Read Online The Dare by Rachel van Dyken - Free Book Online Page A

where I felt
slightly manipulated and possibly kidnapped.
    And my approval ratings were going to
hell.
    Things couldn't get worse.
    I finally reached the gate where Travis,
Kacey, Char, Jake, and Beth were waiting.
    Clearly something was wrong because they were
frantically dialing their phones, and Kacey looked like she was
ready to cry.
    "What?" I asked stupidly. "Did someone
die?"
    All eyes turned to me.
    "We can't find Grandma." Beth's voice was
strained. "She said she had to use the powder room and just
disappeared."
    "I'm sure she's fine," I soothed. "After all,
this is Grandma Nadine we're talking about. I'd feel sorry for her
attacker. Hell, I'd probably watch the entire episode and order
popcorn."
    The group seemed to relax a bit.
    That is, until we heard honking.
    And then a splash of leopard flew by me at
top speed.
    "I think I found her." I pointed.
    Grandma parked the airport cart, giving
herself whiplash in the process, and stepped out. "Sorry, dears, it
took me the longest time to find one of these things."
    I winced. "Grandma, I think it's illegal for
you to drive that without assistance from the airport staff."
    My body gave an involuntary shudder as
Grandma's pointed stare met mine. "I am the law."
    Ho-o-oly shit. What had I gotten myself
into?
    "Get in." Grandma put the cart in reverse,
nearly killing two elderly people in the process, then pulled out
her lipstick and began applying in the rearview mirror.
    Great, so she used mirrors for lipstick
application and not driving. We were in such good hands.
    The last thing I wanted to do was go to
dinner. Sleep. That's what I wanted. Sleep. And to hear from Rick
that everything was fine.
    I picked up my bag and made my way to the
cart, eying Beth as she leaned on Char. Was she crying? Had I done
that? Feeling like a jackass, I moved toward her, only to be
stopped by Jake and Travis, both of them looking like they'd rather
shoot me in the face than let me even near their family.
    "Listen, punk," Jake started.
    I laughed. I couldn't help it. Punk? Really?
That's what he was going to go with? And then he punched me in the
stomach. I doubled over, not a proud moment. Travis pulled me by
the shirt and leaned me against the wall so it looked like I hadn't
just gotten the wind forced out of me.
    "Listening." I glared.
    "We will end you." Travis smiled, as if he
was excited about the idea of killing a state senator and going to
federal prison. "Leave her alone."
    "Her?" I repeated. "You mean Grandma?"
    "Grandma?" Jake snorted. "That woman could
run circles around you in her sleep. Hell, I don't even feel sorry
for you. We're talking about Beth."
    "Hey," I held up my hands, "I didn't do
anything wrong."
    "You slept with her."
    "I'm not sure," I answered honestly. "I can't
exactly… remember the details."
    Travis nudged Jake. "Performance
anxiety?"
    "Hell no," I growled. "I think I was too
drunk or — "
    Wrong thing to say.
    I got punched in the stomach again.
    My stomach had dropped to my balls — well, at least I wasn't hungry
anymore!
    Travis swore. "Don't play games with her.
Leave her alone. Let her have a relaxing time in Hawaii and be
nice."
    "I'm nice," I defended myself.
    "You're a… politician ." Jake made mock
quotes. "That basically means it's your job to be nice and make
everyone feel confident in your abilities, but I see through the
bullshit. I saw through it when you were after Char, and I see
through it now. Leave. Her. Alone."
    "Or what?" I sneered. Okay, so I wasn't
actually going to do anything, but I was pissed they were
threatening me.
    "Oh that's easy." Travis stepped away,
smirking at Jake as if they had this giant-ass secret I wasn't a
part of. "You don't leave her alone, and we let you fend for
yourself with that one." He pointed back to the cart where Grandma
was currently thrusting her phone into the air and yelling.
    "I have no service! Damn third-world
country!"
    I'd last five minutes alone with that woman
before committing a federal crime.