Page 86 of You Found Me in the Dark
I laughed at her comment, my chest full of something fizzy and light. God, we really haven’t grown up, have we?
The fire popped again, sending a small shower of sparks into the air, and Dax looked way too pleased with himself as he tucked the coin back into hispocket.
Harper straightened up, brushing sand off her jeans with the kind of confidence that said go ahead, try me.
“I dare you,” Dax said slowly, milking the moment, “to text the third contact in your phone and tell them you’re head over heels in love with them.”
Harper grinned, already pulling out her phone. “Bold of you to assume I don’t do that as soon as I add a new contact.”
We all laughed, and just like that, the game clicked into place.
The dares were ridiculous at first—Lena had to shotgun a beer, and Cam had to share his most embarrassing sexual experience. Which I could’ve gone my whole life without hearing. Everyone took turns, the fire glowing warmer even as the air cooled around us.
When it was my turn, I picked truth.
Dax leaned in with a glint in his eye. “If you had to kiss someone here who wasn’t Reed, who would it be?”
The group oooh’d, and Reed tensed beside me, his fingers tightening slightly on my shoulder.
I played it cool—barely. “Harper. Obviously. She’s hot, and it wouldn’t be the first time.”
Lena raised her solo cup in salute. “I support this.”
Reed relaxed again, “Kissing the homies goodnight, Callahan?” He burst into laughter.
Eventually, someone dared Dax to run into the lake fully clothed—he did it without blinking, yelling the whole way.
When Reed’s turn finally came around, I could feel the energy shift, just slightly. Like we all sat up straighter.
“Truth or dare?” Lena asked him, eyes narrowed like she was hunting for a crack in the wall.
Reed gave a slow, thoughtful smile. “Dare.”
Lena leaned back, arms crossed. “Okay, Whitmore. I dare youto whisper something you really want into Wren’s ear. But the rest of us get to judge by her reaction.”
The group lost it.
My face went hot instantly. “You guys are the worst.”
Reed didn’t hesitate. He leaned in, slow and close, like he was giving me time to bolt. I didn’t.
His lips brushed the shell of my ear, and his voice was barely a breath. “I want to take you home. Get you naked. And spend the rest of the night making you squirt.”
I inhaled sharply, my entire body going still—then hot. Burning hot.
Everyone around the fire lost their minds.
“You guys are gross,” Cam said, sipping his drink.
I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t even look at anyone. Reed just smiled, looking ridiculously proud of himself as he draped his arm back around me like he hadn’t just short-circuited every nerve in my body.
Harper smirked. “Okay. Your man wins.”
“I hate this game,” I muttered, trying to hide my face in Reed’s chest.
“I officially love this game,” he whispered back, smug as hell.
56
