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He draws another truth. “Who wants this one?”
What is he doing? Why can’t he ask me something?
“The song you two played. That was crazy good,” Alexandra says. “Does it mean you’re back in business, Laurel? I’ve been a huge fan of yours for a long time. You always write the most incredible lyrics.”
“Thanks, but those lines are Jace’s.” I’m so grateful for her giving me an opportunity to dodge the actual question.
“You’ve been holding out on us.” Briar shakes her head at him. “Since when can you sing like that?”
“Yeah, Jace,” I join in. “How many more secrets are you keeping?”
“You don’t get to ask questions right now,” Jace reminds me.
“Cut it out, everybody. Don’t make my boy Jace blush,” Link says. “He makes me so happy because if anything ever happens to me, he can take over the vocals and keep steering ACD in the right direction.”
Jace gives him a mocking smile, then passes the bucket and combs his hair with his fingers. The quick, barely noticeable sigh he releases betrays some unexpected, concealed worry, a secret I can’t ever tease him about because it might be worse than anything he’s ever told me. Something more serious than heartbreak or rivalry.
“You didn’t answer, though.” Jace looks at me. “Are you back in business?”
He fooled me again. I was feeling all concerned for him, but he’s determined to be a pain in the butt.
“I’m not back. I’m never coming back. You hear me? Never.” My voice sounds louder than it should, and I realize I’ve leaned in so close to make sure Jace heard me that our noses are mere inches away from each other.
I’m a hopeless mess. My only salvation is that no one has phones on them to relay the gossip to their friends or post pictures. The things I’ve said in this place would feed the media for months. I shouldn’t have come. Had I not been feeling like I needed to face some of my fears and see Jace, my evening would’ve been so much better—quieter, without Juliette, and with my relationship with Jace still intact.
On our third turn, I take out fire and watch with satisfaction as Jace throws back a shot of hot sauce. I’d dipped the tip of my pinkie into the edge of a shot glass earlier to check the potency of the sauce. The heat seemed to be on the mild side, but that was just a taste. One and a half ounces of it will still hurt.
Jace swallows the sauce, presses a fist to his mouth, and pulls out a prompt. “Cake!”
I duck and throw my hood over my head, but Jace grabs a plate and shoves the entire cube of cake into his mouth.
“You break the rules everywhere you can,” I scold him. “That was my cake!”
I get no support from anyone. They just laugh. Jace is their favorite. He gets away with anything. I’ve got to make him squirm somehow.
Jace
When Laurel draws her next stick, she takes several seconds to look at it, and I fear it’s the kiss one. She wouldn’t let me kiss her, not that I want to, but I don’t even want to think who she’d make me kiss instead.
“Truth,” she says at last.
I exhale. “Bring it.”
Her eyes meet mine, steady and cold. “Do you still loveher?”
“Well, this is getting interesting,” someone mutters. Everyone else keeps quiet.
“How many times am I going to tell you?” I fish out the next stick. “I don’t love her anymore. Truth.”
“That’s a lie,” Laurel says through her teeth. “That’s all you do. You lie about everything.”
I thought she’d settled down somewhat after our fight, but it seems I was wrong. I try to use my calmest tone as I reply, “Just because you can’t accept my answer doesn’t make it a lie. It’s truth, by the way. The stick.” I show her my pick.
“Again? You’re cheating for sure.”
“Are you two dating?” Juliette asks even though I haven’t indicated whether I want to ask the question or let others do it. I shoot her awhat-are-you-doinglook. She pretends to adjust her hair.
“I won’t answer that,” Laurel says. “A non-player asked the question. Pass the bucket.”
