Page 85 of Danger

“Because I broke one.”

My mind races through the rules. No fucking. No feelings.

We never had?—

Oh.

That leaves only one.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

danger

It’sloud once we get back to the bar. Winnie’s hand is still in mine, though the rest of her—her wild perfect hair, her misaligned lipstick—suggests she barely survived what happened outside of here. But neither did I. I still taste her on my lips, still feel her on my hands.

Everyone around us looks like they experienced something similar. There’s a woman at the bar who has leaves in her hair, like she went rolling through a field. And one of Trouble’s buddies is missing the tie and vest he had on an hour ago. Sawyer has her arm around Trouble’s waist, hair in tangles, face redder than a mortified tomato. Trouble’s grinning, too wide.

“Well, well,” Trouble says, makin’ a show of dusting off his jeans and straightening his nonexistent collar. “If the engagement party’s this rowdy, I can’t wait till the bachelor party.”

Sawyer elbows him in the ribs, but she’s laughing too. “You better behave,” she fires back, flipping her hair. “Or you won't live to make it to the wedding.”

Trouble’s about to retort, but Honey cuts him off from behind the bar.

“Alright!” she yells, holding up a bottle of tequila. “Anyone who needs one of the boot shots, get your ass up here!”

Winnie and I don’t move. She leans in, shoulder touching mine, and whispers, “What happens to the rest of us?”

“Looks like we get the honor of playing whatever the hell that is.”

I glance up just in time to see Charming rolling out some sort of spin wheel from the back storage, like Honey strong-armed him into being her assistant. The thing is huge, painted in bright colors, with homemade labels for each wedge: KISS SOMEONE HOT, SHOT FROM BELLYBUTTON, LICK A TOE, SEND A NUDE.

Hasn’t anyone learned that drinking games are never a good idea?

Although, the first one wasn’t so bad.

Everyone groans as one. “Haven’t we had enough with the games for tonight?” I ask.

I’m complaining but if this game gives me another opportunity to do anything with Winnie, I’d volunteer for every round.

Honey rolls her eyes. “This isn’t your typical engagement party, folks. You knew, the minute Sawyer and Trouble announced they were getting hitched, that it was gonna be a wild ride.”

Sawyer stands up on the bar—unstable, but she’s got her arms out for balance—and bellows, “Let the games commence! I’ll be the host until Honey is done pouring the poison. Everyone has to do the dare or finish your drink.”

“Charming’s up first!”

Charming’s the unlucky soul. He cringes, hands in his pockets. “Why me?”

“Because you’re an easy target,” Sawyer says, smirking.

“Whatever,” he grumbles, and takes the handle. It rattles around until it lands on KISS SOMEONE YOU THINK IS HOT.

He stares down at his beer like he might chug instead of doing the dare, then looks up and shrugs. “Alright.” He runs behind the bar straight up to Honey, and plants a firm, awkward kiss on her cheek.

Honey laughs. “Was that the best you can do?”

“Not even close,” Charming says, and—god bless him—I know he means it.

“Alright, who is next?” Sawyer says, looking around.