Dare (Fighting Fate Book 6)

by Maree Green

  “Jess.” The only way I knew how to describe it was torture. Pure torture. My gaze swept over her long, silken curls, soft, creamy skin, and vibrant green eyes. Everything about her made me want to touch. Forcing my walls to go up, I offered her an easy smile. “How are you doing?”

  Her return smile was kind, but it was locked well and truly in the friendship zone. I was lucky I had the alcohol swimming around in my system or it would’ve hit me right in the feels.

  “I’m good,” she said, sliding herself up to sit on the counter across from me. “How’s everything with you?”

  “Oh, you know. A slave to the study, as usual.”

  Inside, I cringed. Could I be any more fucking lame? Taking a gulp of my beer, I prayed for it to be over so I could just go bash my head against a wall somewhere.

  She rolled her eyes with understanding. “Wyatt’s been the same. I’ve hardly seen him lately. I can’t wait for us both to graduate so we might have a chance of looking like a normal couple for a change.”

  Her words confused me, but before I could tell myself to shut my mouth, I was talking. “Exams are over now, Jess. There’s no reason why you can’t do that now. And if you think he’s going to have more free time when he’s trying to make his mark in a new law firm, then you’re going to be sadly disappointed.”

  Her stunned expression had me kicking myself harder than ever before. Why couldn’t I have just smiled and nodded? It wasn’t that fucking hard.

  She frowned as my words sank in. “Is that why you haven’t dated anyone lately?”

  Then it was my turn to frown. The fact that she was aware that I hadn’t been dating surprised me. “Yes and no,” I said, trying to keep my cards close to my chest. “Part of the reason Anna broke up with me was because I wasn’t available to her as much as she wanted me to be. And she was right. That’s not what dating is about. If you only want sex or someone to hang out with when you’re bored, then get a friend with benefits.”

  Jess blinked at me, seeming a little stunned. “O . . .kay.”

  I shrugged, trying to tone down my intensity. “Obviously, that’s just my opinion, but I just think that if you’re going to go to the effort of dating someone, they at least deserve to have your attention. And if you don’t have time to give it, then don’t date. It’s pretty simple, really.”

  Lowering her gaze to the floor, she wrapped her arms across her stomach and drew her teeth over her bottom lip. She looked so dejected in that moment, I was ready to give myself a good hard clip to the back of the head.

  Meeting my gaze again, she cocked her head to the side, an inquisitive crease appearing between her brows. “So, are you saying that it’s impossible for a lawyer to have a successful relationship when they’re just starting out? That sounds incredibly lonely.”

  I shifted my position against the counter, wondering if I was going to be able to dig myself out of the mess I’d just dropped myself into. “That’s not what I’m saying at all. I’m saying that if Wyatt hasn’t got the time for you now, he’s not going to have the time for you later. It doesn’t work like that.”

  If I had an angel and a devil sitting on each of my shoulders, I was sure the angel was sitting there with his jaw dropped open right now.

  “But you didn’t have the time for Anna. Are you saying that you’re the same as Wyatt, then?” she asked quietly.

  Her question made me bristle. “Not at all,” I said, unable to stop my gaze from burning into hers. “It comes down to priorities, Jess. If the person you’re dating comes in equal or greater to that of your chosen career, then you’ll do everything you can to make them both work.” I wondered if the penny had dropped for her yet. Pushing away from the counter, I took a step toward her. “Anna broke up with me because she knew she wasn’t as important to me as passing my exams or racing my bike. But if she was the right girl for me, I would’ve made time for her.”

  As her gaze drilled into mine, switching from eye to eye, I saw the denial flaring in their depths. She wasn’t ready to believe me.

  Giving her a humorless smile, I raised my cup and winked. Then I turned and walked away. If I ever fucked something up to the point of rendering it irreparable, then that was it. Fuck my life.

  Chapter 7

  Jess

  All around me, music blared and voices murmured. Some people made jokes while others laughed, heads falling back and hands pressed to chests. Girls flirted, flicking hair and batting eyelashes, and guys puffed their chests and gave knowing grins.

