Dare Me (Dare Me Series Book 1)

Dare Me (Part 34 - Colby)

Regardless of how traumatic the week with Mom has been, I haven't for one moment forgotten about that kiss.  It was like feeling the rain for the first time. Waking up with the sun warming your face in fresh, soft cotton sheets. Kissing her was like slipping in and out of heaven, man. I've told myself that leaving Lexi that night was the right thing to do for both of us. How am I supposed to open up? Women like that shit. They expect you to tell them everything. Just thinking about it gives me anxiety. I've always been a private person. Always. I rub my forehead, trying to hold off a headache. Alexis hasn't returned any of my phone calls, but she'll text me back, telling me she's busy. Truthfully, it pisses me off. I grip onto the gear shifter, wondering if this is a good idea. I know going in there I'm not going to be able to avoid what happened between us. I look toward the store, narrowing my eyes to see if she's in there. I spot her walking toward the back. I exhale, yank my keys out of the ignition, and step out into the hot summer sun, waiting for a car to pass before I walk across the street. The cool air is a welcome when I step inside and the bell above the door dings. "I'll be right there," I hear her sweet voice and then see her when she comes from the back. Her hair is wavy and down over her shoulders. Her pretty colorful string bracelets are always on her wrist and a ring the shape of a beach wave rests on her pointy finger as she holds a box. She wears blue jean shorts and a low scooped hunter green tank top. She's gorgeous and has a tan. Where has she been to get a tan? Her eyes widen, and her mouth opens slightly when she stops at the sight of me. But just as quickly as that all happened, she regains her composure and does what I do. She puts on a mask. Fuck. "Hey," she says hesitantly, placing the box onto the counter before walking around toward the window display. "Hey," I reply, seeing that her tank top is open in the back, exposing her beautiful glowing skin. I watch her as she removes the for sale sign. "What's up with that?" I nod in its direction. She looks at it with disappointment. "Karen sold the place." "Oh," I reply. I make small talk. "When did this happen?" "Yesterday, actually." She walks back to the counter and places the sign down. "Where have you been?" I ask. "You've got a tan." She turns to me and crosses her arms. "Why are you here?" Shit. This isn't going to be easy. I adjust my hat and rub the back of my neck. "I missed you." I shock myself with my honesty. She stares at me. "Did you miss me?" I ask, needing some kind of reassurance here. Her teeth sink into her bottom lip and she looks down. I swallow, trying to figure out how to save whatever this is. "Maybe," she says, looking back up. I can't help the lift in my lip. "But what does that matter?" She turns toward the box and removes coffee filters and bags. "You left me. I don't think I can handle this friendship anymore." "I think we should stop with this friend bullshit," I say unexpectedly. I had no intention of saying that either, but it's done now. She stops emptying the box and looks back at me. I slide my hands into the pockets of my jeans. "So, you meant what you said last week about not wanting to be friends anymore?" She twirls the ring on her finger. "Yes," I reply. Her expression turns from tentative to pissed off. "Then why did you leave?"

I look down, unsure of what to say.

You terrify me.

You make me weak.

You could change everything for me.

I'm not sure if this would work.

I like you too much already.

I want to spend every second with you.

I want to tell you all my secrets.

"Colby." She grabs my attention. "I didn't go with you to Monnie's diner that night to start up anything. I knew then exactly what I wanted. Just to be friends. I'd just come out of a shitty relationship, and I had no intention on getting into another one. I still don't, if it's going to be shitty. But I like you. I enjoy your company and..." She blushes. "I really liked that kiss." She sighs and bites the inside of her cheek before she says, "If you don't want us to take things any farther, I understand. I have a lot going on here. I don't need any more complications." The girl who's changing everything for me stares, waiting for me to reply, but my mind is stumbling, and I have no idea what to say. She lifts her brow. "Okay then," she says before reaching behind her and lifting the box. She goes to walk around the counter. "Wait." She stops and turns her head. My heart trampolines, almost jumping from my chest entirely. The man who always holds up his guard and remembers why falling for someone is a mistake and can break you leaves the room. I can't say I'm not happy about this. He's fucking this up. I let Katrina's words run through my mind. "You need someone to share your life with...to tell your secrets to." I remove my hands from my pockets and step closer to her. Her eyes bounce between mine. I think about my past and how I've never been one to share my emotions, always keeping them to myself to take out on the punching bag later or having a few drinks of bourbon to get the edge off. That was then. This is now. I'm ready to be a different man. I'm ready to try. "This isn't going to be easy. I'm going to screw up...a lot." I reach for the hand not holding the box. She looks down as I link our fingers. "I'm not always going to be a breeze to deal with, Lexi. I've... It's..." She tilts her head slightly. "This is really hard for you, huh?" Fuck yeah, this is hard for me. I've never done this before, and I've seen what loving someone too much can do to a person. I've always thought I'd be better off alone. Keeping my family at arm's length and women even farther, that's all I've ever known. I exhale, and her gray eyes make me feel like this might be okay. "You don't think this is hard for me also?" she says with a small smile. "Why is this hard for you?" I ask. I know why I'm the way I am, but I need her to tell me something... anything to help me see why she's the way she is. She hesitates, and uneasiness rolls off of her. "I had a bad upbringing," she says. "My mom left when I was a kid, so relationships are hard for me. I don't open up easily, Colby, and I'm going to need you to understand that. You say you're not always going to be a breeze." She shrugs. "Neither am I." I'm honestly shocked she told me that. I can give her time to open up to me. I want to know everything about her, but I can wait. Hell, I've waited this long. "So, we'll take it slow, right?" I ask. "We'll get to know each other as we go." She gives me a small smile. "I'm good with that." "Okay then," I murmur. I look at her lip-glossed lips. "Now I want to kiss you." She drops the box as I reach for her neck, bringing her to me. I taste vanilla lip-gloss before my tongue begs to twist with hers. Her hand snakes around my lower back, lifting my shirt up, and I feel her nails run across my skin. My world spins. Everything makes sense, and nothing has ever felt so right. Want turns to need, and I bring my other hand to the side of her face as I grip the back of her neck. She's the joy I've never found in life. She's the excitement I've never experienced. Why has it taken me so long to do this? I pull back as she opens her eyes. She blinks and folds her lips. My heart beats out of rhythm, and I do something I hardly ever do outside of my family. I smile, because damn, this woman knocks me off my feet. I just hope she can handle me. Shit, I hope I can handle her. I believe I've met my match. No two people can be more alike. Both of us are closed-off, and neither likes to talk about why. I think I want to talk about it with her, though. She's got me caught up. Hell, I just agreed to make this thing official. I'm waiting for the panic to sink in, but right now, looking into her blue-gray eyes, I feel nothing but happiness. Someone clears their throat, and both of our heads snap to the left. "Well, I assume you told her then," Karen says with a smile. I lose mine. "Told me what?" Lexi asks. My eyes bounce between the two women.