Page 56 of His Kingdom

“Good. You deserve that,” she tells me.

“Truth or dare?” Carlo says from the other side of the table.

“What are we? In middle school?” Louie groans.

“Truth,” I say.

“Okay, Charlotte. Brave girl going first. Truth, it is. Are you secretly obsessed with me and using Louie here as a way to get close to me, 'cause I could be open to that.” Carlo laughs.

“Absolutely not,” I tell him. “But don’t worry. I’m sure there’s a girl out there somewhere for you.”

“Dare,” Evie chimes in.

“I dare you to go hit on that guy and get his number.” Sammie points to a man standing at the bar—again, in a black-on-black suit.

Evie smiles. “Please, that’s like taking candy from a baby.” She literally climbs up onto the table to get out of the booth.

We all watch her approach the guy. “I’m going to slaughter him like a pig,” Emmanuel mutters under his breath, although I hear it loud and clear.

Evie returns a few minutes later with a confused look on her face. “He’s gay,” she says.

“No, he’s not.” Sammie laughs. “He just wants to keep his head on his shoulders.”

“Nope, he’s gay. That’s never happened to me before. Shit. Am I… Oh my god!” Evie shrieks.

“What?” I ask as she climbs back over the table to plop down next to me.

“I’m losing it. I’m getting… old.”

“You are not losing it,” I tell her before changing the subject. “Okay, dare.”

“I’ve got this one,” Louie interjects. Then he leans in and whispers in my ear. “I dare you to marry me. Tonight.”

ChapterTwenty-Seven

Holy fuck, did I really just dare Charlotte to marry me?I did, and I’m not taking it back either. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not going to force her to go along with my craziness, but I also won’t stop her if she does.

Charlotte’s eyes widen. Her mouth drops open. “I’m terrified you’re actually serious.”

I lift a shoulder. “What’s it going to be? Yes or no? It’s a simple dare,” I tell her.

“Simple? How many times have you done this before?” she asks me.

“Never.”

“Me either. Not so simple.”

“When it’s you, I feel like it’s very simple. I’m game if you are.” I won’t lie. My heart is beating out of my chest as I wait for her response.

“Okay, sure. Let’s do it,” she says.

I look at her. She just said yes. “Let’s go before you change your mind.” I stand and hold a hand out to Charlotte before turning to the rest of the group. “We’re getting married.”

“You’rewhatnow?” Sammie and Carlo blurt at the same time.

“Ah, Charlotte, how drunk are you?” Evie asks.

“A little. But it’s fine. It’s Louie.” Charlotte smiles and leans her body against mine. My arm wraps around her waist.

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