Page 135 of I Dare You
Soon, we’re both laughing.
This has been a truly traumatic day.
I send Kit a quick text, letting him know Dandy is okay and I’ll be home soon.Dandy and I stand, both exhausted.But Dandy takes my hand.
“Spaghetti arms,” he says, reciting another classic line fromDirty Dancing.“You’re not leaving until we have one last dance.”
I don’t know why that sounds so final.
But Dandy takes my hand, and we dance like we’ve done a thousand times before.I lose myself to the music.And I can only hope for a better tomorrow because today fucking sucked.
Once we’re done, we’re both feeling better.It’s amazing how this one thing between Dandy and me can make us feel better.It’s confirmation that he will always be my ride or die.
We walk down the stairs and toward the garage, as Dandy has offered to drive me home.I haven’t heard from Kit, which troubles me.I thought he would text back.We’re driving past a motel along the highway when I see his red truck parked out front.
“What’s Kit doing there?”I turn over my shoulder, and when I see a blonde woman enter through the doorway he’s standing in, I almost give myself whiplash.
Dandy mutters under his breath, confirming my fears.“Fuck.”
I don’t like the way this is going.
“Dandy, pull over!”I order, but he doesn’t.
He keeps driving.
“Dandy!”
When he continues to ignore me, I unsnap my belt and open the door, ready to jump out.My phobia of cars is long gone.
“Hallie!”he screams, looking between me and the road.He soon pulls over when he realizes I’m serious.
“What’s going on?”I demand, turning in my seat.
“Hallie, it’s not what you think.”
“No, it’sexactlywhat I think.Why is your brother meeting up with some woman at a secret rendezvous?Tell me it’s not what I think it is.”
Dandy clenches the steering wheel, clearly wrestling with what to do.“I can’t?—”
Fuck this.
I open the door and run toward the motel.Dandy chases me, calling my name.But I’m not stopping.Not until I find out what’s going on.
I don’t hesitate and burst through the motel room door, breathless and nearly hysterical.
“Hallie?”Kit says, clearly startled he got caught.
The woman stands and backs away.She senses I will rip out her hair if I uncover what I hope isn’t true.
“Who’s this?”I ask, my gaze never wavering from the terrified woman.
“This is Franny.She’s my ex-girlfriend.But it’s not what it looks like.”
Dandy comes through the door, panting and attempting to catch his breath.This would be comical if not for the fact I’ve just caught Kit with his very pretty ex.
“I have a baby,” Franny confesses in fear, which doesn’t clarify what’s going on.
“Hallie.”Dandy grips my arm and gently pulls me back.I didn’t even realize I was advancing.
