Dared (LSU, #4)

by Becca Steele

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

Why was it acceptable to be so horrible to another kid for something they were born with? Something they had no control over?

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.

But online, I had Hammerhead, and he had a different approach to pushing me out of my comfort zone. He dared me.

“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.”

“Stop.” Lowering himself into a crouch, he reached out, steadying himself on the side of my bed with one hand, the other outstretched towards me. “I’m gonna tell you right now that you’re overreacting, and I don’t want you to give yourself a hard time about it, okay?”

“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.

“Normal doesn’t exist,” said JJ. “Normal is boring,” announced Nic at exactly the same time.

“I’m yours,” I repeated, watching his eyes darken. “Yes, you are, and don’t you fucking forget it,”

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

Yes, I’m single…I think, but I don’t know for sure. By the way, I think I might be in love with my best friend, and does that mean we’re still friends, or are we boyfriends? How do I know? Help!

I could do this. I was Leo. Lion. It was time I lived up to my name.

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

“You know you’re my favourite person in the world, right?” “Yeah. You’re mine, too. No one else even comes close.”

“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.”

With Finn, I hadn’t only gained a boyfriend. I’d gained a family.

“It’s okay. I’m just…you know.” “You’re Leo, and we love you, and we don’t want you to change.” “That,” Nic said, sliding his arm around my waist.

The words had just come out, completely unplanned, but so easily, just like everything else between us. I dare you to marry me…