Page 185 of Game Night: Truth or Dare

I roll my eyes. “I want to. You’re always looking after everyone else, so you deserve to be waited on. Night off, remember?”

I get to my feet and take his almost empty glass. Soon I’m back, handing him his drink. “Here you go.” His fingers brush against mine, igniting a spark that jolts through my entire body.

“Cheers.” He raises his glass to clink against my bottle. His brown eyes hold mine and I’m sure I’ve got a goofy grin plastered on my face as he smiles back. My heart swells with the simple joy of being in his presence, and being able to take care of him, even if it’s just a little.

Soon Violet joins us. I can’t shake the feeling that she’s more observant than she lets on. Her eyes flick between Henry and me, her lips curling into a smile. “Hey, guys. What are you two whispering about over here?”

“Nothing,” we both say at the same time.

“Right.” She arches a brow and looks at Henry. “You sure there’s not something you want to tell me?”

Henry gives her a playful shove. “Absolutely positive. There’s nothing going on, at least nothing important you need to know about, anyway.”

My stomach plummets. I give myself a mental shake. I know Henry doesn’t do commitments. What did I expect? For him to announce us as a couple to the world?

The night goes on. Drinks are poured. Jamie puts more wood on the firepit and sparks dance into the sky. Violet and Alex are deep in conversation, sitting on a picnic blanket on the grass, his arm slung over her shoulders. Over on the patio, Karen and Ross laugh at something Henry says. I can’t take my eyes off him. My heart clenches. I want what Violet and Alex have. I want to claim Henry as mine. Not my friends-with-benefits, but mine.

I find myself sitting by the fire staring into the flames as the party goes on around me. I only realise I’ve gotten lost in my head when Violet interrupts with a tap on my shoulder.

“Hey, Austin. Get your arse over there. We’re doing a game of Truth or Dare.” She gestures to where the others are settled in a ring on the blanket.

I get up with a groan. They make room in the circle and I squeeze in next to Henry. Everyone is laughing and joking, and I shake my head at their antics. “Time to find a new game,” I say to a resounding chorus of boos.

Alex spins the empty wine bottle, grinning as it stops at Violet, although I’m pretty sure he did a dodgy spin on purpose. “All right,” he says. “Truth or dare?”

“Truth,” she replies.

Alex grins. “Okay, let’s see… have you ever had a crush on one of your friends?”

Violet chuckles, placing a finger on her chin and pretending to consider her answer. “Well, since we’re being honest here… yes, I have.”

“Ooh, scandalous!” Karen teases, giving her a playful nudge and winking at Alex. “But we won’t ask who, for now.”

“Your turn, Vi,” Alex prompts, leaning back on his elbows, a satisfied smile on his face.

She spins the bottle and smiles ear to ear when the bottle points to Henry. “Looks like it’s your turn, Henry Green. What do you choose? Truth or dare.”

“Truth,” he replies instantly.

Violet lowers her voice, the teasing gone. “Have you ever been in love?” she asks.

Henry hesitates for a moment, looking around at our friends before settling his eyes on me. He holds my gaze, smiling softly and shrugs.

My heart races, anticipation and nerves warring within me. What’s he doing?

“If you’d asked me a couple of weeks ago, I’d have said no. But now my answer is ‘Yes.’”

Henry holds my gaze and heat floods my cheeks as the implications of his words hit me—he’s admitting he has feelings for me. Not just feelings. Oh my God. He loves me!

The world fades away as my emotions threaten to overwhelm me: surprise, and joy all wrapped up in one beautiful, terrifying package. “But I thought…”

“We’re not finished yet,” Violet interrupts.

I tear my gaze from Henry as Violet spins the bottle and, of course, it lands on Henry again.

“Ooh! What a surprise! Henry, truth or dare?”

“Dare,” he says without hesitation.

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