Page 43 of Dare You to Run

I tell them I’ll call again in a couple of days and say goodnight. They scurry off to Dad who stands behind them. He bends, his arms open wide, and they jump at him. I smile, remembering the days when Dad would sing songs as I got ready for bed, making the one thing I didn’t want to do fun.

Mom waves to them then turns back to face me. “Hi my sweet girl. How are you?”

“I’m good, Mom. How’s everything with you all? From what Sloaney and AJ said, it seems you guys had a busy week.”

Mom sighs and nods. “Yes we did. It was very busy. Autumn is getting so big which means she wants to know everything about everything. And Sloane is all too anxious to fill her little heart with all the information she needs. According to him.”

We chuckle and her face grows a bit serious, her brows scrunching and her eyes squinting.

“Dagen Rayne. What’s that?” She waggles her finger side to side, pointing at something I obviously can’t see. “On your neck. There’s like a red line or…I don’t know what that is.”

My stomach drops when I remember how Hendrix wrapped his hand around my throat last night when we were having sex. Then my cheeks flush remembering just how much I liked it.

I touch the picture of myself in the corner of the screen to enlarge it, and examine the marks that mom has pointed out. Looking closer I see it’s actually a small line from where the helmet rubbed my neck.

“Oh. Um, Hendrix took me for a ride on his bike and I guess the helmet irritated my neck a little,” I explain, running my fingers over it.

“His bike? Like bicycle or like Harley?”

“More like Ducati.”

“Dagen!” Her eyes pop open and she gasps. “Why would you get on one of those things? Do you know how dangerous they are?”

“Not anymore than a Harley. Don’t worry, okay. I wore a helmet and a jacket and Hendrix was very careful. We went with a few of his friends and it was a lot of fun.”

She chews on her lip nervously, and I see doubt in her eyes. “Please be safe, honey. You know how skittish I am about motorcycles.”

“Not enough for you to stay off of them.” She gives me a narrowed look and I go on. “I understand and I promise–”

“Hey little mouse. Wanna go for a ride with Mal…”

The door flies open and Hendrix steps in wearing a black t-shirt and jeans that make him look like a wet dream on a stick. Tattoos peek out from his collar and the ones on his arms are beautifully displayed.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I’ll wait downstairs.” He lifts his hand to the screen and backs out, yanking the door shut.

I stare at the empty spot where he stood then slowly roll my head back to look at Mom.

“And who was that?”

“That’s Hendrix. The homeowner and guy who’s fixing your car.” I bite down on my tongue and wait for some type of blow back.

Instead she nods languidly and thinks about her words as she so wisely does. I lick my lips and swallow as my mouth suddenly grows very dry.

“Does he just barge into your room unannounced often?”

“To be fair, this is his home. I’m sure he was just coming to ask if I’d like to have dinner. He’s been really great about including me in his plans with his friends.”

“Well that’s…nice, I guess.” She looks like she wants to say more but something is holding her back.

“Spill it. What do you want to say?”

I ready myself to hear some long, drawn out speech about trusting strangers and all the things a young woman would hear in a situation like the one I currently find myself in.

She clears her throat then says, “He’s really handsome, Day.”

“Mom!” I shout, shocked that she would say that.

“What? I’m married –happily– but I’m not blind. That man is incredibly good looking and I am just going to put this out there, and you can take it how you wish. You’re young and beautiful and I have no doubt that man has two working eyes and can see all of that. But he is a man, so just be wise aboutstuff.”