Page 187 of Game Night: Truth or Dare

“Well, this you have to hear.” She turns her gaze on Henry and me.

Henry chuckles and takes a sip of his champagne. “Well, it all started right here at Azure, but I’ll let Austin tell the story.”

"We want to hear all the juicy details,” Tim says.

“Not all the details,” Alex groans to much amusement.

Henry smiles as I lean back and drape my arm over the back of his chair. He rests his hand on my thigh and gives it a gentle squeeze. I nod and start the story of our whirlwind romance.

“Okay, so it all started with a game of Truth or Dare here at the bar,” I begin, only to be interrupted by Violet, then Karen, Alex and Ross, all of them having some input into the story. If you believed any of them, you’d think they were each personally responsible for Henry and me getting together.

“I wish we hadn’t left Jamie’s farewell party early,” Scott says as I wrap up. “It sounds so romantic.”

“It was.” My smile is wide as I remember hearing the words for the first time. “I nearly melted into a puddle when he said he loved me.” Yes, I sound like a lovesick puppy, but I want to shout my love for Henry to the world.

“Instalove,” Scott murmurs.

Tim chuckles. “You read too many romance novels.”

“So let me get this right,” Scott says, sitting forward and putting his elbows on the table. “You kissed, hooked up, and fell in love in two weeks.”

Henry leans against me. “How could it be instalove when I’d loved him for a year?”

“Really? A year?” I think back to how clueless I’d been about his feelings. Our relationship might have started fast, but knowing he’d been harbouring feelings for me long before makes it all the more special.

He nods. “I just had to wait for you to catch up.”

“And to think I thought you wanted to keep things casual. Friends-with-benefits, you know?”

Henry smiles. “Nothing about my feelings for you were casual, but don’t get me wrong, there was no way I was turning down those benefits!”

I laugh as he waggles his perfectly groomed brows. “Good to know.”

“I figured you were up for a little fun,” Henry says. “I had no idea you wanted more and I didn’t want to scare you away.”

“God, you two are hopeless,” Scott says, laughing. “I’m surprised you got together at all.”

“Hey! Two weeks. Remember?” Henry said. “It only took us two weeks from Austin blurting out about the kiss to realise we couldn’t live without each other. I think we did okay.”

Henry turns to me and smiles, his brown eyes filled with love, causing my heart to skip a beat. “We did more than okay,” I whisper.

“Well, I think it’s beautiful,” Violet says, raising her glass. “Here’s to love.”

Henry leans in and presses a tender kiss to my lips, and entwines his fingers with mine under the table. If someone had told me six months ago that I’d be sitting here with my best friends, openly discussing my love for Henry, I wouldn’t have believed them. Now I can’t imagine not having Henry by my side.

“Cheers to that,” Ross chimes in, raising his glass and everyone does the same.

As I listen to the clink of their glasses, I’m thankful for the love, friendship, and all the beautiful moments that make up my life here in Blue Point.

“All right, enough of this sappy stuff,” Karen says, breaking the moment. “Who’s up for some fun?”

Violet whoops. “Truth or Dare?” she asks.

Henry and I exchange a glance. “We’ll pass this time,” he says, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“Aw, but how will I find my perfect man, then?” Karen pouts.

“Maybe you should try speed dating?” Violet teases, ducking to dodge Karen’s playful swat.

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