Dare You To (Pushing the Limits, #2)(139)

I hold the clear box in my hand. “Yeah,” I say, and lift it up      so he can see. “You taught me that.”





Chapter 74

Beth

SCOTT AND ALLISON’S       BEDROOM is too gaudy for my taste. The curtains are blue silk and      frilly things like flowers and paintings of flowers decorate every available      space. The bed is beyond massive. Scott and Allison don’t have to go to separate      rooms if they fight; they can roll over a couple times and be in different zip      codes.

I sit on the overly cushioned chair in front of Allison’s      vanity and watch as she pins the hair onto my head. I hate the updo, but I can’t      complain. An hour ago, she dyed six stripes of temporary black color in my hair.      Now my hair is an inch and a half of golden-blond at the roots, black flows over      my shoulders, and black stripes even it out. “Scott is going to be pissed.”

“Yes,” she says. “He is, but I’ll deal with that.”

My lips curve and when Allison catches it in the mirror she      smiles too. We’ve had an uneasy truce since I came home from the hospital and      sometimes I’m scared I’m going to say the wrong thing and send her over the      edge. “Why are you being nice to me?”

Allison lifts the curling iron again and shoots me a glare      when I fidget. She twists a few strands that refuse to be a part of her plan.      “Because Scott loves you.”

He loved me before, but that didn’t keep her from hating      every cell in my body. Not like I helped. “I’m sorry I accused you of trapping      him.”

The curling rod pulls at the roots of my hair and I bite my      lip. She releases the hair and little ringlets dance on the back of my neck.      Okay, I deserve the pulling—and the ringlets. Maybe now we’ll be even.

Allison sets the iron back on her vanity. “I’m sorry...well,      I’m sorry. I didn’t want you here.”

I blink. That was blunt, yet honest.

“Scott told me about his past, but it was easy to pretend it      was a story until you came into the picture. I prefer life clean and simple. You      made Scott complicated.”

“Scott was always complicated.”

Allison spritzes hair spray on me. “I know that now.”

Scott clears his throat and both Allison and I turn to see      him entering the room. I stand and Scott grins when he sees me in the black      strapless dress with a skirt that ends at the knees. He frowns again when he      sees my hair.

“I did it,” says Allison without a hint of guilt.

Scott’s eyes widen. “You did that?”

“You told her last weekend she could wear those God-awful      shoes with her dress and I told you that you’d regret it.”

I fidget in my official Chuck Taylors. “I’m wearing panty      hose.” That was a major concession on my part.

“You should put on a sweater,” Scott says.

“She’s not wearing a sweater.” Allison swats at him. “That      would look wretched.”

“I don’t care how she looks. I care how much skin is      showing.”

Allison leans forward and Scott kisses her lips. I glance      away. They do this more since I came home from the hospital. Not just kissing,      but kissing like they mean it. Kissing because they truly love each other. She      steps out of the room and Scott shoves his hands in his pockets.

I resist the urge to scratch my healing temple. “She covered      the cut with the makeup.”

“I noticed.” He gestures to my left hand. “How’s it      feeling?”

I shrug. “Fine.” The black cast is temporary. Trent      shattered lots of the bones in my hand, wrist, and arm. I’ll have to have      another surgery in two weeks. My nondamaged fingers drum against my leg. I      thought I could go without asking, but I can’t. “How did Mom’s court appearance      go?”

Mom and Trent had preliminary hearings yesterday. I told      Scott that I didn’t want to know what happened, but the curiosity is eating me      alive.

“It’s okay to want to know.” He meets my eyes while I      wrestle with the millions of emotions tugging me in different directions.

I nod and he continues, “She accepted the plea bargain and      will be serving six years. Trent pleaded not guilty against his lawyer’s      recommendation. The D.A. thinks they can get him to serve fifteen years.”