DARE: A Rock Star Hero

by Scott, S. L.

  Weatherly

  “I’m going to make you come so hard that you’ll forget your name,” Dare whispers in my ear. “How does that sound?”

  “God, so good.” With my eyes closed, I press the phone tighter to my ear and add, “I can’t wait. I want your tongue all over my body.”

  “Ew!”

  Startled, my eyes fly open to find Stascia hightailing toward the exit of the RV.

  “Oh, my God! Stascia is here. Let me call you back.”

  “Bummer. It was just getting good, babe.” He exhales loudly. “Call me back.”

  “I will.” I jump out of bed and tuck my phone in my pocket. I’m still a little shaken when I get outside and surprised she’s here. “Stascia?” I call when I don’t see her.

  “Up here.”

  I look up as I walk to the back of the RV. I can’t see her, but I know she’s climbed to the top. We’ve sunbathed there a few times over the last week. “Hey, what are you doing? I wasn’t expecting you.”

  “Obviously,” she mumbles. “I wish I could un-hear what I just heard.”

  “I was on a private phone call.” I climb up the ladder.

  “You were having phone sex.”

  “Actually, we didn’t get that far. It was more . . .” I see her sitting in a lawn chair with her gaze to the stars. “It was phone foreplay, technically.”

  When she sees me, she starts laughing. “Is that what the kids are calling it?”

  “Why yes, yes we are.” I step on the top deck and work my way carefully to the beach chair next to hers, sit down, and look up. “It’s a clear night.”

  “It is.” We both glance at each other.

  “We’re violating the terms of the order by having contact of any kind, but since I didn’t file it, I’m willing to go down for it.”

  “I won’t tell. And sorry for walking in without knocking. I’m sort of mortified.”

  “Not as much as I am.” That makes us both laugh.

  The laughter tapers off, and she leans closer with curious eyes to whisper, “Will Dare really lick your entire body?”

  “Oh.” My God. Speaking of mortified . . . “Yeah, I guess that did sound really bad.”

  “It sounded good to me. No one has ever . . .” Her voice gets even quieter. “Gone downtown, if you know what I mean.”

  “What? How is that possible? You and April have always been so, you know, experienced. Like light-years ahead of me.”

  Shame fills her pretty features—green eyes saddened, lips turned down, heavy heart weighted on her shoulders. “I lied.”

  “You lied?”

  “I’ve had sex, but I’m just not that experienced.” She whispers, “I’ve never had an orgasm. Not like April. I wanted to fit in.”

  I sigh. “And leave her to ridicule me.” I could be mad, but I’m tired of being upset. “It would make me a hypocrite to call you out on that. Sex should have never been used as a weapon. I won’t use it against you now.” I reach over and rub her arm. “Anyway, I like that we’re finally on an even playing field.”

  “I think you’re in the end zone while I’m still at the fifty-yard line. So as for even . . . I think you’re light-years ahead of me,” she says, laughing.

  “Thank you for being honest with me.” I’m sure there will be a few more revelations between us, but eventually, we’ll all be clean of our past sins and have memories built on honesty.

  “That’s what friends do.”

  “It sure is,” she says, looking back at the stars. Stascia usually overshares, so her visit tonight has thrown me. “Any particular reason you stopped by?”

  Her momentary silence speaks volumes. “I was leaving the house and saw your light on. You should really lock your door.”

  “Lennox was here a little while ago. He brought me flowers.”

  Sitting up abruptly, she’s shocked. “What? Why?”

  “I mean,” I start but stop because I’m laughing. “From Dare. He stayed for a few minutes and we talked, but the flowers are from Dare.”

  “You’ve really taken to these guys.”

  “I have. When you hang out with them individually, they have something so unique about each of them, but then together, their loyalty is limitless. But you know what I love the most? Their hearts. Pure gold. They’ve done nothing less than fully support Dare and me. They don’t blame me or complain about the charges. There’s something special about each of them, and their support of each other is envious.”