  At a quick glance, it didn’t look too different from the scene I’d observed at the Murphys the day before. But if you sat long enough, the distinctions became a little clearer. It was the little things, like the topics of conversation, or the slightly different tones of voices. The air just had a richness about it, like everyone in the room knew that one day they would all be someone of great importance. Wyatt called it the way to success.

  It was a scene I was finally getting used to, but I still felt as though I was slightly out of my depth—like I was a fraud just being here.

  As I stood beside Wyatt with the same drink I’d had in my hand for the past hour, I watched him laugh and joke with Zac. I couldn’t deny they were good friends. It was obvious in the way they interacted. They were the kind of friends who knew what the other was thinking, and would sometimes finish each other’s sentences. They just seemed to get each other. It was nice, but in a strange kind of way, it made me jealous. It was something I knew I needed to work on, but right now? I didn’t know how to take it other than ignore it.

  Pushing the thoughts aside, I smiled and tried to listen to what Zac was saying, but I was interrupted by a smiling face stepping in front of me.

  “You must belong to Wyatt,” the girl said, holding her hand out to me. “I’m Cindy. Wyatt and I are in the same class.”

  Taking her hand, I smiled, thankful to have someone to talk to. “Nice to meet you. I’m Jess.”

  “So, what do you do, Jess?”

  Both Wyatt and Zac paused their conversation as Cindy settled in across from me. “I’m studying to be a child care worker.”

  Her brow twitched a little, as though my words had confused her, before dismay settled in her eyes. She smiled again, but the action was painfully fake. “Oh, well that’s . . . interesting. What made you decide to do that?”

  I heard Zac snicker a little before trying to disguise it as a cough. Confusion flared inside me. I didn’t understand what was so amusing. Was there something wrong with being a child care worker in their eyes?

  Glancing to Wyatt for a little insight, I saw him give Zac a warning glare before shifting uncomfortably. Focusing back on Cindy, I met her gaze with determination. “It was one of my friends, actually. She had a baby last year, and it got me thinking. It kind of clicked for me that this was what I wanted to do.”

  Cindy blinked. “You have a friend with a baby?”

  My smile grew. I wasn’t sure why I got a kick out of her shock, but I did. “I do. She and her husband got pregnant almost as soon as they were married.”

  “They’re older friends, then?” she asked, a slight bewilderment falling over her features.

  I knew it was wrong to feel so much pleasure over someone’s discomfort, but I couldn’t help it. She was acting like a snob, and I’d never really done well with those types of people. “Oh, no. Amy and I went to high school together.”

  Cindy’s eyes rounded before one corner of her mouth curled up with ridicule. “How cute,” she said, glancing over at Zac and taking a small step backward.

  I watched her exchange a patronizing look with Zac with an odd sense of intrigue. I wondered what it was that made her feel as though she was so much better than me. But then I saw Zac smother a laugh, and irritation rose.

  With a slow-rising anger building up inside me, I watched them have their silent judgmental conversation. What complete assholes. Looking to Wyatt to put them both in their places, I balked when I found him gazing at the g
round, his jaw clenched with irritation, instead.

  Straightening my shoulders, I searched my head for a reasonable explanation to their condescending attitudes, but finding nothing but contempt, I placed my drink on the table beside Wyatt and smiled. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to go to the bathroom.”

  Turning my back on them all, I moved toward the back of the room with my head held high and an extra bounce in my step. Once I was standing in front of the bathroom mirror, I studied my reflection intently, as though she held all the answers to my questions.

  Of course, it wasn’t the first time I’d felt slightly out of my depth around Wyatt’s friends, but that was certainly the first time anyone had been so blunt about me not measuring up.

  My jaw clenched as I considered Wyatt’s reaction. What the hell had that been about? Why didn’t he stand up for me? Was he embarrassed by my chosen career? My head was just filled with so many questions. Questions I didn’t come close to having the answers to. Like, did I actually want to stay with someone who obviously didn’t have the balls to stand up for me?

