Page 48 of Alice Chen's Reality Check

“So how do you propose we do that?”

“You know the idea that taking small, harmless doses of poisons like iocaine powder can build up a tolerance to the lethal amounts?”

“Overlooking the fact that referencing the fictional science inThe Princess Brideundermines your point, yes, I’m familiar with the idea. So like this?” He holds out his hand to me, his palm up.

I look at the lines and calluses that make up the landscape of his hand, the slight bend of his fingers.

“Well?” he asks.

Oh, right. I reach out my hand and tap my fingertips against his.

The feeling is electric, like when you’re jumping on a trampoline and the static builds up, and the second you touch something, you get a tiny jolt. But I think it’s just me. Daniel doesn’t react—if anything, he’s stone still. His skin is warm and rougher than I expected, and there’s a small scar by his thumb. It’s faded, like an old scar, but clearly deep enough to have left a mark.

I slide my fingers down his until my hand is fully resting on his. We’re standing so close together that I can hear him breathe and see every flicker of his dark-brown eyes. I work to keep my own breathing regular as my heart thuds loudly in my chest.

“I think we’ve mastered handholding,” I say lightly.

“There are probably someotherthings we should practice too,” Daniel says. “If you think you can handle it.”

“I can handle anything you throw at me,” I say immediately.

He moves closer, taking my other hand in his, and I realize what’s happening. We’re playing a game of chicken, and whoever backs down loses.

I refuse to lose.

I free one of my hands to run my fingers through his hair, brushing it back. It isn’t until I’m doing it that I realize I’ve always wanted to try this. His hair is so soft, even with the hint of product in it, and I resist the urge to muss it all up like he’s my pet dog. I make eye contact with him, and is it my imagination, or does he look like he’s trying a littletoohard not to react?

In retaliation, he brings his thumb up and brushes it against my lips, and it takes everything I have in me not to shiver at his touch. Typical Daniel—of course he’s good at this. But I can be, too.

I lean in just a little bit. Daniel’s other hand skims down my shoulder, landing on my waist and pulling me in, so that we’re flush against each other. My breath hitches, but I get it under control and place my hand on his chest. He dips his head, his lips coming so close to mine that I can feel his breath on my face.

In for a dime, in for a whole fucking dollar.

I close that last fraction of an inch between us to press our lips together. His mouth is warm and soft against mine, and it’s fine. Nice, even.I could do this in front of a camera, I think, and I’m congratulating myself right up until Daniel tilts his head, parting his lips so that his tongue nudges mine open. A thrill races up my spine as I sink into the delicious heat of it, and I can’t help letting out a small moan, my arms wrapping more firmly around him. There’s no space between us now, and his hand slides along my back, sending another surge of heat through me.

I could do this forever, I think dizzily as the kiss deepens. My grip tightens in his hair, and I feel a shudder run through him.I want—but I don’t let myself finish that thought. I break away. Daniel doesn’t like me, and I don’t like him. This is all pretend, and even if it feels good—too good—I can’t get carried away. Eyes on the prize, I remind myself.

“I win,” I say in the thick silence building between us.

“You win? You backed off first,” he says, and is it just me, or does he sound breathless?

“But I initiated the kiss!”

“Oh, come on. That’s not how this works. The first person to swerve loses.”

“What happens if no one swerves?”

Daniel chuckles. “I think in this case, both of us win.” He cuts a look at me, raising an eyebrow. “If you know what I mean.”

“Very funny,” I say, rolling my eyes. I try not to think about what exactly that would be like with Daniel. The way his body would feel moving against mine. “Anyway, I think we’ve made excellent progress. Kissing you was entirely bearable.”

“Gee, thanks.” Daniel folds his arms and looks at me, his eyes sharp. I recognize that expression. It’s the same one he wore when he was about to point out an inconsistency in my argument during Speech and Debate. “Alice, if we’re going to do this, I have to know something. Why do you want to stay in the game so badly? You said youdon’t back down from a challenge, but this isn’t Quiz Bowl. It’s areality dating show.I don’t even know why you’re here at all. This isn’t exactly your scene.”

“Oh, and it’s yours?”

“No, but it’s Selena’s. She asked me to come on the show with her, and I thought it’d be fun. But I’m a go-with-the-flow kind of guy. You’re not.”

“Maybe I’ve changed,” I say.

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