  “I’ve seen it.” This time, she reaches over and clasps my hand. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  “Remember how you asked me what I wanted to do with my life? And we talked about my degree?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I think you’re the first person who ever cared to ask me that.”

  “No one ever asked me before Dare, so I get it. I care about you and want you to find what makes you happy.”

  Mischievousness widens in her eyes. “Don’t make fun of me, okay?”

  “You don’t have to say that. I’m not April.”

  Nodding, she whispers, “I want to be a mom.”

  My hands fly to my chest. “Aw, I love that. That’s so sweet. I’m just sad I never knew before.” I rib her just a little. “What about Romeo?”

  “Oh God, Weatherly. I don’t know. I like him, but I’m not sure we’re ready to take it to the next level.”

  “I thought you had.”

  “Nope.” Leaning in conspiratorially, she says, “This is going to sound so weird, but we talk. We talk about everything and nothing, and time just flies by.”

  I understand this more than she realizes and grin. We have endless conversations across the front lawn when we’re not talking on the phone or by video. “It’s amazing how spending time with someone you like . . . or more, is contentment on a new level. With Dare, we don’t go out much. We spend time in, and I don’t know, it’s hard to explain, but I fell in love with him before I knew I’d fallen.”

  “That’s way ahead of where we are. He treats me different, not like a groupie. He’s . . . ugh. Ignore me. I’m making no sense.”

  “Dare was the same. He may have seemed like a playboy, but he was hiding his heart. I like to think he was saving it.” And I’m thankful every day that he held on to it for me.

  Pulling lip-gloss from her pocket, she holds it to her lips but doesn’t apply. “He’s nurturing.” The distraction is in play as she covers her lips with the gloss.

  “Nurturing is not what I expected, but it makes me happy to hear.”

  “He’s just so damn caring. He makes you feel like the only woman alive.”

  “There’s a lot to be said about that.”

  “There is. I’m just not ready to say it.”

  “So where do you go from here?”

  She stands. “Home. It’s been fun to hang out, but I think I need to sleep in my own bed tonight and figure out my next move.”

  We start to climb down. “Keep me posted, and you know where to find me.”

  “Yes, with your doors unlocked while having phone sex.”

  “I wasn’t having phone sex.”

  “Yet. Whatever. I’m not judging.”

  We hug. “Because real friends don’t.”

  “Exactly.” She looks at me once more as though she’s seeing me for the first time. Maybe she’s never met the real me before. I wore the face I thought they wanted for so long that even I forgot who I was. Dare reminded me.

  “How’s the research going?”

  “With the power my dad and the Sanders hold, I can’t figure out an angle. I’m starting to worry they might win.”

  She steps up to the sidewalk. “I hope you nail those assholes. Lloyd is horrible, but he learned it from his father. I’ve called him Mr. Handsers for years. He once grabbed my boob, a full-on hand grab, and then claimed it was an accident when I called him out. Later, when no one was around, he went on to tell me how soft it was and not fake like his wi
fe’s.”

  “He once grabbed my ass and told me how’d I’d grown so luscious. Luscious. I wanted to puke. He got a feel in at the party too.”

  She’s shaking her head just as disgusted as I am. “Like I said, take them down, Weatherly. For all of us.” She walks a few feet, and then adds, “I’ll stop by tomorrow to hang out.”

  “Okay. Night.”

  As soon as I climb back in the RV, I lock the door and double-check it. I pull my phone from my pocket and flop back on the bed as I dial. Dare answers, “Hi, beautiful.”

  “Now where were we?”

  * * *

  I’ve racked my brain over this protection order for the past five days, the charges against not only Dare but also the whole band. I keep coming up empty of options. My father and Bob Sanders are two of the most powerful lawyers in the country, and by far in Austin. I have nowhere to turn for answers.

  So I rely on myself.

  I’m smart.

  Capable.

  Determined.

  And in love. Nothing and no one can stop me.

