. “She is quite the character. I’m afraid I may spoil her a bit too much. I feel like I need to compensate for the father that she no longer has.”
“I can imagine it’s quite difficult to go from having two parents to one, overnight.” Her face falls and gives me a sad nod. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
She reaches out, placing her small hand on my bicep and it sends a quake of fire rolling over my body. If I had any doubt about what this woman could do to me, it’s all been confirmed with that one little touch. She sets me on fire, and I want to feel the burn. The heat of passion and melting desire.
“No. Please don’t apologize. Everyone back home knows my business so I’m used to the intrusive questions and stares. Not that you are. Not at all. I just meant that it’s something I got used to being asked after a while. It’s why I had to get out there. I couldn’t stand to see pity on their faces. Poor little Sunny who found out her husband was cheating with her cousin, then got hit and killed by a car when he went chasing after her. I mean, c’mon. You’d be curious, right?”
I’m frozen in complete shock, my mouth hanging open and my brain trying to process the words.
“Oh yeah. It’s wild.” She leans her elbow on the table and begins telling me the story of not only the day she found out her husband was having an affair, but his subsequent death.
While I feel horrible that he lost his life, the emotion I feel most is anger. Anger that a man could have a woman like Soleil and not realize just how valuable she is. To treat her like an afterthought is beyond my scope of understanding. If she were mine, I’d show her what it’s like to be worshipped. She’d be the queen to my king.
“Wow. I don’t–I’m really sorry, Soleil. That is a helluva lot to happen in a lifetime, much less on the same day.” I wipe my forehead, sure that sweat beads my hairline from that intense story.
“Don’t be sorry. I had to grieve the loss of my marriage and my husband all at once. It’s like, I couldn’t decide which was more tragic and so my body and my mind just shut down. All I focused on was Dahlia and how this would all affect her. I could go on without a cheating husband, but he loved his daughter and she loved him. That is what worried me the most. Itstillworries me.”
Her eyes fill with unshed tears, but I know they are tears for Dahlia. She won’t have a daddy to take her to the dance. He won’t be there to make sure she knows her worth. She’ll walk alone down the aisle one day. All things that were a given when he was alive.
I rest my hand on hers, rubbing circles with my thumb across the back of it. “You’re a good mom. I’m sure that Dahlia will never know she’s missing anything. You’ll see to it.”
She inhales, her chest rising, and a shuddered breath leaves her mouth. “Sorry, This is probably not the type of conversation you imagined having on Friday night after a long week at school.”
“Hey. As long as it doesn’t involve crayons, glue, goldfish crackers or boogers, I welcome it.”
“Ew.” Her face scrunches up.
“You wouldn’t believe the stories the kids very freely share. I have to tell them that not everything is meant for sharing.”
“Oh gosh. I can only imagine what Dahlia tells you. I’m mortified.” Her head drops in her hands.
“Dahlia is really great, and the only thing she ever shares is about how lucky she is to have you as a mom. I know we aren’t supposed to have favorites, but she truly is mine. She’s a great little assistant.”
The voices are loud and begin to muddle together and yet, I swear I can hear the pounding of my heart. I can hear the blood pump through my veins. The soft breath that spills from her mouth. I’m so close to leaning over and stealing a kiss that I have to change direction.
“Do you want to shoot pool?” She blinks at the sudden change of my question.
“Um, yeah. Sure. I’m not terribly good, but why not.” I slide out of the booth and take her hand, helping her out and onto her feet.
Kyle and Danté barely notice our retreat as they sit close, talking about only God knows what. With a gentle hand on her lower back, I point to the table we’re headed for. The one in the back covered in red felt and ornate black legs. In the center of the table sits a large D for Dare. It’s different from all the others and everyone knows it belongs to us.
I pull a stool out for her and study the sticks that hang on the wall. There’s one for each of us brothers, and extras for our guests. Kinsley’s stick looks the smallest and probably best suited for Soleil, so I pull it out, chalk the tip and hand it to her. I take mine, do the same, then set up the rack.
