Page 64 of Uncharted

“Into the salon!” Zane races a few feet. “Right, what’s this game? Whatever it is, I’m sure I don’t know it. Is it knocking down the ginger or stuck in the mud?”

Calvin’s eyebrows shoot up. “Yeah, no. I have no fucking idea what those are, but I’m questioning the safety of your childhood.”

Zane laughs. “You’re not wrong, mate.”

Haley drifts away from the others and comes up to my side. She whispers into my ear. “Are you okay with this?”

“It’s your birthday, Haley. You get to pick. I’ll play if you want me to. Of course, Green will have to sober up enough to give us the rules.”

“I’m not drunk, Sam. Tipsy? Yes. Not having a drink for months will do that to you. But it takes a lot to swing me over to drink—drunk.” He snorts. “Or not.” He spreads his massive arms out. “Right, guys, sit in a circle.” He hands Haley his empty beer bottle. She immediately takes it and moves toward the bar. “No, Chiefie, you’re going to need that.”

“Oh.”

Green puts his hands on her shoulders and moves her into the middle of the room. “Sit.” Penny’s the only one who does. “Good dog. But the rest of you, circle, floor now.”

“We’ve got furniture, Green.” Dante takes a small ottoman and puts it in the circle.

“Fine, whatever, just sit. This is modified spin the bottle and truth or dare. Rules are simple. First round, Haley spins the bottle. Whomever it lands on, she asks truth or dare.” Calvin holds up his finger. “Second round, Haley spins the bottle. Haley can ask a question, but if the guy doesn’t want to answer, the last guy who the bottle landed on makes up the dare. Sound good, Chiefie?”

“Yes, I like that! I don’t have to do any of the dares. And I only have to come up with one idea. Dares always feel so mean, you know?”

Calvin smirks at her and plops down in the circle. I take a chair from the table and sit between Calvin and Dante.

“Give it a good spin, Sassy.”

Haley spins the bottle. She’s got some real torque on it... It wobbles and then eventually slows... pointing to Zane, then Dante, and stops on me.

Chapter29

Sea Chanty

Haley

I watch as the bottle inches to a stop in slow motion. It might stop at Zane. Zane would be a good way to start. He’ll take it easy on me. But then it passes him and slows more at Dante. Dante would be good—funny. We’d have a laugh. But no... no, no. It has to go and stop on Sam. Right. I was almost starting to have the smallest, tiniest inkling at dinner that maybe this could feel normal, and then Calvin slid his fingers into my underwear.

The bottle wobbles and stops.

Sam’s lips clamp together, but he’s got a smile going. There’s no way in the stratosphere that he’d choose to play modified spin the bottle on his own. But he’s here. He said he wanted something with me, and he hasn’t flinched in his chair—at least not yet.

“Sam,” I say, hoping my voice doesn’t crack.

“Haley.” His voice drops low.

“Truth or dare?”

“What’s the truth?” He leans forward in his chair.

“Wait, wait, hold on now. He gets to ask what the question is before he picks?” Zane cocks his head at me.

“Um. Right, that’s not the normal rules.” I turn to Calvin.

“Makes it more interesting. Give him a question.” Calvin sits on the floor with crossed legs, leaning against the sofa.

I nod, and a thousand things go through my head.What’s the sexiest text message you’ve ever sent? What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done? What’s your biggest regret? What’s your favorite part of your body?And finally,why do you like me enough to go through with this?But I don’t say any of that, no... I blurt out, “What’s your favorite color?”

Sam laughs. “Payne’s gray. It’s almost blue.” Sam winks at me. “Okay, Haley, spin again. I think I like this game.” He takes a sip of wine from his glass—his glass that’s full again. Easton’s shaking his head.

“Haley, Little Bird, come here...” I walk over to Zane. “Bend down.” I do. “That’s not a truth or dare question. It’s your birthday, so we’ll let this one slide.” He laughs.

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