  “You’ve been so quiet,” Dare says. He’s been playing guitar, and it’s easy for me to get lost in my thoughts to the melody. This is how we spend time together each night. Unlike last night’s sexy time, tonight we’re more low-key. I’ve been studying with his video company while he plays. I look up at the screen to see Dare’s handsome face smiling back at me. “Hi. Remember me?”

  “I do. Very well.” I smile, but it’s short-lived. “Sometimes I still think you’re right here, close enough to kiss.”

  “I am.” He kisses the camera, so I do as well.

  “I love that, but I love you more. I’m frustrated that I can’t figure out a way to fix this.”

  “Don’t be frustrated. It’s not your mess to clean up. It’s ours.”

  “Because of me.”

  “No, because of them. Focus on studying for the bar exam instead. Things will work out how they’re supposed to on my end. As for you, I want you to dream big, or small, if you prefer, but just know they’re your dreams to own. No one else’s. No one controls you. Not your father, not Lloyd, and not me. Own your destiny, babe. It’s time to let all your hard work shine through.”

  Tears well in my eyes from the sweetest sentiment I’ve ever heard. I’ve never felt such love and support than I have from him. “I wasn’t expecting such an incredible pep talk when we logged on. You’re amazing, Dare. Inspiring in so many ways. I’ve never met anyone like you and feel so blessed to have you in my life. Thank you for being born.” I start laughing because I know that’s cheesy, but I’m so touched by his words that I’m struggling to say something deeper.

  He chuckles. “I can’t really take credit for that, but I’m happy I was too.” He sips water, and I watch as he settles on the bed I wish we were still sharing. He sticks to one side, leaving the other open for me as if I’m about to climb in right next to him. He asks, “You still want to practice law, right?”

  I angle my laptop away and rest my head in my hand. “The practice of law was never the problem. Lloyd, Bob, and my father are. Those ties have been severed. For two of them, it’s forever. Maybe my dad and I will see eye to eye one day, but that’s not something I want right now. A lot of damage has to be fixed—your situation and pulling the apartment out from under me like they did.” I close my eyes and take a breath. When I reopen them, I can see the intensity built in his, the struggle he fights not to run to me. I recognize it because it’s an hourly battle I fight as well.

  “I’m going to be very upfront, but know it’s because I care about you. I also worry about you and your money situation. You don’t have a job and you can’t live in an RV at the curb forever. Do you need help?”

  “I appreciate it, but I’m fine. I have money separate from my parents, but they haven’t cut me off yet, so I’ll live on their dime for now.”

  “I’m surprised they haven’t cut you off yet.”

  “I think it’s my mom tempering the fires between us. I’m not going to question it, though.”

  He chuckles. “I wouldn’t either, but promise me you’ll let me know if you need anything.”

  “As soon as I pass the exam, I’ll find a job to support myself, and I’ll come into my inheritance from my grandparents for backup. So you don’t need to worry about me.”

  “That’s my girl. It’s late. You need to study, and I should go to bed. Love you, babe.”

  “I love you, too.”

  After we disconnect, I get up to find a snack in the cabinet. A bag of chips and some tea will do. I need caffeine because there’s still a lot I want to cover before bed. I just can’t seem to get my head in the game. So many things are on my mind that I can’t even prioritize them anymore.

  Except for one.

  Something Stascia said last night. That’s when I realize I’ve had the answer in front of me all along. I’ve been so busy trying to play fair, not realizing I’ll never beat them at their own game. If they want to play dirty, it’s time to sink to their level. And I have a plan.

  38

  Weatherly

  I thought it would take a week or so to gather the evidence to back my case, but I was wrong. It took all of twenty-four hours to find five women willing to come forward and put a statement on the record. So I called a meeting.

  Nine days after the protection order took effect against Dare, I stood opposite my father with his large ornately carved desk between us. The desk feels like a fitting symbol representing our division. A large divide that feels impossible for us to bridge. Guess we’ll see how this meeting goes.

  Broderick Beck is surprising me, though. He’s not impatient, which is something he considers an attribute. He’s . . . I’m not sure what he is. Intrigued to see what I have up my sleeve seems to be the only words that fit.

