Harlow bursts into laughter. “Lame.”
Everyone laughs at Troy’s hokey attempt at wisdom. He’s right, though. I’ve been feeling with Dino since the beginning. Lust. Annoyance. Curiosity. More lust. Now this stronger version of lust that makes my heart tighten and stomach flutter. A wussy kind of lust, I guess.
“What if he breaks my heart?” I ask.
“Kick his ass,” Saskia says.
Darla gives me a sympathetic smile. “Cry until you can’t cry anymore.”
“Get drunk,” Troy adds.
Harlow leans into the screen. “Let us make you feel better. You’re not alone.”
“Your support is making me nauseous.”
Troy laughs and walks out of the room, but the girls look offended.
“Now that he’s gone, I’m really nervous about Dino.”
“It’s not him. It’s you.”
“I know. I’m fucked up.”
“Everyone’s fucked up.”
“I’ve never had my heart broken before. I almost did as a teenager, but when I thought the turd was going to dump me, I dumped him first. I still felt like a loser, and I cried all summer.”
“Dumping Dino isn’t the right move,” Saskia announces.
“He won’t let you go anyway,” Harlow says. “Dino strikes me as a stalker.”
“Yeah, he’s pretty damn possessive,” I murmur, smiling. “I really like him. Maybe I should dump him, though.”
Saskia rolls her eyes. “You’re being a wuss.”
“I know, but it’ll hurt if he dumps me.”
“You cried all summer when you dumped that turd. What did you really save yourself from?”
“Being humiliated.”
“If Dino dumps you, he’s a dumbass. How is that humiliating?”
“I don’t know,” I mutter, balling my fists. “I think I want to bail. You know, just to be careful.”
Saskia glares at me with her dark eyes. “Should I fly to wherever the hell you are and hold your hand through this idiotic panic attack?”
“As appealing as that sounds, I’m fine.”
“Don’t dump him.”
Harlow nods. “You’ll regret it.”
“You told me to face my fears,” Darla says, nearly wagging her finger in my face. “Don’t be a scared whiner.”
“Stop ganging up on me.”
The three of them stare at the cameras, silently judging me. Even Troy returns and leans into view to shake his head disapprovingly.
“Okay, I won’t. Now let’s talk about something else.”
“Promise first.”
“I promise I won’t dump him. Now someone else needs to talk.”
No one has anything to share. They’re only interested in Dino. Is he good in bed? How big is his dick? Does he make me sleep on the wet spot? I refuse to answer any of their questions.
Terrified, I realize I’ve fallen hard for Dino. He has all of the power, while I can only desperately hope he won’t crush my heart. I’m so fucked, but now I’ve made the stupid promise!
20
Minka
Make Me Believe
We arrive early at the biker bar in Hickory Creek called Salt Peanuts. Dino climbs out of the SUV and gestures for me to follow him. I remain in the car instead. My confidence is a mess since the conference call. I overanalyze his every smile and word until I’m a ball of tension.
“I can’t go in there yet,” I say when he opens my door and tugs me out.
“Afraid of redneck stink?”
“No. I’m afraid of you.”
Dino frowns, clearly unsure what to say. I press him against the SUV and grip his slick black shirt.
“I need you to give me something that proves you and I aren’t playing.”
“What do you want?”
“Tell me why you retired. I asked before, and you blew me off. I want to know.”
“Why?”
“I want to see you vulnerable like I feel.”
Dino slides his hands down my hair. “Chicks never cease to shock me with their weird emotion shit.”
“Do it or don’t, but save the insults.”
“Hey, don’t get so sensitive,” he says, digging his fingers into my hair and caressing my cheek with his thumbs. “I just don’t know where this is coming from.”
“You mean too much to me, and I’m feeling insecure. Think of this as a test. If you fail it, I’ll run away screaming like a dumbass. Did I make it clear enough?”
“You sure are sexy when you scream.”
“Is that your answer?”
Dino studies me, and I feel on display. I don’t know what he’s thinking, but he finally smiles.
“No, but you gotta give me some emotional shit later tonight to make us even. We have a deal, Miss Apples?”
“Deal,” I say, still tugging at his shirt. “This is your fault for making me fall for you.”
“Yeah, I didn’t plan that out well enough.”
“Tell me why you quit,” I whisper, resting my head against his chest.