Untamed (Untamed #1) (8 page)

This was it. Dare was going to leave me for the girl inside.

Heart, meet jealous pang.

“Are you…uhh…sleeping over?” I asked quietly. None of your business, Reagan.

“Here?” His eyebrows shot up. “I hadn’t planned on it. Not tonight.”

“Will she give you a ride back?” God, could I be any more obvious?

“Who?”

“The girl you’re going to see,” I said, looking at the raindrops gathering on the windshield. My tone was even and nonchalant. As if I couldn’t care less. Inside, it was a whole other story.

“She’s not a girl.” The leather seat groaned as Dare shifted his weight. “She’s a woman.”

Of course she is. My eyes snapped up to find him smirking.

“I won’t be too long,” he said, his voice lifting in amusement. “Do you mind hanging around for a bit?”

“You want me to WAIT for you?”

“You can wait for me or work for me.” He motioned to the backseat where he’d transferred what looked like a month’s supply of groceries from his car. “I could use some help carrying those in. Plus, that way I can make sure you get back to the city without—”

“Yeah, yeah! I get it. My driving sucks.” I smacked his arm and laughed, for a brief moment forgetting that I was jealous of the woman inside. Dare had that effect on me. Even sitting in front of his girlfriend’s house
.
For every second of the forty minutes we’d spent driving here, he’d kept my mind so full of him that I hadn’t once thought about this evening’s events.

We darted up the driveway, trying to shield the paper bags from the rain. Not very successfully. By the time we’d made it up to the porch, Dare’s four oversized bags and my two smaller ones were completely soaked through. He didn’t bother ringing the bell. Instead, he kicked the front door. “Hey! Open up!”

A few beats later, the door swung open, revealing a teen girl in cut-off jean shorts and a loose, long sleeveless t-shirt with the words
C’est la vie
across the front. She was tall and extremely thin, with big hazel eyes that lit up at the sight of the bags in Dare’s arms.

“Dare!” She threw her arms around his neck, nearly toppling the groceries out of his arms. “What took you so long?”

“Someone tried to kill me.” His eyes met mine over her head and he winked.

The girl pulled back, horror overtaking her pretty face. “For real? Is that why you have that cut above your eyebrow?”

“Nah.” He shook his head and laughed. “You shouldn’t be so gullible, squirt.”

“DARE!” She groaned, smacking his chest. Hard. “You shouldn’t say things like that! Especially considering—” Her eyes met mine and she bit down on her bottom lip. “Hey!” Her head tilted to the side, causing her dark, asymmetrical bob to look even more askew. “Who are you?”

“Why don’t you help take some of these bags in and then we’ll do the whole introduction thing,” Dare said, moving past her into the hallway. “Is Dax here?”

The girl nodded. “
DAAAAX!
Dare needs you to put away groceries!”

“To HELP put away groceries.” He motioned for me to follow him into the kitchen where he proceeded to set down the bags on the counter. “I’m going to get the rest of the stuff from the car.” He shot the girl a warning look. “Don’t be a pain in the ass while I’m gone, Dalia.”

Dalia. Interesting. And pretty.

As soon as Dare left, she narrowed her eyes at me and grinned slyly, but before she could say anything, a dark-haired guy stomped into the room. Yes, stomped. All muscle and teen attitude.

“Dare is here?” he asked, heading straight for the bags. “Did he get my protein shake?”

“Dare and a
girl
,” Dalia said.

“What girl?” He spun around. “
Damn
, girl!” And he was in front of me before I could even blink, trying to look cool. It was all I could do to not laugh. “What’s your name, baby?”

“Not interested, Dax,” Dalia answered for me. “But seriously, who are you?”

“I’m…” A friend? Not really. I had no label.
“…just Reagan.”

“Well, Just Reagan, I’m Dalia,” she said with a tiny wave of her hand.

Dax took my hand and kissed it. Freaking
kissed
it. “And I’m Dax.” His voice dropped into a familiar, charming territory that reminded me so much of Dare. “Dalia’s less evil and much sexier twin brother.”

“Don’t let that smile fool you, Reagan. They’re both equally evil,” Dare said as he came up behind me. “Where’s Mom?”

“Sleeping,” Dalia said. “She had a double shift yesterday that turned into a triple. She’s barely been home in two days since she has to take the train to work now.”