  Bob and my father built an empire with six locations worldwide. There’s an arrogance that comes with their level of success, and it’s present today, coming off Bob in waves. Oh, and Lloyd’s here.

  I didn’t share my plan with Dare. I thought it best not to involve him, but his words of encouragement are giving me the strength I need, even if they were shouted from fifty-five feet away. “Knock ’em dead, Pepper. Own your dreams and make them pay.” He also used the walkie-talkie feature on our watches, a gift I thought he’d enjoy using, which he has. Walkie-talkie sex anyone? “It doesn’t matter the outcome as long as you’ve made yourself proud, then we win.”

  Even with the threat still looming over his head, he was only thinking of me and worried about my well-being. My heart squeezes with giddiness. I don’t ask how I’m this lucky or why I’m deserving of this great man anymore. We were written in the stars long before we reunited. But he’s right. If I make myself proud, I’ll make him proud. And that is a win.

  “I don’t want to waste anyone’s time, so I’ll get to the point. There’s a sealed envelope in front of each of you.” Lloyd starts opening it without hearing me out like I knew he would, so I keep going, “What’s contained inside can stay that way or I can have a press conference instead.”

  My father’s expression morphs to the legal shark he is. His narrowed eyes locked on the prey—me. “What is this, Weatherly?”

  The tone that used to make me cower, I now use as motivation. “It’s six accounts of sexual harassment against Bob Sanders. One sexual assault case against Lloyd Sanders.”

  Lloyd drops the file like there’s poison inside.

  “Impossible!” Bob stands, picking up and slamming the envelope on the table for dramatic effect.

  “Impossible?” I ask, doe-eyed. “That’s the defense you’re going with?”

  “I don’t have to defend myself to you or anyone else. I know my rights. And I’m innocent until proven guilty.”

  Ignoring his unoriginal rant, I turn to my father. “My statement is one of the six and the only one stated for the record against Lloyd.”

  “What do you mean your statement?”

&
nbsp; The adrenaline drains from my body, and suddenly, I’m the little girl he used to scare into telling the truth. Only this time, my truth could be his downfall. I’m not looking for revenge against him, and my emotions aren’t clouding my judgment. I’ve done my research and know my rights, so I won’t cave under pressure. But his disappointment permeates the room. Ignore. Do not feed into it.

  I want to right the wrong against Dare, his band, and every woman who was brave enough to speak to me so candidly. I speak clearly so everyone can hear. “Bob Sanders has been touching me inappropriately since I was a child. Maybe an ass grab or pat on the butt doesn’t mean anything to him, but it’s not something I was okay with. And despite being a minor on many occasions, I found my voice to tell him more than a few times. He’s crossed lines, so when he gets his defense team to say he did no harm, he’s dead wrong. I endured him because I was too scared of you to speak up most of the time.”

  Lloyd snips, “Apparently not. You’re doing it now because you’re jealous that I’ve moved on.” Lloyd adds, “Revenge is such a bitter bitch, but I thought you were above it. You’ve proven that we were right in not bringing you into the firm. You’re unstable, Weatherly, and need serious help.”

  What did I ever see in that manipulative bastard?

  “Enough!” my dad yells. “You will not call my daughter a bitch.” Lloyd has the decency to look affronted, but I know he’s not.

  But then I really look at my father’s face. When he looks up, I see the first sign of weakness I consider strength—tears mixed with anger—real emotion. No poker face for the jury or heartless negotiation. Raw and real emotions.

  Standing up, he comes around the desk, taking the envelope with him. He looks at Bob, who is watching my father with a scowl. I’m surprised he hasn’t continued Lloyd’s vitriol. Turning to Lloyd, my dad says, “You’re fired. Get the fuck out of my house.”

  Bob stands. “You can’t fire him!”

  “I just did.”

  Lloyd looks at his dad. “He can’t do that, right?”

  “Shut up, Lloyd. I’ll handle this.”

  Whining, Lloyd says, “This is so lame.”