Page 11 of The Dare

Even though I can’t string two thoughts together.

I’ve spun on my heel and am dashing back towards our compartment when I hear Suze’s confident but quiet voice talking to the stranger.

She figures I’ve sidled up next to her, but once she realizes I’m running away, she makes some excuse and darts after me.

But I double my speed, making sure she can’t catch me until I’m safe.

Until I can spot my mom, feel the strange stickiness of economy instead of the crisp gleaming freshness of first class.

But I can still smell his cologne, and now I’ve heard his voice.

Suzanna’s taller frame lunges at me from behind, and in a second she’s got a hold of me and is dragging me back.

“Oh no you don’t,” she cries out, half-laughing, half-growling.

“You’re gonna go through with your dare, like it or not…” she reminds me.

But I can’t see how I would, how I even could—

“What are you doing?” I ask, spinning around and grabbing hold of her. Reversing our positions.

Suzanna’s eyes flash with mischief, almost glowing when she decrees my dare.

“You’re gonna ask Mr. Wonderful up there to kiss you. That’s the dare,” she announces, making the blood drain from my face.

The whole train suddenly sounds like it’s underwater as I feel my heart skip a beat and spots dance in front of my eyes.

“Don’t act like you're gonna faint or get sick either, Natasha, you won’t wheedle your way outta this one,” she warns me, hooking her elbow into mine and starting to escort me back to first class.

“Suzanna,” My mom calls out, and I turn to see her watching us go.

Gnawing her lip. Looking anxious herself now.

Worried for me, I can tell.

Worried that Suzanna’s gonna make a fool out of me, out of us all, but knowing me well enough she knows how hard I’ll take it if this backfires.

It’s the look of a mom who wants the best for her daughter but also understands that there are just some things in this life her little girl will probably never have.

Like, a boyfriend or a man.

Not that I’m so awful. Just shy.

More awkward and a little quirky.

And not very pretty by the comments I’ve received my whole life. But this is just a dare.

I turn away from my mom and surprise myself when I feel my face lifting into a smile.

That fear inside me surprisingly starts to dissipate, changing to excitement as we move towards what I almost missed.

Even though I’ve never even seen the man, I’ve built the image of his presence in my mind. And gauging from my mom and Suze’s reactions, he’s more than just some random hottie on the train.

Suzanna re-presents herself in the open doorway, and I feel myself starting to lose my courage even as she yanks me close beside her so he can see us both.

Instinctively I look at my feet, but there’s something about the man. Something about his eyes that has more than just drawn me in.

It’s like he’s reached right out of them with his soul and grabbed a hold of mine.