  Eli’s words from the day before echoed inside my head. I’d tried not to let them get to me, but here they were, creeping back to slap me in the face.

  I sighed. I was trying so hard to be rational about it. The last thing I wanted was to be one of those girls who reacted with dramatics before thinking things through. But I didn’t want to be one of those girls who put up with shit she didn’t deserve, either.

  Straightening my shoulders, I drew in a deep breath and looked myself square in the eye. The smart thing to do would be to talk to Wyatt—tell him what I thought, and go from there. I wasn’t waiting, either. I was done with this party, and if Wyatt wasn’t ready to go, then I would be going on my own.

  With my chin raised high, I placed a pleasant smile on my lips and strode back through the room. Wyatt met my gaze as soon as I reached his side. Calmly, I picked up my drink and raised it to my mouth. “I think I’m ready to go now,” I said, before tipping it back with one big gulp.

  I smiled as I placed the now-empty glass on the table, waiting to see what he would do. Giving me a slight nod, he took my hand and turned to Zac. “We’re heading off. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Zac’s eyes narrowed a little, his lips pressing together with displeasure. “Message me later,” he said.

  Seriously? Why the hell did Wyatt need to message him later? I didn’t get it. Internally, I shook my head. This was exactly why I had that damn feeling floating around in the pit of my stomach. Shit just didn’t make any sense.

  As Wyatt led me outside and unlocked the car for me to climb in, I thought about how I was going to say what needed to be said. But before I had a chance to even come up with an opener, he turned to me and took my hand. “I’m really sorry, Jess,” he said, his gaze oozing regret. “Cindy and Zac were way out of line speaking to you like that. I want you to know I spoke to Zac while you were in the bathroom. I think he forgets that it will be someone like you who will be taking care of his kids when he starts a family. It’s an important job.”

  As I took in his words, I tried to work out if that changed anything for me. I wasn’t sure. “Why did you wait until I was in the bathroom before you said something?”

  He sighed. “Cindy’s a snob and a gossip, and she definitely deserves to be taken down a peg or two, but her father is a partner at Patten and Johnson. It would be career suicide for me to start a war with her right now, Jess.”

  His excuse made sense, but how many other people were out there who would fall into the same category? How many other people would have a free shot at my expense, all because Wyatt didn’t want to risk stepping on their toes? I didn’t want to be anyone’s punching bag. Ever.

  Reaching up, he brushed a few strands of my hair away from my face. I swayed in my seat a little, a weird kind of light-headedness coming over me. Damn, that drink must’ve been more potent than I’d thought.

  Wyatt’s finger drew over my cheek. “I know it’s crap, babe. I really do. But I promise you it won’t be long before I’m in a position where no one will dare speak to you like that again. You know that, don’t you, Jess? You’re my future.”

  I blinked stupidly. Between his words and the way the car was starting to spin, I was so confused. How could he talk so easily about me being his future, when neither of us had even murmured anything that came close to the ‘L’ word? It just seemed . . . misguided or something.

  “I don’t know, Wyatt,” I said, rubbing my forehead. My words slurred a little as I tried to speak my mind. God, I sounded like a drunk. “I just don’t like being around people like that. I don’t know if I can be what you want me to be.”

  It felt good to say it out loud.

  “What are you trying to say?” he asked, a worried crease forming between his brows.

  Jesus. I didn’t know. What was I trying to say? Turning in my seat a little, I squeezed his hand back. “I’m not trying to say anything in particular, Wyatt. I’m just trying to be honest where I can.”

  “Okay,” he said, nodding as though that made any sense at all. And who knew? Maybe, to him, it did. “I get that. And I totally understand. But I’m going to show you that you don’t have anything to worry about.”

  His smile was full of all the confidence in the world. It made me want to trust him. I just hoped I was making the right decision.

  Chapter 8

  Eli

  Lowering the gate of the pickup, I dragged the ramp out from the back and positioned it near the back wheel of my bike.

