Dared (LSU, #4)

by Becca Steele

Breathe, darling. This is just a chapter. It's not your whole story. S. C. LOURIE

I wished I could meet him in person, although I’d probably ruin it with my anxiety and lifelong habit of overthinking every single thing.

“Leo Evans. You don’t want to know how many hours it took me to find out where you were. But I didn’t stop, and do you know why? Because you’re my fucking friend, and you don’t get to decide that our friendship is over because of one tiny mistake.”

“Good boy.” Removing his palm, he ruffled my hair, and I glared at him, which made him grin harder. “Don’t call me that.” “Sorry, little lion.”

Everything stuttered to a halt. I couldn’t think. Couldn’t breathe. “Finn? I dare you.” Fuck. “Ask me again when you’re sober,” I said eventually, but he was already asleep. I lay awake for a long time.

“Ruining what? Baby, please speak to me. I don’t understand.” It barely even registered that I’d called him “baby”—something I’d never called anyone in my life, but it had just slipped out. I was too worried.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say he was one in a million. I loved him. Whoa. Wait a minute. I loved him.

“My lion. You’re so fucking incredible, you know?” He swallowed hard and then continued. “I…I dare you to be my boyfriend.”

“Sorry. Did you want us to act like we’re surprised?” He turned to my mum, widening his eyes and giving a fake gasp. “Can you believe it? Finn and Leo are in a relationship. They were so subtle. I never had a clue.”