I Dare You (The Line Up, #1)

by Misti Murphy

“Sadie hates him,” Fleetwood says a few minutes later. “More than you do. I’ve had to ban her from coming in until Holmes scampers back to where he came from. There’s only so much time I can dedicate to making sure she doesn’t sneak up behind him and clock him in the head. Last night she took off one of her spiked heels and tried to sneak up behind him. It was a lot like watching Wile E. Coyote try to take someone out. Or that shower scene from Psycho.” He mimes holding a shoe above his head and maims the air with the imaginary heel. “I had to physically restrain her. She might be a lightweight, but she’s scrappy. All arms and legs like an octopus.” He smiles indulgently. “Can you pass me the vodka?”

“Stop it,” she snaps, slapping his hand away. “This isn’t okay.” “What the hell?” My knuckles clench along with my jaw as I march up to them. “Hayley, are you all right?” “Yes. Haden was just leaving, weren’t you?” She shoves her hands into his chest, hard. “Okay, okay, didn’t mean to press your buttons, babe.” He barely moves, except the smirk that grows on his face. “Just think about it?” “She’s not going to think about it.” I grab him by the collar and haul him away from her. “She wants you to back off. You’ll do it.” “It’s fine,” he says. “We’re friends, aren’t we, Hayley?” “Should I get security?” she asks sweetly. “That’d be great,” I tell her, because I’ve had about as much of this idiot as I can take, and he and I need to have a few words without her around. “Be right back,” she says as she leaves us. “You can unhand me, you know.” I let him go and he starts preening like a peacock.

It feels like my heart stays. In a bar across town. With a man who doesn’t want it.

And now I’m where, exactly? I wince from the pain in my head as I try to survey the room. It’s too light. Too bright. Too My Little Pony. Plushies and figurines fight for room on every surface. A huge Rainbow Dash as tall as a man sits in the corner of the room. Is this hell? Am I destined to be reminded of Callan for the rest of eternity? Oh God.

“You’re not dead. I promise. I’m really here,” the pony says. “I love you so much.” “I love you too.” I smile at him. He’s so pretty. I want to draw him, but apparently heaven doesn’t supply canvases. Or paint. It’s a shame, because I could have been really happy here with my collection of plushies and my Callan pony. “I was so afraid to lose you”—his voice cracks—“that I pushed you away. These past six months have been hell. And tonight... I can’t live without you, Hayley.” “Hush, pretty pony.” I tug him down beside me, and he arranges his body carefully around mine. His rough fingers stroke the side of my neck. “Rest now, Hayley. Sleep. We’ll talk later.” “Okay, pony,” I murmur, eyes closed, head sinking into a cloud. “Just don’t leave me.” “I’m not going anywhere.”

“I’m still dead.” And cuddled up to a giant blue pony who has one of his hoof hands attached to my ass. “You’re not dead, Miss Waters.” The nurse strides into my room. “Though I can look at adjusting the medication we have you on for the pain. That might help.” “Did they accidently put me in the kids’ ward?” I know I’m short. It’s possible they mistook me for a child. It would make sense of why my hospital room is full of My Little Pony paraphernalia. Posters, cards, toys, balloons. They’re everywhere. “No. You’re in a private room.” She works quietly, efficiently around me. Checks my chart and the IV attached to my arm. Gives my bed buddy a pointed look. “You can blame him and the four lunatics that were with him. I’ve never seen such a production. You must be quite the fan.” “It’s a long story,” I say, staring at the sleeping man inside the furry blue onesie. The biggest grump I ever met is dressed as a cartoon character, and it’s ridiculous, and so cute. It is literally the most adorable thing I have ever seen. “Don’t tire yourself out,” she says. “You need your rest, but I didn’t have the heart to kick him out. Not that I would have been able to. A man that in love... you’re a lucky woman.”