Page 54 of Dare You to See Me

“Uh, I guess I’m not sure what you’re talking about. Is there an event at school I missed?”

“Oh no. Nothing like that. I just thought I’d invite you and Dahlia to meet Mason and I at the park. The weather looks nice and it would be a good day to let them run out some of that energy they always bring home.”

My first inclination is to say no, just like I have the previous ten times he’s asked. But I’m starting to run out of excuses as to why I can never meet him. Work, doctor’s appointment, family, now a fictional boyfriend that, if I decided, wouldn’t be so fictional.

With a sigh, I decide to just give in and get the damn thing over with. Maybe he’ll stop asking.

“Sure. We can do that. The park closest to school?” There’s a small neighborhood park just a few blocks from school, and it seems to be a safe and neutral location.

“Perfect,” he says, his voice much more chipper. “I’ll have some snacks. Mason is always starving after school and can’t wait until we get home.”

I chuckle because that is all too familiar. “Same. Dahlia gets in the car as if she hasn’t eaten in days.” The line falls silent before I say, “Well, we’ll see you later.”

“Yes. Later, Soleil. Have a good day.”

“You too.” I end the call because the man just gives me the creeps and I don’t want the conversation to drag on.

“Mommy! I’m done!” Dahlia shouts from the kitchen.

“Coming.” Walking in I find that she has placed her plate and glass in the sink, and she stands next to it with a big smile of pride. “You did it all by yourself?”

“Yup. I’m getting real big. I can do big girl jobs now.”

She’s right. She is getting big and it breaks my heart.

“So proud of you. Now let’s get going before we’re late.” We race off to get shoes and laugh the entire drive to school.

As usual, Malik is waiting at his door to greet every student that walks in. And as usual, my stomach does a somersault when I see him. He sends a tingle all the way to my toes and it makes me think of my incredibly real dream I had of him last night. I swear, it was like I could feel him touching me. When I woke up this morning, my body felt relieved and I knew instantly my hand had a mind of its own while I slept.

Not the first time it’s happened.

“Good morning, Dahlia.”

“Mr. Dare! I had cimmamim on my bananas and peanut butter this morning. Just like you said.” Now I find out where that request spurred from.

I thought it was another kid.

“Cinnamon,” he corrects her just as I did.

“That’s what I said.” She looks at him with a funny look on her face before she hugs and kisses me goodbye and runs off.

“Morning, beautiful.” Malik’s voice is husky and strikes a chord in me that has my cha-cha singingHaaa-lelujah.

“Good morning.” I keep my smile under control despite wanting to throw my arms around his neck and kiss him.

“Would you be interested in meeting for dinner tonight? And by meeting I mean we just happen to be having dinner at the same place where we conveniently run into one another. Nothing suspicious about that, right?”

God what I wouldn’t do to say yes, but my conversation with Wesley puts a wet sheet on that fire.

“That sounds great but I-we have plans. Sorry.” His face falls and guilt swirls in my belly instead of the butterflies from just moments ago. “Next time?”

With a tight smile he says, “Sure. Next time.”

The bell rings and I toss him a wink before leaving. I look back before exiting and he still stands there, watching me and looking a little crestfallen. That look is the exact reason why I don’t tell him our plans are with Wesley. That sad little boy expression.

That and the fact that I think his sadness would turn into hulk-like rage hearing Wesley’s name. He’s made it abundantly clear how he feels about that man.

One playdate and then that’s the end.