“What’s wrong with her car?”

Dax scoffed. “You mean,
this
time? It needs a new alternator or something equally expensive.”

“Why didn’t she tell me?”

“You know Mom,” Dalia said with a shrug. “She knew you’d insist on giving her your ride even though you need it for work. She didn’t want to burden you.”

Dax pulled out an apple and a banana and ate them both at the same time, trading off with each bite. “Do you mind lending it to her?” he asked through a mouthful of fruit. “It would really help. Plus, you still have that piece of crap bike, right?”

“He can’t transport his work stuff on a bike,” Dalia said.

Dare inhaled sharply. “My car is in the shop.”

And it would be for another week. The mechanic had said it was more than just the tire and he was going to need some parts.

“Don’t worry. I’ll work something out,” he said.

“I can just—” I started, but he shook his head at me.

“I’ll work something out,” he repeated, his eyes on me. Turning back to the twins, he said, “Has Mom been okay otherwise?”

“Yeah, I guess…” Dalia’s gaze shifted to me. “She’s still attending regular meetings.”

Dare nodded. “Good. Is she eating?” Deep concern colored his voice, and I quietly cleared my throat to get rid of the bittersweet sting of emotion that had made its way through me.

Dalia shrugged. “Yeah, when there’s food.”

His eyebrows shot up. “What the hell does that mean? I stock the fridge weekly.”

“Yeah, and have you
seen
Dax? His stupid football two-a-days have him eating for six!”

As if on cue, Dax picked up another banana and asked, “Yo, did you get the protein shake I wanted?”

“I did, Hulk,” Dare said. “Go easy on that crap, okay?”

“Sure thing, big bro.”

“And the Nutella?” Dalia rummaged through the bags.

“It wasn’t on sale.” Seeing her shoulders sag, Dare said, “Next time. I promise.”

“That’s what you said last week.”

Dare rubbed his hand over his face. “Work has been slow lately. It’s always slow this time of year, but it’s going to pick up soon and then I’ll get you two jars, okay?”

“Three!” she said.

“And you say
I
eat a lot?” Dax laughed.

“Daren?” A woman’s soft voice called down the hall. “Is that you?”

Dare cursed. “We woke her. I’ll be right back.”

“Daren?” I said. Somehow, it didn’t suit him.

“Only Mom calls him that,” Dalia said. “He’s always been Dare to everyone else. And especially ever since our dad—”

“
Dalia
.” Dax shook his head. He narrowed his eyes at me, their golden color identical to his sister’s, shades lighter than Dare’s. “How well do you actually know our brother?”

“Not well.” Not well at all.

“Are you dating?” he asked.

“No.” Definitely not. I didn’t date.

“Hmm...” His demeanor instantly changed. Turned more predatory. “Single, huh?”

Dalia jumped up on the counter and crossed her arms. “Are you screwing?”

Her blunt question caught me off guard. “Who?”

“My brother!” She laughed. “Who else?”

The right side of Dax’s mouth quirked up. “Nope, but hopefully soon enough.”

“God, not you, Dax!” She rolled her eyes at him, then turned back to me. “Are you and Dare doing it? He’s never brought a girl home before, so I’m trying to understand exactly who you are.”

“No, we’re not doing it.” I laughed. Holy crap. “Honestly…I’m no one important.”

Dax towered over me as he brought his face even closer. “So if you’re not dating or screwing my brother, I’ll take it that you’re single and looking for some fun, right?”

“How old are you?” I poked him in the chest and stepped back.

He swelled with pride. “Sixteen. Seventeen in a few months. I’m a junior.”

“Well, I’m a sophomore. In
college
.”

“So?” he said with an impish wink. “I happen to like older, more experienced women.” He reached out to brush my cheek. “They’re usually—”

“Hey!” Before I had a chance to push his hand away, Dare was between us. He grabbed Dax’s wrist, twisted his arm behind his back, and placed him in a chokehold. “Watch where you put those hands if you still wanna be able to throw a football tomorrow.” Releasing him, he playfully smacked Dax on the back of his head.

“I’m only six years younger than you.” Dax growled and jumped on Dare’s back, trying to take him down, but his ass met the floor when Dare tossed him. “And why do you care about my relationship with Reagan? She said she’s not with you.”

