I Dare You by Ashlyn Mathews

Author:Ashlyn Mathews
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Commencement Bay Publishing

20

Bryce

I’m at the bar of my restaurant, staring at mine and Lucy’s text messages and wondering what the fuck is going on.

She called, but I ignored her. I’m not ready to speak with Lucy, not after seeing the image of her and another guy standing too close to one another for my comfort. But when she texted me the song, I couldn’t ignore her any longer.

I told Lucy the truth. I hurt without her with me. I want to talk to her, tell her how worried I am for my mother and about what a jerk I’ve been for not reaching out to my mother sooner. Maybe if I called and thanked her for the birthday cards, there would have been less cards and more talking over the years.

Even now, I feel the need to call her. It’d be three in Florida, but I won’t get ahold of her yet. My mind is a jumbled mess. What is with Lucy that she thinks time apart will be good for us? And what will I say to my mom after fifteen years of silence?

My mom’s set to be here in three weeks.

Hunching over my glass of water, I tackle the worries one at a time, the most immediate being Lucy and the guy in the image I got via text message.

After Lucy sent me the address of the hotel she’s staying at, I called the airlines to get a flight out. The next available one isn’t until tomorrow afternoon. It’s some messed up itinerary that will get me to Palm Springs in eight hours rather than four. Fuck that.

I can’t wait until tomorrow night to see Lucy and get the answers straight from her as to why some guy picked her up at the airport. Is the assistant excuse a cover for why time apart will be good for us?

A phone call or text message in this situation isn’t enough to silence my doubts. I need to see her. Lucy doesn’t hide her feelings well. Or does she? Damn it, she threw me for a loop when she said, “The time apart will be good for us.”

With my mind made up, I call in a favor.

“Hey, Bryce, man, what’s up?”

“Not much.” Too much. “Do you remember how I saved your ass on that track and took the blow to my shoulder so your head wouldn’t get hit by the front wheel of Manny’s bike?”

That near miss was years ago, a year before my friend, Marcus, retired from the racing circuit. Now he’s some rich business executive in Seattle.

“Yeah, I remember,” Marcus says.

“You told me whenever I needed a favor to give you a call. This is it.”

Marcus laughs. “Then shoot, man. You saved my life. That wheel could’ve broken my neck.” Instead, the wheel broke my shoulder.

“You still have that private jet of yours?”

“Why, you need to hitch a ride somewhere?”

“Palm Springs, California.”

“Spring break? Parties? Women?”

“No on the first two, and not women, but one particular woman.”

“You must’ve fallen hard for her if you have the balls to ask for the use of my jet.

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