Page 31 of His Fearless Guy

“Come on. How about we go inside and play a little truth or dare?”

I’m not in the mood, but I won’t bring down the house. Everyone’s here to have a good time. Besides, maybe some booze and a few silly dares will help numb the pain for a bit. I’ll try anything to distract my thoughts.

“Okay, I’m in.”

“That’s more like it. Here.” He hands me his glass. “Chug this.”

I throw the contents back, feeling the burn all the way down my throat. A few more of those and I might be able to pass out without feeling like my soul is slowly being torn from my body.

“Okay, Presley’s up!” Ruby says as we start the game. “Truth or dare?”

Presley immediately chooses truth, and Ruby smiles wickedly. “Did you and Kyler have sex in the nurse’s clinic at school?”

Presley’s cheeks give away her answer before she even speaks. “Yes, we did,” Kyler answers for her.

“Oh my goodness!” Ruby gasps. “How did you get away with it?”

“This one”—Presley points to her boyfriend—“told her that a kid looked like he was having a seizure in the cafeteria.”

Everyone busts out laughing, remembering the day that Mrs. Vinio was wandering through the cafeteria, asking everyone if we’d seen someone having a seizure. I had no clue it was Kyler’s way of distracting the nurse. That is fucking hilarious.

“But why?” Ruby shakes her head. Chase pulls his girl back between his legs.

“The same reason we had sex in the library, baby. The idea of getting caught makes it fun.”

Now, Ruby is the one blushing. I grab the whiskey bottle and take a long pull on it.

“What about you, Baylor? Did you ever have sex somewhere in school?” Presley asks.

Yep. I did. And that’s exactly why we’re not together anymore.

“He had sex with Taya in the bathroom,” Brennon states.

I see Ryeson tense across the room, and I take another drink.

“Who’s up?” I ask, wanting to change this topic of conversation. Maybe truth or dare was a bad idea.

“Baylor, since you didn’t get to answer my question,” Presley shifts her eyes on me, “I choose you. Truth or dare?”

I know exactly what they’re going to ask if I choose truth. They’ll want to know what the real reason me and Ryeson aren’t speaking anymore, and so I choose, “Dare.”

“I dare you to kiss and make up with Ryeson.”

I guess I should’ve known they would still find a way to back me into a corner. I never back down from a dare, but this time…

“I double dog dare you,” says Chase.

“Triple dog dare you,” says Brennon.

I look toward Ryeson, and my chest gets thumped with pain. But our friends won’t stop until I do something. Therefore, I decide to do exactly as asked. I cross the room and plant a kiss on his cheek, then turn to the crowd.

“There. Are you happy?”

“That wasn’t a kiss.” Ryeson’s deep voice rumbles down my nerves. He steps in front of me and his hand grips around the front of my neck. “This is a kiss.”

His lips descend and everything and everyone melts away. His tongue parts my senses and slowly slides its way into my mouth. We start our dance and it’s like a tango of war. Twosoldiers fighting on the battlefield in slow motion. My breath is stolen, and I’m overthrown by the emotion pouring out of him. Whistles break out around us, and I’m reminded of where we are and who’s watching. I pull back and try to step away, but he refuses to let me go.

“No, Baylor. You’re not walking away until you hear what I have to say.” He steps closer and the breath hitches in my lungs. “I made a mistake. A big one. I let my fears take control, and I lost the person who means the most to me in this world.” My heart starts to beat faster, and my feet rock in place. I wasn’t prepared for this conversation, definitely not in front of our friends.

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