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Instead of that last night they’d spent together, his memory took him to their first day in the ring.
“I’m done. I’m going home.”
“So, you’re not only afraid of the jumps, you’re afraid of me, too.”
“I’m not afraid of you, I just can’t stand you.”
“Whatever you gotta tell yourself.”
“You were a jerk last summer, and you’ve been a jerk since I got here last night. It’s taking everything I have not to smack you right now.”
His surprised laugh echoed in his head. “Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“By all means then, go ahead. I dare you.”
And she’d taken the dare and smacked him. Hard enough that the memory made his cheek sting even now. He raised his hand to his face as her unapologetic voice echoed in his head.
“Don’t dare a Diamond, ‘cuz we don’t back down.”
Another scene flashed—this time as they floated only inches apart from each other in the pool.
“How about we compromise? Tell me why you don’t like the dark, and I’ll tell you about the accident.”
Another leap; another memory. At the pool again, but after that inferno of a first kiss that nearly made him lose his mind.
“You’re seriously mad? I’m trying to do the right thing.”
“The right thing would’ve been to not make me think you wanted this in the first place.”
“I do want you, Raine. More than I’ve ever wanted anyone before. But I need this job. I need to be here.”
But did he really need to be here specifically anymore? He was sitting in the dark by himself. And though he felt uptight and restless, he knew it had more to do with the subject of his thoughts than not being able to see.
Dealing with the dark had gotten easier each day—missing Raine had not.
“Don’t dare a Diamond, cuz we don’t back down.”
Well, neither did a Torrez—unless he was a complete idiot.
His stomach churned with a sinking feeling just as a sharp rap on the door made him jump.
“Rey?”
Recognizing his brother’s voice, he sat up straighter as he called, “It’s open.”
The door swung inward. With the light from the stairs at his back, his brother’s front was in shadows. “I didn’t think you were here.”
“Then why’d you come up?”
“Saw your jeep.” Dev leaned a shoulder against the doorjamb and crossed his arms. “You’re in the dark.”
“Can’t put nuthin’ past you, bro.”
After a beat of silence, his brother repeated, “You’re in the dark.”
As if he hadn’t gotten the significance of the words the first time around. Because, you know, it was only his PTSD.