  I grinned at all the mud spread through the tray. It was going to take some extra time to clean it all up, but it’d been worth it. So had spraying it all over Jordan’s face when I left him behind at the race track.

  Jumping up, I untethered the bike and eased her down the ramp, ready to give her a good wash down.

  “Looks like someone had a good time.”

  I looked up to see Noah striding down the path toward me. Putting the stand down on the bike, I clasped his hand and thumped him on the back. “Hey, little brother. How are you doing?”

  “Awesome, man,” he said, giving me a wink. “I think I’ve finally convinced Kaeli to move in with me.”

  “Took you long enough,” I teased, but I was genuinely happy for him. He’d earned everything good after all the crap he’d gone through undercover.

  He beamed. “I know, right? I was starting to doubt my charm.” He looked over at the bike, his eyebrows rising as he took in the amount of mud. “You need a hand?”

  I gave him a dry look. “Like I’d say no.”

  Patting me on the shoulder, he strode to the hose and turned the tap. “How’s things been at school?” he asked, unwinding the coils.

  “Fucking hard, but I’m getting there. Happy for exams to be over,” I said, feeling the relief inside me.

  Pulling the trigger, he aimed the spray of water at the back wheel and started washing it down, but after a minute, he paused, his gaze meeting mine with a serious edge. “Zac Schuler,” he said. “You know him?”

  I frowned. I already didn’t like where this was going. Wyatt was the last person I wanted to think about, and if Zac was the topic of conversation, then Wyatt wouldn’t be too far away. “I do.” Giving him a sharp look, I prepared myself. “Why do you want to know?”

  He watched me for a little while, his gaze intent and assessing. “This is confidential, all right?”

  I honestly didn’t know if I wanted to get involved in what he had to say. I already didn’t like the guy. I didn’t need any more reasons not to. But Noah obviously needed to have this talk with me, whatever the reason was, so I inhaled, and gave him a swift nod. “All right.”

  He sighed heavily before rubbing his hand over his chin. “He was seen making an exchange with a known dealer the day before yesterday.”

  I kept my mouth shut as I watched him talk. As much as I didn’t like Zac, it wasn’t uncommon for some of the students to take a little
something to get them through all the exams and assignments.

  Shifting on my feet, I cocked my head to the side a little to let him know I was listening. “Do you know if he definitely bought anything?”

  He conceded with a slight shake of his head. “No. Nothing has been confirmed yet. Walt wanted to watch the dealer for a bit longer.”

  His jaw tightened as he spoke, making me think he wasn’t too happy about this. “What’s the guy known to sell?” I asked, intrigue sparking.

  Noah’s gaze darkened. “Ecstasy. GHB.”

  My eyes narrowed. “GHB?” Understanding was starting to dawn on me. “You think that’s what he bought.”

  His expression immediately started to close up. “I don’t know what I think just yet.”

  “Fuck off,” I said, turning away from him a little as I scuffed my boot in the dirt. “Don’t give me that shit, Noah. I know you. You think Zac bought a potential date rape drug, and it pisses you off that you might not be able to bring him down before he does anything with it.”

  My brain instantly started searching for what I knew about Zac. He didn’t particularly strike me as a dude hard up for girls to offer their services to him, so if he was buying GHB, it had to have been for his own usage.

  Noah huffed. “I’m not jumping to any conclusions, Eli. I just want to make sure he’s watched. Just in case.”

  My eyebrow snaked upward. “You don’t want me to watch him, do you?” I couldn’t think of anything worse.

  “Not necessarily watch him,” he said. “Just keep your eyes open if you happen to be around the guy.”

  The thought of that almost constituted one of my worst nightmares. I groaned. “You know it could just be a little study boost.”

  His gaze hardened. “Really, Eli? Even when exams are done for now?”

  Tilting my head back, I stared up at the sky. “Party drug, then,” I said sourly.

  “Or,” he said, taking a slight step forward, “while we’re each taking turns at guessing what it was he bought, he could be slipping it into some girl’s drink and getting ready to take advantage of her.”