"He should," I mumbled.
Pulling into the lot, I left the engine on, watching the rain and trying to get my thoughts in order.
"You know, you need new wipers," Dare pointed out. "The windows are all streaky. That can't be safe."
"And you're insulting my car now?" I said then patted the dashboard. "Don't worry, Buttercup. I love you just as you are. Unlike some people."
Dare was quiet a beat then, "It wasn't a dis to the car. I'm concerned for your safety. I worry about you, flower."
His sweet words cut me.
"Well, stop," I said, hearing the harshness in my tone. "I don't need you pretending to care. That wasn't part of the deal."
"You're my friend, Vi," he said. "I care about all my friends."
Annnd I suddenly realized how dumb I was acting. Dare hadn't led me on, at least not on purpose. It was my fault for reading the signals wrong. He was just trying to be a good friend. Wow, I felt like an idiot.
"Okay," I said softly.
"Okay?" he asked.
"Yeah"—I sighed—"Ty's party and meeting up beforehand sounds good. Sorry if I was rude. I just didn't get a lot of sleep last night."
Dare nodded. "No problem. I have my bad days. It can be hard sometimes."
Trying to lighten the mood, I gave a shrug. "That's what she said."
His mouth stretched into a smile. "Man, what a perfect setup. Good one."
"If you say so, Jim."
Dare threw his arms up in victory. "And she finally gets the right Office character! Yes!"
I looked out the window in an attempt to escape all that male beauty.
"Looks like the rain's letting up," I said. "We should go in before it starts again."
"Sounds good, flower." He looked at me with puppy dog eyes. "Did your bad day make you forget my treat or…?"
With an eyeroll, I tossed him a bag. "Here you go. I made muffins last night when I couldn't sleep."
Dare whooped, looking more happy than the breakfast warranted as his face split into a big grin.
After that, the day went by with no problems. Actually, the whole week was smooth sailing. I'd accepted the fact that Dare and I wouldn't be more than friends, and it was strangely freeing. I still drove Dare to school. The next day he showed up with new windshield wipers.
When I asked why, he'd shrugged.
"It'll make me feel better," Dare said. "Knowing you're safe."
Flutters, so many flutters, ran over me everywhere at that statement.
Just friends, I reminded myself sternly. Just. Friends.
I'd smiled and lightly hit his arm. "Thanks, pal," I said.
Dare had given me a strange look but went on to change the wipers for me, taking care not to scratch or damage Buttercup, which I very much appreciated.
I went to another one of DHS's games (which they won, of course), and Dare kept his word.
He showed up at the shelter a few times, bringing toys, blankets and food for the animals. What's more, he seemed to enjoy his time there. I'd caught him cooing to the different dogs and cats. Dare didn't look embarrassed at all when I'd walk in on him. He'd just grin and keep doing it. He also spent a good deal of time with Professor Snape, I noticed.
Everyone had always overlooked poor Snape.
But not Dare.
He took to the dog immediately. Snape was the first one he went to whenever he arrived and the last he saw before he left. The opposite was also true. Whenever Dare came in, Snape's head would pop up, like he knew his person was here. It was such a beautiful thing. I tried to fight the pangs in my chest but couldn't. Seeing the typically grumpy dog finally getting the attention he deserved made my soul sing.
One day on the ride to school, I brought it up, their obvious bond, and Dare had shrugged.
"We get each other," was all he said.
But I understood his meaning one-hundred percent. Hermione and I had that kind of connection. We were kindred spirits. I knew that even if she were adopted by someone else we would always remember each other. Thinking about that, though, Hermione going away, made me want to weep, so I tried not to dwell on it much.
Kind of like I felt when I thought about parting from Dare once our arrangement ended.
But at least, we'd still be friends.
I hoped anyway. I wanted so much more.
But I'd accept what he could give because…some of him was better than having none of him.
CHAPTER 14
"Viola, are you feeling okay?"
Mom asked the question, and I looked over as she sat beside me on the couch.
"Sure, Mom," I said, putting the book I'd been reading down. It was getting good, too. "How about you?"
"Not so fast," she laughed. "I know that trick. Throwing the question back at the other person, so you don't have to talk about yourself. Nice try."
My cheeks went hot. That was exactly what I'd been doing.
"You know me too well," I said.
She smiled, and I grinned back.
"I've missed you, baby. You've been so busy," she said, "what with the shelter, school and soccer." Her voice rose on the last word as if she still couldn't believe it.
I shrugged. "Turns out watching cute guys kick a ball around isn't so bad after all."
"Oh, I completely agree." She lifted a knowing brow. "Back in the day, I fell head over heels for one of those guys, and you were the end result."
"Ugh, Mom," I said, feeling my nose scrunch up. "TMI. Please, let's not discuss you and Dad's sappy love story."
"Okay, okay." Mom sighed and wrapped an arm around
