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There are hoots and hollers from the group, and the girl laughs nervously as she gets up and starts shedding her clothes.
Watching her, I feel a sense of dread wash over me. What if I get a dare like that? I would probably die from embarrassment before even getting my pants off.
I try to push the thought out of my mind, but it lingers there like a bad taste in my mouth. The game continues, and I watch as more and more people take increasingly ridiculous dares. One guy has to eat a spoonful of hot sauce, and another has to sing a love song to a tree. And then it’s Josh’s turn.
“Truth or dare?” Archer asks him, a sly grin on his face.
“Dare,” Josh says without hesitation.
Archer’s grin widens, and I can tell whatever he’s about to say is going to be bad news. “I dare you to kiss the person next to you.”
My heart skips a beat as Josh turns to face me. I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks, and I can’t help but wonder if this is some kind of sick joke.
I should tell him no, he doesn’t need to do this. He should pass.
But then Josh leans in, and suddenly I don’t care what anyone else thinks. His lips are soft and warm, sending a rush of heat through my body. For a moment, I forget that we’re playing a game and that there are people watching us. All I can think about is the taste of his lips and the way his hand feels on the small of my back.
When we finally pull away, the group erupts in cheers and whistles. The heat in my face intensifies, but I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my lips. Josh looks excited too, then a second later he turns away.
My stomach drops. Is he still mad at me for what I said earlier?
Archer points to me, and he grins even wider.
“You. It’s your turn, Miss Ivy League.”
Everyone laughs, and I feel like I might throw up. Since when is it a crime to be smart and ambitious?
Having them laugh at me on the heels of Josh kissing me and turning away is just salt in the wound. I’m starting to think coming to this party was a bad idea.
“Skip her,” Josh says. “She’s too high-strung to cut loose.”
My jaw drops.
“Hey,” Riley says. “What the hell?”
I can’t believe Josh just said that. I thought we were making progress, that he was starting to see me as more than just the uptight girl from his history class.
But maybe that was just wishful thinking on my part. Maybe I really don’t belong here, with these people who seem to only value wildness and impulsivity.
I open my mouth to say something, to defend myself, but Archer interrupts me. “No skipping allowed, Josh. It’s her turn.”
I take a deep breath and try to steady my nerves. Maybe I can salvage this situation and show them that I can be just as daring as anyone else.
“Truth or dare?” Archer asks, his eyes glinting with amusement.
I hesitate for a moment, but then I remember the rush I felt when Josh kissed me. The way he made me feel on top of the world and then took it away.
He was playing with me, teasing me and then letting me down. I could back out and leave the game, but no way am I doing that when there’s a chance to get Josh back.
“Truth,” I say, surprising even myself.
“What do you really think of Josh?” Archer asks.
Vengeance swirls in my chest, and I narrow my eyes at the guy sitting next to me, who, just a few minutes ago, I naively thought I had some kind of connection with.
“I think that he’s just bitter because he knows his best days are behind him,” I say. “He was the king of our class, but now he’s looking at the rest of his life stuck here in this small town. He knows that he’ll never amount to anything and that his glory days are over.”
Everyone falls silent, and anger burns in Josh’s eyes. But I don’t care. I’m tired of playing his game, tired of trying to impress him.
