Dare (Finding Love Book 1) (16 page)

Jennifer

I turn over onto my side, bumping into a large arm. Peeking up, I smile at Dare’s sleeping face. His lips are tilted, as if dreaming of something good. He looks serene, calm. Slowly I lean up on my arm, gazing down at him.

It’s been a few weeks since we got back together, and those have been perfect. Our relationship is real, and we’re entirely open with each other. To have that connection with someone is fulfilling, and I’m glad I get to experience it. I keep thinking that if I had never moved to California, I wouldn’t have met Dare. Where would I be right now?

The thought saddens me. I wouldn’t have Hayley and Jaclyn, Cole or Dare. And I never would have found Mo again. Everything I need is in this place - my home.

Since I’ve written Mom that letter, we’ve talked a few more times. She’s said that she had nothing to do with Mo’s leaving, and that reading my letter gave her relief. I don’t know if Mo has written her at all, and I don’t ask him because letters between us are personal, holding the words we’ve desperately wanted to say to each other years ago.

I’m drawn out of my thoughts by Dare shifting to lie on his back. Slowly he wakes up and I giggle, causing him to smile. He sits up and leans against the headboard. “What are you doing way over there?” he growls, reaching his hands out to me.

Laughing, I scoot close. “I was watching you.” I blush at how that sounds, and he laughs.

“Oh you were, huh? Did you like what you saw?”

I nod slowly, peeking up at him through my lashes. “Oh, yes. I definitely did. I still do,” I whisper.

His eyebrows rise and he leans down, gently pressing his lips against mine. “I love waking up like this, with you in my bed, looking thoroughly ravished.” He bites my ear, and I gasp.

“I love being here too,” I tell him breathlessly.

“Good. Then maybe you’ll want to move in?” he asks cautiously, his eyes fixated on me, waiting for my answer.

Move in with him? Can I do that?
We’ve been together for a while, so it wouldn’t be weird. Would it? I know I love him, and though I know it’s soon, I do want to marry him. I know what I want with him for my future, so why not move in? It seems so simple.

I sit up and smile. “Of course I will. I think it will be great!” I tell him.

He sighs with relief and kisses me again. “You have no idea how nervous I was to ask that.” He chuckles while shaking his head.

“Well, as much as I would like to stay here all day with you and get excited about moving in with you, we need to get going.”

He drops his head back and groans. “A few more minutes?” he trails off as I shake my head. “Damn.” He pouts.

I laugh and get out of bed, pulling his T-shirt down to cover my thighs. “Come on, you. Let’s get ready. Cole’s party can’t plan itself!” I sing-song.

I pull on my dress, swirling around as it flares out. It’s light pink with black polka dots, ending just above my knees. Underneath I have to wear jeans as we’re taking his motorcycle though. All of a sudden, I remember something and I turn back around.

Dare is pulling on some jeans, looking especially handsome today. I lean against the wall just outside the door and stare unapologetically. He looks up and smirks, catching me staring. “What?”

“You never did tell me your name,” I say with an arched brow.

He shrugs. “I guess I just forgot about telling you. Why, you wanna know?” He wiggles his eyebrows.

I walk over to him, shaking my head with a rueful smile. “Of course I want to know, you jerk.” I hit his stomach, laughing as he exaggerates his pain.

Straightening up, he takes my hand, linking our fingers together. “Derek.”

I tilt my head to the side. “Derek, huh? I like it.”

He hums. “I like when you say it.”

“Guess I’ll have to say it more often. Now, let’s go.” I pull him out of his room, grabbing my leather jacket at as I go.

Dare - I don’t think I could ever get used to calling him Derek, to be honest - wraps his arm around my waist. “I like seeing my name on you,” he growls out.

Snickering, I shove him away. “Stop! We have to go!”

Before he can answer, I open the door and head outside.

