Page 69 of The Dare

Like it or not.

It has to happen sooner or later.

I do love Michael, and I know he loves me too.

Why would I want to keep us a secret?

It has to come out sooner or later.

“We can drive over there if it makes you feel better,” he finally says, putting me out of my misery but he won’t agree to just dropping me off.

“I won’t leave you anywhere, Natasha. You know that,” he reminds me in the same matter-of-fact tone of his.

“It doesn’t make mefeelany better,” I groan, but knowing it’ll be the biggest load off my mind once it’s out of the way, I can’t help but agree it’s for the best.

What else can I do?

Arguing with Michael once he’s made up his mind is useless.

“Can you at least put some clothes on?” I ask, trying not to laugh as I look him over, imagining introducing him naked to my dad like that.

Not a good look.

“We can grab breakfast on the way,” he says, and pecking me on the lips he tells me not to worry. Sounding like an engineer watching his latest creation hum to life.

We’re on the road soon enough, only stopping briefly for a take-out breakfast, which is delicious.

Everything here just feels better, tastes better. Or maybe it’s just the company I’m keeping?

Either way, it helps settle my nerves but I still try one more time to see if I can’t handle some of this on my own.

“Could you at least give me an hour before they get home?” I ask him, almost begging before he simply takes my hand and kisses it while he drives.

“What do you need time for?” he asks me directly. “We don’t have to make love in front of them. Just say hi and bye, you’re an adult.”

I have to agree with him.

If only it was with someone else’s parents though…

The thought of even seeing my dad again is awkward enough. Then there’s the whole Michael seeing where I actually live thing.

Ugh.

It’s unbearable on the one hand, but on the other like having a loose tooth out or a cast taken off. Best to just get it over and done with, I’ll deal with the fallout later.

The ride to my mom’s feels like it goes a hundred times faster than the ride we took to get to the beach house.

I give Michael directions once we take the turn off and I notice his disapproving look darken as we drive through the neighborhood, finally turning onto my street.

“Oh shit,” I mumble to myself.

“What is it?” Michael asks, filled with concern.

“They’re already here.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Michael