Dare’s gaze flitted over to me. “That doesn’t mean you’re allowed to have her.” His dark look and tone made my skin tingle and my cheeks heat. I kind of liked the idea of him staking claim to me, even if it was only to ward off his horndog brother.

I had to look away before spontaneously combusting. “Dalia, do you need help putting these groceries away?”

Dalia narrowed her eyes at me, then Dare. “Sure thing,
Just
Reagan. My spidey sense tells me there’s a little more to that ‘just’ than either of you are admitting.”

Dare grabbed her elbow as she passed by. “Listen, I gave Mom some money. Make sure she uses it on train tickets and to get the car fixed. Not on anything else, okay? She looks…tired.”

“She’s going to meetings, Dare. I swear.”

“I know.” His lips tightened and he seemed to shut down after that. We managed to put away most of the groceries before he finally spoke again. “School okay, guys?”

“Yeah,” Dalia said as Dax nodded. “Fine.”

“Any forms you need me to sign?”

They both shook their heads.

“But you better come to our homecoming game,” Dax said. “I’m starting QB this year. No junior in the history of our entire school has ever started at homecoming.”

“I guess all that food you’re inhaling is going to good use.” Dare laughed and mussed Dax’s hair.

Dax punched his shoulder. “So are you gonna come or what?”

“I’ll be there if I don’t have to work.” Dare crossed his arms over his chest and fixed his gaze on them. “Anything else you want to confess while I’m here?”

Dax turned to Dalia with a knowing smirk. “Dalia has a
booooyfriend
.”

Dalia gasped. “I do not!”

“Stephanie Matthews saw you making out with Tyler Rodn—”

“Oh, my god! DAX!” She smacked his arm hard. “That’s such a lie! Dare, he’s just making shit up, because I threatened to tell—”

“Shut it, Dalia! You promised you wouldn’t say anything to Dare.”

“Well, that was before you started on Tyler!”

“That’s because Tyler has fucked around with every single girl in our school. He’s Harrison High’s biggest player.”

“No, I’m pretty sure that sleazy title belongs to you!” Dalia yelled as she hurled a dishcloth at his chest.

I found myself grinning like a fool. There was something so warm and mesmerizing about their bickering. However chaotic, the exchange was bursting with affection and comfortable familiarity. When Pierce, Quinn, and I had fought, it was cold and calculated with pure intent to harm.

Dare’s whistle made me jump. “Alright, enough!”

“In all seriousness,” Dalia said, ignoring her brother’s warning looks, “I think Dare needs to know that—”

“NO!” Dax practically roared. “He doesn’t need to know shit about that asshole.”

“What asshole?” Dare straightened, his eyes darkening to shade I’d never seen in nature. “Dalia…is someone bothering you? Did someone hurt you?”

“It’s not that.” She shook her head, focused on a broken tile by her foot. “Some guy’s been hanging around…watching the house.”

“Dad,” Dare said, his face turning to stone.

Dax groaned. “God, why did you have to open your big, fat mouth?”

No. I was wrong. Dare’s eyes could get darker. “Someone you recognized?”

She didn’t look up. “No, but I’m scared, Dare. What if he—” She couldn’t finish the sentence.

Dare stood eerily still as silence filled the room. “Does Mom know?” he finally said.

“No.” Dalia shook her head. I noticed that her thin, bony shoulders were shaking.

“Good.” Dare nodded. “Don’t say anything to her. I mean it.”

“Are we going to have to move again?” Dax asked, looking defeated at the thought.

“I don’t know. Don’t worry about it. I’ll deal with it.” Dare ran a hand through his hair, his fingers yanking and tugging at the roots. “What else?”

Dax’s brow furrowed. “What else?”

“What else needs dealing with?” Dare’s tone was curt. “I have to get going, so what else?” His body hummed with tension. The playfulness from before was gone.

“Can you fix the sink in the bathroom?” Dalia said quietly. “It’s leaking again and Dax’s half-assed solution has been to keep putting more and more duct tape over the crack.”

Dare turned to me. “Do you mind waiting a few more minutes, Reagan? If you—”

“No.” I said a little too quickly. “Not at all. Go ahead.”

Truthfully, even given the turn in conversation, I wouldn’t have minded staying inside this house forever.

eleven