_*_*_*_

I finish hanging up the last blue streamer and stand back in accomplishment. My apartment is party ready now. We’re having Cole’s birthday party here, since he lives by himself and our place is bigger. Dare and I put up blue and red streamers, Cole’s favorite colors, blew up some balloons and made a cake for him. It isn’t the most outrageous get-together but it was thoughtfully planned.

“Can you carry the cake to the table?” I call over my shoulder as I grab another balloon, ready to blow it up.

“Sure.” He walks into the kitchen, and I smile. Sometimes I can’t help myself, I have to watch him. It reminds me that he’s mine, every hunky inch of him.

Dare is shaking his head when he comes back out. “Now, Ms. Sanderson, you really should get back to work. No looking,” he warns.

I shrug innocently. “I can’t seem to help it, sir.”

I hear him walk over to me, but before I can turn, I’m tackled from behind and pushed onto the couch. I start giggling as he lies over me, tickling my sides. “You’re gonna get it now.”

“Stop!” I shove him away, chuckling breathlessly. “I can’t breathe anymore!”

He finally relents and sits back with a tired sigh. “It’s a lot of work to discipline you.”

I stick my tongue out at him. “Whatever.” The door bursts open then, and I jump up to see Jaclyn and Hayley smiling at us. Hayley has come a long way since I met her. She’s no longer hiding her scar as much, and she’s a little more open and calm around us. It’s nice to know she’s trusts us. Jaclyn is still, well, Jaclyn. A sailor mouth, sequin wearing, boy chaser. We love her anyways.

“Hey! You two did great! I was afraid we’d walk in on you doing the dirty,” Jaclyn teases, strutting by us and into the kitchen.

Rolling my eyes, I sit back down. “Nice one,” I mutter.

Dare’s shoulders are moving, and I glare over at him for laughing. He holds up his hands. “What? It was funny!”

“It kind of was,” Hayley shyly admits. Though she’s chill around Jaclyn and me, she isn’t too
herself
around everyone else yet.

The door opens again and in strolls Cole. “Hey!” He grins at us all.

I jump up and rush over to hug him. “Happy birthday!”

He nods in thanks and walks around to hug the girls. He and Dare do that slap on the back thing guys do. I lean against the door and smile at all of them, laughing and having a good time. I love seeing them all like this. I really do have the best friends a girl could ask for. Peering over at Dare, I also realize I have the best boyfriend too.

After everything I’ve gone through, I find that it was all worth it to be here. I made it and I’ll continue to do so with this group by my side.

_*_*_*_

Derek

I watch her beautiful smile stretch across her face, green eyes that shine like emeralds. She’s standing around with her roommates, Hayley and Jaclyn. I met them earlier, when I laughed at their antics as they teased Cole about something. They seem pretty cool, and I’m glad Jennifer has friends like them.

Leaning against the table, I cross my arms with a grin. If you told me months ago that I would be here right now, I’d tell you to go to hell. Never did I think that I would meet Marko’s - Mo’s - sister, or actually fall in love with her. I used to scoff at the word. Growing up the way I did, love was never a factor. Maybe before my life blew up into the shitty childhood it was. Then Jennifer came into my life. At first, I wanted nothing to do with her, but she worked her way into my broken heart. I tried to stay away from her, but when I saw her with Cole for the first time, the green eyed monster came out.

It was supposed to be just a fun fling, but it turned into much more. Much, much more, against my wishes. It went further than I had planned. I don’t regret it now though. I got her in the end, and if I could go back, I’d kick my own ass for being a jerk to her.

Thinking about almost losing her makes me frown and my heart skip a beat.
Damn. I’m starting to sound like a chick now.
Shaking my head, I remind myself that everything is okay.

Jennifer comes over, a smile on her face. She’s perfect, not that she would know that. She cares more about everyone else than she does herself. I often wonder why she chose me. Her brown curls are cascading down her back, and I want to run my hands through them, to feel the silky strands again. She’s wearing a short dress and damn if it doesn’t make me hot. Imagining myself pushing it up and over her head…
Not here.
“Hey, what are you doing over here?” She slides her arms around my stomach and rests her head against my chest.

