Page 64 of Meet Dare

Cassie picks up the empty chair and tries to wedge it in between her sisters Gabrielle and Elizabeth. They both laugh at her and point to the empty spot. She slams the chair on the ground and plops down on it before crossing her arms in front of her while jutting out her bottom lip. Stubborn girl doesn’t enjoy it when she doesn’t get her way.

“If everyone could take their seats, it’s time to get started,” Forest says from the stage. He’s wearing a green shirt with four-leaf clovers on it, a pair of boxers with ‘kiss me I’m Irish’ written on his crotch, and a pair of flip-flops. Good to know some things in life never change.

“Betting is now closed,” Sage announces from her corner.

“The gossip gals better not be betting against me,” Cassie grumbles.

You can bet the wagers today are all about Project Hermit. I’m going to disappoint a few people, though. I will not be taking Cassie home with me. Not yet.

“Love the boxers,” a woman shouts from the crowd. “Is there a rule about where we can kiss you?”

“Darling, there are no rules.”

“Ahem!” Lennon raps his fist on the bar.

“Clarification. There are no rules about where you can kiss me. There are, however, rules about the quiz. The first person to raise their hand will be called on for the answer. If the answer is correct, we’ll continue on to the next question. If the answer is incorrect, the second person to have raised their hand will be asked to answer the question. And so on.”

Ashlyn grabs the beer off our table.

“Hey!” Rowan yells. “I was drinking that.”

She ignores him and plonks the pitcher down on the Dempsey sisters’ table. Cassie reaches for it, but Ashlyn slaps her hand. “No. You have to drink a beer every time you get an answer correct.”

“I’m not drinking a beer because I know the answers to all the questions,” Lilac says.

Ashlyn wags her finger at her older sister. “You’re the one who suggested this.”

“I’m not waiting,” Cassie declares before pouring herself a glass and drinking half the beer in one go.

“If the West and Dempsey families are ready, we can get started,” Forest announces.

“Correction,” Cassie hollers. “The Dempsey family was ready. The West family wasn’t.”

Ashlyn sits back down, and the quiz begins.

“What does the average person do thirteen times a day?”

Ashlyn’s hand shoots into the air. “Orgasm.”

I cock an eyebrow at Rowan who shrugs.

“Wrong! Next.” Forest points to Lilac.

“Laugh.”

Ashlyn giggles at her answer. “Finally. Something Lilac is below average in.”

“I laugh,” Lilac defends herself.

Ashlyn snorts. “Whatever.”

“Next question.What is the cross between a donkey and a zebra known as?”

Everyone in the room looks at Juniper since the animal freak is the only person who will know the answer to this question.

“A zeedonk.”

“Correct. The Wests and the Dempseys are now tied at one point each.”

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