Page 7 of Made for Mayhem

“Oh, my God. I cannot win.”

I tugged my hand from his grip, ready to run back in the other direction and away from this man who had my mouth uttering words with a dirty undertone at every turn. He loosened his grip, enough to give me the choice to leave, but not enough to let me go easily.

And somehow, that seemed to encapsulate everything about this night.

Maybe I wasn’t the only one running from whatever came next in my life.

“Truth or Dare?” I asked again when the silence dragged on between us.

“Well, since I’m such a dare guy, truth.”

“Where were you going before this little side quest?”

His steps faltered for a moment, then he regained his long strides, walking with purpose once more. He didn’t answer right away, but I could see the indecision warring on his face. Brow creased, eyes looking anywhere but me.

“No where.”

“That’s cheating.” I nudged him with my elbow. “You have to answer honestly.”

He shrugged those big shoulders, his fingers tightening in mine. “It’s the truth. I quit my job today, and I’m moving tomorrow. I didn’t want to go home, or out with my friends. So, I just started walking.”

“Why don’t you want to go home?”

He looked down at me when we stopped at the next block, hazel eyes looking amused. “But now it’s my turn. Truth or dare?”

I tapped my chin with my free hand. “Dare. Please don’t make me regret this.”

The light turned, and I stepped off the curb, still smiling, still riding the easy rhythm of the night. I liked cities like this—noise, motion, a hundred places to look at once. It was easier to stay on the surface when everything around you was moving too.

Unfortunately, that also meant I didn’t see the car until it was already coming fast.

Headlights cut through the dark. An engine roared. Tires screamed as the car blew through the red light, and the sound hit something deep in my chest, sharp and immediate.

For one suspended heartbeat, time slowed, and the weight of everything I held at bay came crashing down—the panic, the grief, the loss, the things I didn’t think about if I wanted to keep breathing.

Huddy moved before I could.

One second he was beside me, the next he was in front of me, his arm wrapping around my waist, pulling me back as the car skidded to a stop. He planted himself between me and the danger without hesitation, like his body had already decided the outcome.

By the time we reached the other side of the street, my heart was pounding—from fear, yes, but also from the negative thoughts and doubts and regrets swirling beneath the surface of my mind.

See? This is a sign. I shouldn’t have come here.

I’m not good enough to cut it on my own.

Violet wanted me gone because it’s easier when she doesn’t have to take care of me, too.

“You good?” Huddy asked. His hands were warm on my shoulders, his attention steady, grounding me in the here and now.

I nodded woodenly, shoving aside my creeping thoughts. I chose joy the way I chose air—without stopping to think about it. Not because the sadness and fear weren’t real, but because if I let myself linger there, it would pull me under.

He ducked his head to meet my eyes, that hazel gaze careful and concerned.

I smiled, feeling myself balance out once more. “Yeah,” I said lightly. “Still waiting on my dare.”

Live music drifted out of a bar across the street, drunk patrons milling about after midnight as (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life began playing. Huddy followed my gaze to the crowd dancing and singing, then looked back at me.

“I dare you to dance from here ’til the next corner.”