Page 7 of Double Dared
He grinned, that broad, shining smile lighting up his face, and leaned back. “So, we’re doing this.”
“We’re doing this.”
We finished our coffees, and I made a note to tell him later to spice up his beverages. As we headed for the door, we picked up our umbrellas, and Taylor opened the door for me. I walked through and heard his umbrella open as soon as he stepped out. He lifted it before I could even untie mine, and it was large enough for both of us.
We crossed the street together under his umbrella as the rain fell and the colors melted from the world around us.
CHAPTER THREE
taylor
An extra sprayof cologne for good luck followed a lengthy and suffocatingly steamy shower because I liked pampering and wasn’t ashamed of it. Squeaky queen. Sue me.
The door banged closed behind me, and my feet pattered down the stairs to where Jason, Bennet, Greg, and Finn watched yet another film about some blue people nobody asked for. “Don’t wait up,” I said, sprinkling just enough intrigue to make them curious.
And the first to go for the bait was my self-adopted dad, Jason, rising from the semi-prostrate position on poor little Bennet. “Where are you going?”
“Uh, out.”
“It’s noon,” Finn pointed out. “We will very much wait up.”
“Don’t,” I said. I was already by the door, reaching for the knob, when Peanut, our house’s golden retriever, lifted his head off the pillow anddirected his clever gaze at me.Play time?Alas, I was in a hurry, and Peanut received more than a fair share of attention already, because I’d seen Jason run around the yard all morning. I hadn’t been able to tell which one of them was chasing the Frisbee. The distinction was minimal. “I don’t know when I’ll be back.”
My brothers and housemates were such a flock of gossips that their dying with curiosity was a given. “Now, hold on a second,” Greg said. “Where are you, Taylor Meredith Jackson, going in the middle of the day?”
“That is not my…never mind. I’m going out with Harrison.” I shrugged like a frustrated teenager who really didn’t need this line of questioning before going out with a friend.
“With Harrison? The Harrison? You already won the bet. Just brag about it,” Jason said.
Finn’s eyes were narrow with suspicion already. Good, good. I rubbed my hands greedily, but only inside the privacy of my own head. “He’s actually a pretty cool guy. We’re going to the arts and crafts market.”
Finn broke first, snorting loudly. “You and Harrison are going to an artisanal Sunday market.”
“I would tone it down on all that sarcasm if I were you,” I said, flipping him off.
“Wait, are you replacing us?” Jason asked.
I shrugged innocently. “I’m still auditioning him. He doesn’t know any of my stories.”
“And more to the point, what the hell are you wearing?” asked Finn.
“My nice clothes,” I said.
“You wore nice clothes yesterday.”
“I had a date you dared me to go on,” I pointed out. It was true. My wardrobe mostly consisted of hoodies and sweatpants, but I wasn’t a stranger to making an effort. “You’re really not scoring any points here, guys.”
“We’re sorry, Taylor,” Greg said. “We’ll do better.”
That drew a laugh from me.
“Have fun, I guess,” Jason said. “But you’re missing out on some ridiculous fun over here.”
I waved them goodbye and stepped out of the Bel House. The air was surprisingly warm after yesterday’s end-of-the-world downpour that had me pressed against Harrison’s arm all the way back to campus. He’d finally unfurled his umbrella after saying goodbye and marched on a couple of blocks to a place he had.
We’d gone over the plan in more detail on our way back despite thunder trying its best to take Emma’s side and make making arrangements impossible. Harrison’s task was to find the places and times where Emma was likely to appear, alone or with her new boyfriend, and we would try to get there first, learn a few names, and own the place like the beloved couple that we were.
On my end, I would spend a few days dropping clues while fervently denying any and all suspicions that something was going on between Harrison and me, and then I would be caught dramatically in mylies, and all my friends would drink themselves under the table trying to process just what they had done with their silly little dare. I might even get a coming-out cake and party and the whole shebang.
