Page 99 of It Couldn't Be You
“You know, never mind,” he said, placing his arm in front of me as I stood up to leave. “I don’t like this dare.”
“What? Why?”
“I just…I can think of something better.”
“No takebacks,” I said, suddenly set on completing my assignment.
“Wait, wait, don’t ask for his number,” he said, rushed. “Why don’t you talk in a funny voice or like ask to take a selfie with him?”
“I’m going with the original, man.” I elbowed my way out of the seat and sauntered down to the guy in the blue cap.
His nose was buried in a book. He was thankfully in the aisle seat, so I bent down a little and tapped him on the shoulder.
He looked up confused. “Hi?”
“Hi, there,” I said, forcing confidence that wasn’t there.
“Hi?” he repeated.
“I noticed you down here and thought I’d come over and introduce myself. I’m Emma. What’s your name?”
“I’m Greg,” he said awkwardly. “Can I help you with something?”
“I was wondering if I…um… If you don’t mind, maybe I could have your number?”
Before he could speak, a beautiful dark-skinned woman poked her head out over his shoulder. She grinned. “His wifewould say that’s a big no, but thank you.”
The couple broke into laughter. I tripped over my feet, backing up.
“I-I’m so sorry!” I stuttered to the woman.
She shook her head as if it wasn’t a problem, as if she found the whole thing hilarious, and the man buried his face back into his book. And I couldn’t get to my seat fast enough.
“Did you get the—” Gabriel asked as I fell into my seat beside him, mortified.
“He wasmarried,” I squeaked out the last word.
Gabe was visibly delighted by this piece of information.
“Truth or dare?” I moaned.
“Truth,” he said, still beaming.
“Truth or dare?” I repeated.
“I already said truth.”
“Truth ordare?”
He winced, realizing I wasn’t giving up. “Dare?” he said.
“I dare you to make a very, very,veryloud fart sound and then apologize to the whole plane.”
He stared at me blankly.
“Go for it,” I said, gesturing to the plane of people around us.
“That is absolutely childish. Totally immature.” He shook his head as if he absolutely wouldn’t do it.
