Page 85 of You Found Me in the Dark
Harper raised a brow but didn’t press. She just passed Wren another drink and changed the subject, bless her.
The fire was down to a steady crackle, glowing low and golden, the smoke trailing up into the inky sky scattered with stars. I checked my phone—1:43 a.m.
We’d been out here since just after eight. Five hours of laughter, sugar-highs from s’mores, a little buzz from the drinks, and no sign of slowing down.
We were the only ones left on this stretch of the beach now. The other bonfires had died out, and people went home or wandered off. But none of us moved. No one seemed in a rush to end the night. It was one of those rare pockets of time that felt untouched. Safe. Easy.
Dax leaned forward in his chair, grinning with the kind of mischief that made me brace myself.
“All right,” he said, rubbing his palms together. “We’re doing it. Truth or dare. You skip a dare, you drink. No exceptions.”
Lena let out a dramatic groan. “I swear to God, old man, if this turns into strip truth or dare, I’m pushing you into the lake.”
“No promises,” he shot back, clearly enjoying himself.
Harper perked up immediately. “I’m in.”
Cam raised an eyebrow. “Only if someone promises not to cry when I speak actual truths.”
“Just pick truth,” Harper fired back. “We all know you’re too chicken for dares.”
He grinned around his drink. “Guess we’ll find out.”
Wren leaned into my side, her bare thigh brushing mine, her smile soft and sleepy, but her eyes still bright.
“Are you gonna play?” she murmured.
I kissed her temple. “If you are.”
“Good,” she whispered. “I’ve got questions.”
Of course she did.
I settled back into the bench, one arm slung around her shoulders, and watched as Dax pulled out a coin to decide who would go first—like he’d been planning this moment all night.
The fire popped, the waves whispered, and the game began.
55
WREN
“Heads, I go. Tails, Lena goes.” Harper said with a smirk.
Lena squinted at him. “You rigged this.”
The coin flipped, caught the firelight in a spinning blur, and landed with a light slap against his wrist.
“Heads,” Dax said, smug as hell.
“Shocking,” Cam muttered.
Dax pointed straight at Harper. “You’re up first. Truth or dare?”
Harper didn’t even blink. “Dare.”
Lena let out a fake gasp. “Oh, we’re starting strong.”
Harper smirked. “What, you thought I was gonna ease in?”
