Page 68 of The Dare

I pace, naked. My fingertips at my temples as I try to think.

I check my phone for messages from my mom or dad.

Nothing.

Shoot.

They know something’s up. That’s why they’re heading back unannounced, I’m sure of it.

I didn’t ask Suze what she told them both, and she didn’t say much. Only taking the time to give me a heads up before dipping out of sight.

Thanks, Suze. Thanks a bunch.

I jump with a start when Michael suddenly appears in the doorway of the bathroom.

I’ve never minded seeing him naked. But a few more minutes to get my thoughts together might’ve been nice.

“Who were you talking to, baby?” he asks casually before his gaze shifts from mine to my nakedness, making him growl low in his throat.

“Maybe I got cleaned up only to get all dirty again?” he muses aloud, cocking more than his brow once I see my favorite part of him springing to life again.

No time for that, girl. Think!

“You know what?” I ask him, speaking way too fast as I stumble to get dressed while talking a million miles a minute. “Why don’t we go to my place? Maybe you can drop me off and I can see if my things have arrived… you can just drop me off and come back later, maybe even tomorrow. Yea, that works…”

Whatever half-baked idea I’m trying to sell, Michael isn’t buying it. Not for a second.

Keeping his birthday suit on, he takes a seat on the edge of the bed, patting the empty space next to him.

“Come here,” he demands. “Sit right here and tell me what happened.”

I sigh bitterly, puffing air out of my cheeks.

I didn’t think it would be as simple as all that. No way would Michael just roll over and say ‘sure!’ once I asked him to drop me at home and leave me all alone for a whole day and a night.

So I tell him.

I tell him everything, starting with my dream of the ranch for some reason, which makes him smile wide with satisfaction all the way through the rest of the story.

“Really?” is all he says once I’m done. Once I’ve told him everything. How we need to move quickly so as to avoid catastrophe with my parents.

“You really dreamed we were on a ranch?” he asks again, shaking his head to himself.

“Not ‘we’,” I clarify. “Me. Now, will you hurry up?” I plead. “Can youpleeeeasejust go along with this? Just drop me home and lay low until I convince my parents that I’m fine… Then we can—”

I’m trying to sound like I have a plan, like I can get away with this without my parents finding out, but Michael’s head shaking remains constant.

In the end, it’s he himself who explains things. It’s he who tells me how it’s gonna be as he pulls me close once I sit down like he’s told me to.

“I said yesterday Natasha that I’m not ashamed to be with you and you shouldn’t be ashamed of me either…”

I stifle a groan, hearing my worst fears starting to come to life as he continues.

“I think you should call your mom, call your dad and have them both come here. They could even stay a while if they want. There’s a guest house by the pool.”

Michael genuinely sounds pleased with his idea, and I know for a fact he’s not kidding.

Feeling my anxiety steadily rising, it eventually bursts. Kind of like a bubble in my mind, and I feel my whole body relax as I realize what’s going to happen.