Page 12 of It Couldn't Be You
“It’s…” I don’t know why I was taking a game of Truth or Dare so seriously.
I couldn’t look at Gabe. I glanced at Katie, who looked concerned.
“It’s just a game,” I said to her.
“So then, why not answer?” she asked.
“I think…” I felt like I needed to talk it out, but this wasn’t the right time. “I think I’d say no if he asked tomorrow.”
“Why?” Katie was hijacking the game.
“It doesn’t feel right to say yes right now. I was just thinking tonight on the phone…” But then I wasn’t sure how much I wanted to share during this silly game with all her brothers and the man who made me feel guilty just for looking at him. “I’m not sure if our future…”
“She’s just not there yet, Katie. That’s fine. It’s not like he’s actually asking her to marry him. It’s just a game.” Gabe thankfully jumped in. “I think it makes perfect sense. He might not be the one.”
Victor slugged him in the arm. “Shut up, Gabe.”
“Hey, okay, do you think if he asked you to marry him ina year, you’d say yes?” Maggie asked.
“Okay, that’s too many questions, now.” I laughed awkwardly. “I get to ask now.”
“Fine, fine.” Maggie smiled at me.
But Katie looked at me with an expression I couldn’t read. She seemed concerned or something, but I didn’t have time to wonder what was going on.
“Okay.” I turned to Gabe. “Truth or dare?”
“Truth,” he said quickly. I felt lucky. I had a billion questions I could ask him.
“Is there anyone special in your life?” I asked.
“What does ‘special’ mean?” Gabriel scooted away from the couch, closer to the loveseat where I sat.
“It means…is there a girl you are dating orwantto be dating?” I explained.
“I’m not dating anyone,” he said matter of fact.
“Anyone you want to be dating?” Katie asked.
“I feel like this question is a sly way to ask two,” he argued.
“Says the man who asked me like thirty questions,” I said dryly.
He snickered. “Fine—”
“This has gotten boring,” Ricky whined. Maggie gave him a shove. I wanted to shove him too.
“No, there’s no one I would date right now,” Gabe said curtly. “Now my turn. Emma, truth or—”
“What is with you two?” Victor asked, annoyed with Gabe and me.
“They get obsessed; you know that,” Katie yawned in reply.
“Truth or dare?” Gabe continued, ignoring them.
“Dare,” I was on the edge of the loveseat now, leaning toward him.
“I dare you to jump into my parent’s pool.”
