Page 60 of Dare You to Run
“Yes,I promise to drive carefully. Stay only on I-10, no detour and only stopping for gas, pee break and food.” I sit on FaceTime with my parents, while in my home for the last nine days, while I gather all of my belongings.
“And check in with us every hour,” Dad adds.
“Good grief. Okay. Seven phone calls. Maybe six if I can speed through Baton Rouge without all the traffic.”
“No speeding!” Mom shouts. “Drive the speed limit.Belowthe speed limit.”
I roll my eyes and sigh. “Okay. I’ll drive twenty-five miles an hour. See you in five days.”
“Smartass. Just make it home safely, baby bird.”
I hear the worry in Dad’s voice and I feel horrible for what I’ve put them through over the last two weeks. I’m not a bad girl. I don’t step a toe out of line…ever. I graduated at the top of my class in high school. I’ve already been accepted to grad school, and I’m the best big sister you’ll find. My family always comes first so the fact that I left everyone high and dry without a word is very unlike me.
But as much as I love my family, I just needed to breathe without fifty people in my face. Their love can be a bit suffocating at times.
“I will, Dad. I promise. I’m really sorry I’ve put you all through so much lately.” My face falls and my heart stings with guilt.
“Oh honey, it’s okay.” Mom’s face falls soft and loving and it looks like she’s trying to climb through the phone. “You had a lot thrown at you. It’s understandable that you would need to be alone to process it all. We can be a bit much, sometimes.”
I squint one eye and hold my thumb and forefinger just a millimeter apart. “A little.”
“You better get on the road. I don’t want you driving in the dark. Please be sure to thank Mr. Dare for his kindness. I worried a lot less knowing he was looking after you.” Mom’s eyes widen and I bite back my smile, both of us knowing Dad wouldn’t appreciate the way that Mr. Dare cared for me.
“I will. Love you guys.”
“Love you,” they sing out together, like an expertly practiced chorus.
I press end and flop back on to the bed that I have stripped of its sheets in anticipation of them being laundered. I offered to wash them, but Hendrix wasn’t having it. His maid is coming to take care of it all.
The door creaks open and Hendrix slowly steps in. “Everything good?”
I turn my head and smile. He’s so gorgeous, my eyes have never seen a more beautiful man. And despite the black exterior he shows the world, inside he’s a bright light.
“Yeah. They’re just worry-warts. And not just because of the accident. They’ve always been that way.”
“I could tell when your dad interrogated me,” he huffs.
I prop myself up on my elbows and watch as he swaggers over. My eyes eat him up and my body already feels the loss of his touch.
“Can I say something without you thinking I’m some clingy, silly girl?” I ask him just as he leans over me, framing my face with his outstretched arms.
“Yes. You tell me and then I’ll tell you what I came in here to say.”
I nod my head and swallow, my throat scratchy and feeling like thorns line it. “I’ll never forget you Hendrix Dare and I’m thankful for that.”
His eyes search mine and I work hard to not let him see the tears that build behind my eyes. The look on his face is thoughtful and I can’t decipher if he’s about to kick me out on my ass or…or I don’t know.
I’m surprised when he kisses me, hard and unrelenting. I circle my arms around him and hold on with every fiber of my being, memorizing what he feels like. My nose starts to tingle and a lump builds in my throat. Hendrix rests his forehead against mine and sighs.
“I’m coming with you,” he tells me, his eyes still closed.
“Say what?” My eyes fly open and he rises to his full size.
“I said I’m coming with you.”
“Like…forever?” I am so confused right now and apparently it’s amusing to him.
“No, little mouse. I can’t stay forever.” My heartbeat that was pounding at triple comes to a hard stop. “I want to make sure you get home safely, so I’m coming with you. I’ll fly back tomorrow.”
