I Dare You (The Hook Up #1)(34)

“Damn,” he says after a few moments of lying on top of me. His chest is heaving as he slides out and lies down next to me.

“What?” I ask.

“That was…that was…”

“The best?” I ask.

He grins. “I know it was for you.”

I smack him with a pillow and he laughs, pulling me into his arms for an embrace.





Later, we’re cuddling and talking in the dark.

“I can’t believe you’re He-Man,” I say, gazing up at him. “I’m still processing.”

He grins down at me. “I know. I was going to tell you at the party, but then the other stuff happened with Alex.” He plays with a strand of my hair. “Ryker was the one who first texted you that night.”

“Did he know who I was?”

“He just knew I’d torn a girl’s phone number off of the salsa sign you’d put up. I didn’t tell him who it was because I knew he’d be worried about the whole Alex thing. You should have seen his face when I told him it was Delaney Shaw. He freaked out.”

“Speaking of Alex…what’s going to happen now?”

He looks over at me. “Alex has nothing to do with us,” he sighs. “Hell, just you saying his name pisses me off.”

Oh. I bite my lip. “I mean, I know you have a lot going on, and I don’t want to mess up your game—or his.”

But isn’t this feeling worth it? I don’t say that, but I’m thinking it. My feelings for Maverick have merged with those I’ve developed through the texts with He-Man, and I’m in deep even though I know it’s dangerous to my heart.

“Football doesn’t start until this fall. He’s got time to get used to us.”

Us?

I smile and he leans in to kiss me. “Ready for round three?”

I laugh. “You think you’re up for it?”

“I’m up for anything with you.”

My heart swells.

The voice of Taylor Swift singing “Shake it Off” comes from another room. It sounds like a ringtone, but it’s not mine.

He heaves out a sigh and scrubs at his chiseled face. “Dammit.”

“Is that your ringtone?”

“Yeah, my sister’s. I need to go. I forgot I was supposed to check in on her tonight.”

“Oh…okay.”

He stands up, his head seemingly already somewhere else, and I do as well, grabbing a robe from the back of the bedroom door to slip on. He’s already dashed to the bathroom, grabbed his gym shorts, and put them on.

“I wish I didn’t have to rush off, but I’m staying there tonight because my dad’s helping a buddy out at his garage.” He grimaces. “It’s extra cash for them, so…”

I tighten my belt, following him out into the hall. “You do that a lot when he’s gone?”

He shrugs. “Sometimes on the weekends. Raven doesn’t need to be alone.”

How does he have a life?

“How do you do that between school and football?”

“Most days I’m barely hanging on.” A gruff laugh comes out of him as he quickly checks his appearance in the hall mirror, arranging his hair. “But really, her living with my dad didn’t start until after football season. If this had happened during the season, I’d have been screwed.” He rubs at the scruff on his jaw.

“Where was she before your dad’s?”

His teeth clamp together, and I know I’ve hit a nerve. “She was at a state-funded group facility paid for by insurance, but we weren’t happy with it. She had bruises and no one could explain them.”

I inhale. “That’s terrible. What happened when you asked?”

“Nothing. It’s a shitty place and I couldn’t leave her there, so we put her with my dad temporarily—but that comes with its own problems.”

Wow. It’s a lot to take in.

He must read my face. “Don’t worry about me. I can handle it.”

I clear my throat. “Do you want me to come with you? I mean, I don’t mind hanging out with you guys. We can watch TV or play a game or something?”

He rubs his hand across his lips and considers me, a frown twisting his face as he considers what to say.

“Maybe next time.” He kisses me on the lips, cupping my cheek. “I’ll text you, okay?”

I nod.

But…

I know he’s not telling me everything.

There’s a cagey look on his face, a wary expression that pricks at me.

Stop worrying, Delaney.

I want to, but now that the fun is over, my head is reminding me to guard my heart.

If you’re going to do this with him, be careful.

I head into the kitchen to pack up the food. “Okay, at least take this with you. I’m sure you guys need dinner.” I busy myself getting out containers to put at least half the nachos in, leaving some out for me.

“Delaney…” His voice is soft as he looks around at the preparation I did while he was showering. I chopped tomatoes and lettuce and got cheese and guacamole out of the fridge. I even put out real plates when I normally only use paper. I blush. “I didn’t do anything but make nachos.”