Page 171 of Game Night: Truth or Dare

“You’re both right,” I say. “There’s been research that shows the estuary has more great white sharks than previously thought. There are also wobbegongs, bronze whalers, hammerheads, bull sharks—”

“See!” Violet shouts.

“But you should be fairly safe if you take proper precautions. To be honest, there’s a lot of marine life, but you rarely hear about any attacks, right? Off the top of my head, I think there was only one shark attack in New South Wales last year. There’s a lot of work being done to tag the sharks and understand their movements…” Violet’s eyes are wide as she stares at me. Oops. “Anyway, just don’t swim at dusk or dawn and you should be fine,” I finish.

“Spoken like a true tour operator and marine fanatic,” James teases, slapping me on the back.

Violet shudders. “I’m going to stick to the pool.”

Approaching midnight, the crowd starts to thin until eventually the last patrons filter out. The staff wipe tables and clean up, chatting quietly and sharing jokes as they complete the close-down routine.

Henry leaves his business partner, Archie, in charge and joins us, bringing a tray of shots. He puts the tray on the table and slips into the seat beside me—the seat where Karen was sitting just a moment ago. She throws me a wink from where she’s now sitting across on the other side of the table.

Violet reaches for an empty bottle and places it on its side on the tabletop.

“What’s that for?” Henry asks with a chuckle. “You’ve got a complaint about the service here?”

“Nope. It’s for Truth or Dare,” she says with a gleam in her eyes. “You up for it?”

“Only if Austin promises not to bail when things get interesting.” Henry smirks, his gaze holding mine.

“Never,” I reply, feeling the familiar tug in my chest when his attention is focused on me. Or when it’s not. I always seem to have a tug in my heart where Henry’s concerned.

To be honest, the idea of Truth or Dare gives me the heebies. Last time we played, I had to perform a ridiculous dance with Henry, and sprung a boner. Thank God everyone was too pissed to have noticed, although I’m still unsure how Henry didn’t feel it. Even now, my cheeks flush at the memory.

“Okay then.” Violet smiles wide and gives the bottle a nudge. “Let’s spin the wheel of fortune and see where it lands.”

Suddenly there’s no turning back. There’s the thrill of anticipation mixed with a herd of butterflies in my belly, so I plaster on a smile and throw back the shot of vodka.

The bottle points at Jamie and I let out a breath with relief.

“Okay, James, truth or dare?” Violet asks.

“Truth,” Jamie says confidently, leaning back in his chair as if he has nothing to hide. He probably doesn’t. He works pretty much twenty-four seven and always seems to have business on his mind. I rarely see him let his hair down, although I admit he’s been out and about a bit more lately.

“Have you ever skinny-dipped in the ocean?” she asks, waggling her brows.

“Guilty as charged. And it was bloody freezing!” James admits. “Accepting dares in the middle of winter does have its downsides.”

“And in the middle of summer, if you ask me,” I counter, and everyone laughs.

The game moves on.

I down another drink as I watch my friends having fun and teasing one another. My nerves settle with the warm buzz I now have going on.

“All right, it’s my turn.” Violet grabs the bottle, giving it a whirl. It points to Alex and Violet’s eyes light up. The laughter leaves her voice. “Have you ever found that one special person?” she asks quietly.

Alex’s gaze is on the table, but he eventually looks up and locks eyes with her. “Not yet,” he says, “But I think I could be falling.”

There’s a hush as we all look at them, suspicions confirmed. It feels as if we’re intruding on an intimate moment, but just as things are getting awkward, Alex clears his throat and spins the bottle. “Okay, who’s next?”

I hold my breath and watch the bottle spinning in a dizzying circle. It comes to a stop pointing directly at me, and my heart kicks up a notch. Shit!

“Austin, truth or dare?” Alex asks.

“Truth,” I mumble, my tongue thick from the beer and couple of vodkas I’ve had. There’s no way I was choosing a dare, not after the last disaster.

“What’s a secret you’ve never told anyone?” Karen chimes in, the question hanging in the air.

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