Dare Me (Dare Me Series Book 1)

Dare Me (Part 17 - Alexis)

It's five o'clock, and I walk in with groceries as my phone rings. "Hello," I say, dumping them all onto the counter and quickly catching a jar of salsa as it rolls off. "Hey, it's me." His deep voice causes my pulse to quicken and I can't help the stupid grin on my face. It's been two days since he walked out of Mugs &F Books pissed that I asked about his past. I should be pissed that he hasn't called or came by since, but I can't be. It's kind of pathetic, really. The amount of times I've looked at my stupid phone is sad, and every time the bell on the door at work chimed, I hoped it was him, only to be let down. I do decide to mess with him, though. "Me who?" "What do you mean who? Who else is calling you?" I smile wider, bringing the salsa jar to my chest. "Well, plenty of people, actually." "Tell them to stop. You only need one friend." "And that's you?" "Yeah," he says in all seriousness. "I think friends usually speak more often." "Cut me some slack. I'm new at this," he says. I move the groceries to the side and sit on the counter, placing the salsa jar beside me. "I'm new at this. What have you been doing?" I hear dogs barking. "Where are you?" I lightly spin the jar. "At home." "And there are dogs?" "Yeah. Navi and Circa" "That's clever," I reply to the names of the dogs. He chuckles and I kick my shoes off and bring my knee up, loving the way his chuckle sounds. "Come to a movie with me," he says. I hear footsteps on a porch and a screen door squeak open. "A movie?" "Yeah." "Colby is that you?" a man calls out.   "Yeah, Sam" "Who's Sam I ask jokingly running my fingers over my knee. "Only the best best friend in the world." There's a smile in his voice when he says it, and I wish I could see.  That so?" I reply, smiling myself. "Hundred percent." "That's a pretty bold statement. I'd like to meet this best best friend in the world." "You will." He says it so casually like it's to be expected, causing nerves to tingle in my chest, but also confusing me even more. How can he be so closed-off about certain things and yet he wants me to meet important people in his life? He clears his throat. "So, the movie? I'll pick you up around seven." "I didn't say I'd go," I reply with a laugh. He sighs. "Well, I'm waiting." I hear the sound of a beer bottle cap popping off. "You never told me the movie." I don't know why I'm keeping this up because, of course, I'm going. I mean, who wouldn't want to go to a movie with this guy? "An old black and white. Bringing Up Baby." "You're into black and white?" I pick at the skin beside my thumbnail. "We didn't have but so many channels growing up. I watched a lot of movies, and those just happened to be the only ones my mom liked," he says. "Okay," I reply. "Okay, you'll go?" "Yes, Mr. Bossy. I'll go." "Mr. Bossy?" he says on a laugh. "Absolutely. You're insanely bossy. No wonder I'm your only friend." God, I wish I could see his face. "I don't have time for friends, so you're lucky." I smile. "I'm so lucky that Colby Brock makes time for little ol' me," I say sarcastically. "Shut up, Lexi"  Lightheartedness webs with displeasure in his voice. I lean my head back and laugh. "I'm kidding." "I'm a very busy man. You shouldn't take me making time for you lightly. I don't do it for anyone else," he says in seriousness. "Really?" I ask doubtfully. "Yes, really." "What about Gage?" "Gage likes to do the same shit I do, so we do it together." I shrug. "Okay then. Well, I'm grateful you make time for me," I say with an eye roll. "I know you're rolling your eyes." "You do not." This time he laughs. The curve in my lips is something I can't help. That laugh is deep and sounds so delicious. "Get your hand out of there." The sound of a pop rings on the other end. Colby laughs. "Are you stealing food?" I ask, loving hearing him around his family. "Ow," he says dramatically. "I was just looking." "Looking, my ass. You took a whole piece of beef," Sam replies. "Who are you on the phone with, anyway?" My eyes go to my toes as I wonder what his reply will be, and my heart sinks when he says it. "A friend." I don't have a clue why this bothers me, but it does. "You don't have friends. Give me that phone." "No, ma'am," Colby replies, clearly chewing whatever is in his mouth. From the creaking noise of what I think is a screen door, I assume he's walked back outside. "You don't want me to talk to the best woman in the world?" I ask. "It's not you I'm worried about. She's too damn nosy. Look, I gotta get back to work. I'll see you at seven." "Okay." "Bye, Lexi." "Bye." After we hang up, I spend the rest of my afternoon sorting through old clothes to give to charity and washing bed sheets and curtains. Once I'm finished, I shower and switch out Chucks for wedges and jeans for a fluted sleeve, black floral romper. "Hey, whatcha doing?" Claire asks, flopping down onto my bed. "Going to a movie. What about you?" "With Colby?" she asks, raising her brows. "Yep." "What's the deal with you two, anyway? I thought you were going to hit it and quit it?" I shake my head. "I haven't hit anything." She grins. "Ah. You're doing a slow burn and then you'll bail." I roll my eyes and laugh. "You're an idiot, you know that?" She puts her hand over her chest and inhales dramatically like I've offended her. I smirk. "We're just friends." "Friends?" she says doubtfully, rolling over on her stomach and lifting her feet up behind her. "You've seen When Harry Met Sally. You know guys and girls can't be friends." "That's ridiculous. Look at you, Brennen, and me. We've been friends forever." "Yeah. There're rules to it." "What rules?" I ask. Well, you and Brennen can be friends because neither one of you is attracted to the other." "Brennen and me?" I ask, twirling my hair around the curling iron. I don't know why I'm doing this. It'll fall as soon as I step outside. "What about you and Brennen?" "That's a little more complicated." "How so?" "Because I'm in love with him." "What?" I put the curling iron down. "You're kidding me?" I look back at her in shock. I mean, I've had my suspicions about the two of them, but never thought it was that serious. And what's up with her keeping things from me? First, there was Cain and that horrible situation, and now she's in love with Brennen and has never told me? I don't get it. We're supposed to be best friends. "I wish I were," she says, looking down. "Why haven't you told me?" "I've tried really hard to convince myself that it wasn't true." "Just like you tried to convince yourself Cain wasn't abusive?" My tone is a little harsher than I meant it to be, but I can't hide the hurt on this one. "Hey, that's a low blow." She rolls back over and sits cross-legged. "I'm just saying. I don't understand why you're not telling me things. We're best friends, Claire." "Oh, like you've told me everything about your past." "I've told you enough for you to know it was shitty." "Yeah, that's basically it. You've told me you had a crappy childhood and your mother left when you were eight. That could mean anything." She shrugs. "What? You didn't get a lot of Christmas gifts growing up? Your stepdad worked all the time, so you were alone? I mean, I have no idea." She throws her hands up. I see this conversation has escalated quickly. Okay, so maybe I haven't told my two closest friends everything. But why do they need to know the depressing details of my past? Why does anyone need to know? "How can you sit here and judge me when you don't open up? You know my parents smothered me growing up. You know I have brothers who can be too protective, and it drives me crazy. You know me," she says. "But sometimes I don't know if I really know you. You're so private, Lexi. It's like you're scared to get too close, and that's sad, because in this life you need people. Regardless if you think you don't." I exhale as she stands up. "I'm going to take a shower. Have fun," she says, halfheartedly. I turn to look at myself in the mirror, feeling like crap now. I know she's right. I know I need to learn to trust better, but it's tough when the one person you thought you could trust with your life leaves you with a monster, and it's hard when you know even locks can't keep him out.