Setting my chin on the top of her head, I sigh. “I’m just watching you.” I can’t seem to ever stop.

Her shoulders shake, and I realize she’s laughing. “Be quiet, you.”

Chuckling, I squeeze my arms around her. “Oh, so you can but I can’t?”

Hearing her giggle, I smile. I love that sound. “Of course you can, but mingle.”

After watching her walk away, I take her advice and head over to Cole. “Hey, happy birthday, man.”

Cole nods at me. “Yeah, thanks. How are you two?” he asks, always the caring one. I used to think maybe he cared
too
much about us until I realized he just cares for Jennifer like Mo does.

“Good, actually. I asked her to move in with me this morning.” I grin.

His eyebrows rise in surprise. “Wow, really? That’s great!” He claps me on my back.

The door opens, and in walks Mo
.
It’s weird calling him this, as I’ve only known him as Marko all these years. Confidently, he struts over to Jennifer and gives her a big hug. They’ve gotten closer in the past few weeks, and I’m glad it’s working out.

Mo comes over to me next. “Hey, Derek!’

I hit his shoulder. “You know I don’t like being called that, idiot.” By anyone other than Jennifer anyways.

He snickers, holding up his hands in surrender. “Yeah, I know. What’s going on?” He leans against the couch, hands in his pockets.

“Jennifer is moving in with me,” I tell him. Saying those words never get old. Just thinking about waking up with her every morning, or sitting down and eating breakfast, watching her still sleepy figure drinking her cup of hot chocolate makes me grin. I can’t wait.

He claps his hands. “That’s fantastic! About damn time.”

Rubbing the back of my neck, I scowl. “Shut it. This takes time.”

His look turns serious. “Take care of her, okay?”

I nod. “Of course. She means everything to me, Mo. Really,” I promise.

“I know. Just my job to warn you.” He glares. “You hurt her, I’ll kill you.”

Biting back the urge to smile, I say, “I consider myself warned.” I look over at Jennifer again. “So she knows everything now?” I ask, turning back to face him.

Seeing his look of guilt, I glare. “Don’t glare at me! I can’t tell her everything. You know why.”

I hesitantly nod. If Jennifer were to know everything, she’d probably break down crying. Knowing her, she would blame herself. “Not forever, man. She needs to know sometime.”

“Yeah, I know.” He shakes his head. “Well, I’m going to say hi to that pretty little thing over there. Ever wonder why we’re into short girls?” he wonders.

“I’m not sure. I guess because with them we feel more protective?” I take a shot.

He shrugs with a grin. “Oh, well. Now, excuse me while I make my moves.”

Shaking my head at him, I watch as he smiles at Hayley, putting on his full charm. His smile, the one he calls
panty dropper,
is going full force now. Hayley glances away, cheeks red. Wonder what will happen there.

Smelling vanilla, I turn to see Jennifer smiling up at me. I pull her close, loving the feel of her body against mine, how soft and supple she is. “What were you watching?”

“Them,” I tilt my head to the side.

She peeks around me, brows furrowing. “Mo and Hayley?” she asks in disbelief. She stares for a few seconds before shrugging. “I guess I can see it,” she slowly admits.

I turn her back around and chastely kiss her plump lips, finally brushing my fingers through her hair. “I’m sure they will be fine. Now,” I growl into her ear. “We should take a break.”

She bites her lip before slowly smiling. “Fine, but hurry.” She takes my hand and pulls me down the hall. Smiling, I willingly follow her, our friends oblivious as they laugh and chat.
This…is love.

This is never what I imagined my life would be like at this point. I thought I’d be alone, angry, and depressed, not happy and ready to start a new step in life with this beautiful woman. It really can only go up from here, and I silently promise to keep her happy and safe for as long as she’ll let me.