Page 62 of Truth or Dare

“Should we go?” Presley asked, voice barely a whisper.

“No way.” I smirked. “This was your idea.”

She hesitated, biting her lip. “We could wait until we get to my place. My parents went out for the night—Manhattan, dinner with friends. The house is empty.”

I pulled her up, buckling her seatbelt with a grin. “Then you’re inviting me in?”

Her eyes sparkled as she leaned in close. “Unless you’d rather drop me off and say goodnight?”

Not a chance. I put the truck in drive, casting one last glance at the half-empty lot. The storm was in full force now, heavy raindrops streaming down as we pulled away, neither of us caring about the movie we’d left behind.

CHAPTER 18

Presley

Hudson held my hand firmly as he guided his truck through the flooded roads, the rain pounding down relentlessly.

“You know,” he said, glancing over, “if you came back to my place, you could stay the night. I wouldn’t mind waking up next to you.”

“And what would I say to your mom in the morning?” I said with a raised an eyebrow. “I’m sure she’d love seeing me at breakfast with ‘just-rolled-out-of-bed’ hair.”

He laughed, the low sound comforting. “You could shower first.”

I elbowed him playfully. “Not funny.”

“Come on, a little funny,” he teased.

As we turned into my driveway, the headlights cut through the sheets of rain, illuminating a figure sprawled on the ground. My heart stopped.

“Neil?” I gasped, flinging the door open before the truck had fully stopped.

I ran to him, rain drenching me in seconds, but it didn’t mask the stench of vomit and alcohol. Dropping to my knees, I rolled my brother over. Hudson was beside me instantly, helping me steady Neil as he mumbled incoherently, retching again. Hudson quickly turned him on his side.

“Oh God,” I cried, my hands shaking as I patted Neil’s face. “Neil, can you hear me?”

His eyes cracked open, glazed and unfocused. “Stop…” he muttered, barely audible.

“We need to get him inside,” Hudson said, his voice steady but concerned.

“Neil! What happened?” I managed to say, barely holding back tears.

Hudson hefted Neil onto his shoulder, staggering slightly under his weight. My brother might’ve only been fourteen, but he was built tall and solid. Hudson carried him to the downstairs bathroom, setting him gently in front of the toilet just as Neil doubled over, retching again.

I clenched my fists, anger and worry boiling over. “Goddamn it, Neil! You’re fourteen! You’re a kid!”

“Pres, take it easy,” Hudson said gently, shooting me a calming look.

Neil’s head hung over the bowl, his wet clothes dripping onto the floor, soaked with beer and who knows what else.

“I told him not to hang out with the seniors,” I muttered, pacing the small space as I spoke. “He doesn’t understand what those guys are like.”

“It was…a game,” Neil groaned, his voice weak.

Hudson crouched beside him, his tone soft. “Let’s get you into some dry clothes, buddy.”

“They dumped beer on me,” Neil mumbled, barely lifting his head.

Fury surged through me. I slammed my hand against the wall, making both Hudson and Neil jump. “Those jerks! I knew they’d pull something like this.”

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