Page 12 of Spring Fling

“Truth or dare?”

“Truth.”

She taps her chin thoughtfully. “What’s your biggest fear?"

Damn. She doesn’t pull punches.

“Biggest fear?” I repeat, stalling. I exhale. “Living a life that doesn't matter to anyone."

Her face softens. “That’s… not what I expected.”

“What did you think I’d say?”

“Spiders.”

She laughs, and the tension breaks a little.

“My turn.” I move my arms through the water. "Truth or dare?"

She lifts her chin defiantly. "Dare."

I smirk. “Come sit next to me.”

Without hesitation, she glides through the water and settles beside me, close enough that our shoulders brush. Electricity shoots through me at the contact.

“Your move,” I murmur.

“Truth or dare.”

“Dare.”

Her lips curve up. “Put your arm around my shoulders.”

She doesn’t have to ask twice. Sliding my arm around her, my body comes alive at the light contact of her smooth, slick skin against mine.

I clear my throat. “Now you.”

“Truth," she says after a beat.

“Most romantic thing you’ve ever done?"

She flushes, looking down at the water. “I once baked a guy his grandma’s chocolate chip cookies and left them on his doorstep, along with cold milk, after he had a bad day.”

My chest squeezes. “That's pretty sweet.”

She shrugs, embarrassed. “He didn’t deserve it.”

I want to ask.

I want to know everything about the guys who let her down. But right now, I just want her smiling again.

“Okay. My turn. Dare,” I say before she can get too lost in whatever memory she’s fighting.

“Okay," she says, her smile returning. Her voice dips low, teasing but serious. “I dare you to kiss me like we only have tonight.”

Thank God.

I shift closer, cupping her jaw in my hand. Her skin is warm, damp from the steam, and she leans into my touch like she’s been waiting for it.

---