Page 111 of Truth or Dare

“Yeah,” I said, forcing a smile. “Just…unexpected.”

Our food arrived, and we dug in, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Presley. Seeing her again stirred up old memories and unresolved feelings. As the rain continued to pour outside, I couldn’t shake the sense that this chance encounter was more than just coincidence. It felt like the universe was giving us a second chance, a new chapter waiting to be written.

Oscar chattered on about his economics class and I tried to engage but my mind and glances went to Presley until she left. I watched her as she stood under the awning with Rachel while Emily hailed a cab to take them back home.

I didn’t seePresley for a month though she was often on my mind. My Introduction to Astronomy, a science elective required a visit to the Hayden Planetarium at the Museum of Natural History. Since Wednesdays were my light day and I was done with classes by noon, I decided to go at 3 p.m.

The theater wasn’t full, maybe twenty people scattered and separated by many empty seats. Presley entered five minutes before the lights went down. The row behind her was empty and I quietly slipped into a seat to her left. When they shut the lights and the show began, I quickly penned a note and dropped it on her lap.

I heard the crinkle of the paper as she smoothed out the folded note and her sniffles as she read it. I reached between the seats to cup her cheek, and she leaned into my hand.

“Pres,” I whispered.

Above us the solar system flashed but we weren’t paying attention. I rose and slipped into her row, sitting next to her. She put her arms around my neck and buried her head in my chest.

“I love you,” I whispered. “I love you so much.”

She silently wept against me, and I held her shaking body. What a fool I was to believe it was better we were apart because having her in my arms lifted a weight I’d been carrying for months. When her crying subsided, I wiped her tears and cupped her chin, giving her a chaste kiss.

She clenched the note in her fist. “Truth,” she said.

“Do you love me?” I asked.

“Since we were twelve.”

Presley sealed her mouth over mine and we made out for the entire show like lovesick teenagers. She clung to my hand when the lights went up and we exited into the main room of the planetarium.

“Truth,” I whispered.

“Did you miss me?”

“Every day.”

I practically dragged her out of the museum into the blustery start of November. Presley pulled her hood on her head and secured her backpack, reclaiming my hand after she was done.

“Where do you live?” I asked.

“I have a studio near NYU. You?”

I led her down the stairs to the sidewalk, embracing her in the fading light of mid fall.

“One bedroom near Columbia. It’s not big but cozy. Want to come home with me?”

She giggled. “I thought you would never ask.”

My place was closer, and I threw my hand up to stop a passing cab, preferring it to the subway. She sat next to me, our thighs rubbing together, hands entwined and my dick twitching in anticipation. I hadn’t slept with anyone since Presley and that was over a year ago.

It just didn’t feel right, like I would be cheating on her. Deep down inside I knew we would find each other again. That I would get over my anger and feelings of betrayal. I had, several months ago when I beat the shit out of Evan Braddock for thinking he could assault her without consequences.

At that time, I couldn’t bring myself to tell her I still loved her, and I stalked her instead, watching her, loving her from afar. And then she was gone, off to school and so was I. The meeting in the diner was no coincidence, it was kismet. We were drawn to each other like two magnets.

I could’ve talked Oscar into going to a closer restaurant, there were plenty open until 2 a.m. on the weekends but I chose to go to Big Apple Bites. It was just one more step closer to sealing our connection. And the planetarium was open every day, so why today, this show?

“We can order dinner, and I’ll take you home later.”

“I don’t have classes on Thursdays. I usually study and take care of any class assignments for the following week.”

Presley put her head on my shoulder, and I petted her cheek. This cab ride was taking far too long but that was traffic in Manhattan.

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