I blinked and he disappeared from my view.
Had I…had I actually dreamt that?
Before I could question my sanity though, he reappeared with a glass of water in his hands, and he helped me sit up so I could drink.
“Th-thanks,” I mumbled in between mouthfuls.
“What’s wrong Zach? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” he said, crouched down in front of me, another thing I dreamt a hundred times, only in much steamier circumstances.
“I…I…it’s nothing,” I said.
“It’s not nothing. I spoke to Autumn. I know your ex burned down your truck.”
I shivered.
I didn’t like hearing him mention Victor. I didn’t like him sullying his mouth with that monster.
“We don’t know that for sure,” I stuttered and Dare glared.
“Your truck burns down just when your ex comes to town? Yeah, I’m pretty fucking sure,” he said, and I didn’t know if I’d ever heard him curse.
It was…strange. It was a different side to him I hadn’t seen before. But also he sounded very protective when he cursed, which made me all fuzzy in the chest.
“What happened? Where is Teddy?”
“He…he went to get photos and speak with the fire department.”
“Why would he leave you alone at a time like this?” he growled.
“It wasn’t his fault,” I said and put a hand to his shoulder.
My fingers zinged at the brief touch. I hadn’t touched him before. Not like that. Not with such…familiarity.
“I told him to. I was fine when he left. Well…as fine as I could be.”
“Then what happened?”
I instinctively glanced at the window and Dare followed my gaze too.
Before I could say anything, he rushed to the window and looked outside.
“Who is that? Is that your ex?” he shouted.
I swallowed in lieu of a response and Dare’s face twisted.
“I’ll be right back,” he grumbled and ran out the door before I could stop him.
Before I could warn him.
What if Victor hurt him too? I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to Dare.
FIVE
DARE
Ihad no time to think. No time to process what it meant or why his ex had made Zach feel like that. I just ran.
I ran like I was running for my life, and I didn’t stop until I got outside ready to throw down with whoever made Zach faint from fear alone.
