I Dare You

Down he goes like a rock off the side of a cliff.

“Hell yeah!” Ryker screams from the side, and I look around for Leslie, who motions for the ref standing off to the side. He jumps in and checks on Kai, who hasn’t even twitched. His chest is rising and falling so at least I know he’s breathing—I don’t want anything serious to be wrong with him.

“Winner!” the ref yells as he holds up my hand.

I take a walk around the ring, eyeing the people in the audience. Some are cheering—thank you, fellow Waylon fans—while some are surly and sneer at me. Whatever.

It’s fucking over.

Delaney

Mav-Man: I miss you.

Me: Me too. Will I see you today?

Mav-Man: No. I’ll see you soon, Buttercup. Just…be patient and wait for me.

“This donut is the best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth,” I murmur in reverence as Skye and I sit inside the pastry shop at the student center. The books for our next class are piled on the table where we’ve been studying. A popular hangout, the place is packed with students milling around before class on this Tuesday morning.

She picks at her donut, a sparkly thing with white icing and purple glitter, as she watches Tyler. Sitting at a table a few feet from us with several baseball players, Bobby Gene included—someone who is obviously too nice for Tyler—he’s been glaring at us since they came in. He also sent Skye a few nasty texts over the past two days. So far, she hasn’t responded, and I approve of her decision to dump him and move on.

“He’s leaving,” I tell her, watching as he picks up his trash and throws it away. “And, dammit, the douche is coming over here.”

“Ugh.” Skye wipes her fingers on a napkin, her body stiffening.

“You got this, girlie. Be polite, but don’t let him talk down to you,” I tell her.

He arrives at our table, tall and looming over us with a glower on his face. He brushes his eyes over me dismissively then turns to Skye, a curl to his lip. “You haven’t replied to my texts. Still pissed at me, I suppose?”

“You told me not to come back until I’m ready to apologize.” Her face reddens as if remembering how he kicked her out of the frat house. “I’m not going to apologize—ever.”

His lips flatten, his face hardening.

“Bye, Tyler,” I say, waving at him. “We’re trying to eat here—alone.”

He spears me with a glare. “You stay out of this.”

“Just leave…please,” Skye tells him, her eyes brighter than normal.

He utters a slur—the dreaded C-word—making her pale, and my hands clench as several heads turn in our direction. His comment was loud and clear, and now we’re the center of attention inside the shop.

Skye is biting her lip and I’m about to stand up and go off on him when suddenly Alex is standing there, a scowl on his face as he looks at Tyler. “What’s going on?”

“He’s calling Skye names and being a dickhead,” I say.

“Dude, back off,” Alex tells him. “They’re girls—what’s wrong with you?”

Tyler huffs as he takes in Alex’s tight face, probably debating whether or not it’s worth it to start something. He hitches his backpack up on his shoulder and sends a heated glance at Skye. “Whatever. This is the end of us, bitch. I hope you’re happy.”

We watch as he stalks off, and I heave out a sigh of relief.

My eyes go back to Alex. I’m still a little ticked at him for the whole baseball episode, but I’m thankful he came over.

“Thanks,” Skye says to him as she chews on her lip. “I-I didn’t know what to say.” She holds up her half-eaten donut. “Want the rest of this as a thank you?”

“Uh, I already have one.” He holds up a to-go bag. “I was just walking past when I heard what he said to you. I couldn’t let him get away with it.” He grimaces and shuffles his feet, looking awkward.

I clear my throat. “He and Skye broke up over the weekend.”

He nods, sending Skye a rueful look. “I see. Been there.” His eyes are regretful as they find mine. “Uh, since I’m here and you’re here…I want you to know I’m sorry about the baseball party. I shouldn’t have jumped in between you and Maverick like that.”

I blink.

He sighs, his face solemn as he rubs the back of his neck. “I’ve been thinking about it—about everything, and I hope you can forgive me someday for cheating on you.”

Oh.

He takes a deep breath. “And I’m not going to bother you anymore—or Maverick. I won’t stand in his way.”

This is good…well, except that I haven’t even seen Maverick since we were together. Sure, he’s texted me, but he has yet to tell me why he missed class.

Alex exhales. “Do you think you can ever forgive me?”

I take in his slouched shoulders, the contrite expression on his face as he watches me anxiously.

“Yes,” I tell him sincerely as something clicks in my heart, and it just feels right. I don’t want him to be unhappy. We had some great times together, and most of all, we were always friends. I hold my hand out. “Friends,” I say with a little smile.

He takes it and we shake.

The next morning before class, I’m standing outside Maverick’s dorm room to check on him. I already sent him a text asking if he’s going to show up, but he hasn’t responded. Part of me is worried, and a bad feeling looms over me, one I won’t be able to shake until I see him.

I rap out a quick knock and hear scuffling from inside the apartment-style residence.

“Who is it?” comes a muffled voice.

“Delaney Shaw.”

The door flies open and I blink at the image in front of me.

With his wavy brown hair, Ryker has been caught unaware if his leopard print bikini underwear is anything to go by.

I clear my throat. Good lord. He’s got hair everywhere, his chest a gold mine of curls.

He leans against the doorjamb and rubs the scruff on his face, completely unconcerned that he’s only wearing a banana hammock.

“Morning, Ryker.”

He throws a look over his shoulder before coming back to face me. “Mav’s asleep.”

“He isn’t going to class?”

“Uh—” He flounders, clearly not wanting me to come inside.

But I’m determined.

“Do you have any coffee made?” I ask sweetly.

“Why?”

I smile and hold up my paper bag of goodies. “Because coffee would go great with these chocolate muffins I made.”

He sucks in a long breath as I open the bag and show him the contents, the appetizing scent of sugar and butter wafting up out of the bag. Ryker grins at me. “He said you like to cook, and I can’t resist home-cooked food. Come on in.”

I step inside, heading straight to the little kitchenette. Like Alex’s dorm suite, the space has a small kitchen, a den, bedrooms off to the right, and a bathroom to the left.

Ryker sinks his teeth into a muffin as I dig around in the pantry to find what I need to make coffee.

“Goddamn, you’re amazing,” he murmurs as he reaches for a second muffin. “If Maverick isn’t into you, how about we spend a little time alone?” He waggles his brows at me, clearly joking, making me shake my head.

“Maverick is into her,” comes a gruff voice from behind me as two strong arms wrap around me and a nose finds my neck and inhales. “Damn, I’ve missed you.”