I started at his words.
"Coach Kent took me under his wing," Dare said. "I was good before, but he saw something in me and made me great. He also told me that I owed it to myself to stop it with all the wild, immature crap I was pulling and try and reach my potential. Coach showed me I had value, even if my own parents couldn't see it."
"God, Dare." I wanted so badly to reach out and hug him, grab his hand, something. But I stopped myself, unsure if he'd allow it. "I'm so sorry."
Dare shrugged. "It's not your fault my parents suck, flower."
"Well, I'm sorry for asking in the first place," I said.
"You didn't know," he said. "But that's why I know love is a lie. I've seen how twisted it can get, how it disappears over time."
He cocked his head.
"My question is why do you think it's real?"
"How do you know I think that?" I asked.
Dare laughed which eased something inside of me. He was obviously coming out of those dark memories of his parents, and I was glad for it.
"For one, you're a girl," he said.
I rolled my eyes. "What a sexist thing to say."
"And for two, you're you." I went to object, but he held up a hand. "There's a video of you confessing your undying love to my best friend, remember?"
My mouth snapped shut at that.
"Well, you're right," I said, deciding to give him my truth since he'd just given me his. "I do believe in love."
Dare grinned. "I'm shocked."
"Anyway," I said and narrowed my gaze at him, " I confess I'm a hopeless romantic. I've always thought it had a lot to do with being raised on romance. Books, TV, movies, you name it. All of my life, I've been told love exists, that it's out there and that everyone has a chance at it."
He didn't say anything, so I went on.
"But I think what proved it to me is my mom and dad," I said. "They were meant to be together, Dare. They're soulmates. I know love exists because I've seen it."
"Maybe for some people," Dare allowed. "But I don't think it's out there for everyone."
It made me achingly sad to hear him say that, to know he felt that way.
"What was the stuff with Ty about?"
"Not this again," I said. "Also, I thought it was my turn to ask a question."
"I'll give you two after you answer," he said.
Ugh. "Okay, okay," I said. "So, I thought I had a crush on Tyson. So what? I've had crushes on tons of people."
"Oh really? Name one, besides Ty."
"Well…you. At one point. But that was a long time ago," I hastily added.
Dare grinned. "Oh flower, please tell me more."
"Don't look so smug," I said, wishing I'd never brought it up at all. "It was in the fifth grade. I was young and impressionable. I barely even knew you then."
"But what you knew you obviously liked."
There was no way I could tell him that I liked him even more now. That in knowing him better, it had only increased my affection for him.
Dare was still looking at me, and I turned my face away. "Can you please stop staring? You're making me even more embarrassed."
"It's okay," he said. "If it helps, I used to have a crush on you, too."
My eyes snapped to his. "No way," I said. "When?"
"Hmm, let's see," Dare said. "Well, there was the time in elementary when I first moved here. I thought you were nice and liked your hair. That was all it took back then."
I could hardly breathe.
"The second time was in the seventh grade when you saved that puppy they found outside the art room. I couldn't stop thinking about how amazing you were."
"Second?" I breathed.
"And I think the third was between ninth and tenth when I learned you were Coach's daughter," he said and shot me a smile. "Though I think that had more to do with him than you if I'm being honest."
I shoved him for that, and he laughed.
"What? There was just something about you being off-limits."
My brow furrowed. "Because you're one of my dad's players?"
"Yeah," he said with a shrug. "But it's cool. Just saying we both had crushes, so there's nothing to be embarrassed about."
"Oh yeah, sure," I said.
But inside, I was reeling. Dare freaking Frost had liked me. He'd had a crush—no, multiple crushes on me. Me! Viola loner-dog-girl-awkward-nerdy-hopeless-romantic Kent! I just couldn't believe it. And I hadn't told Dare this, because I'd probably die if I did, but…my crush on him? It had actually been a reoccurring thing over the years. It hadn't ended in the fifth grade. I'd actually always liked him—except for when he was a jerk in the ninth grade. But in my head, Tyson had been the better match because he'd seemed more…safe.
Speaking of which, this conversation was getting dangerous.
Time to steer us back on track.
"So, dogs or cats?" I asked.
"Going for the easy stuff now." Dare laughed but said, "Dogs. Definitely."
I brought up Dare possibly adopting Snape one day, and he got this odd look on his face.
"You think he'd want to live with me?" he said.
"Of course!" I threw him a smile. "He loves you."
"Hm, I wouldn't go that far."
"I would," I said. "I've never seen that dog get attached to anyone. Before you, he liked me best."
His eyes shined. "Oh yeah? So, I stole his affection? Sorry about that, flower."
"No problem," I said. "Just like people, animals have
