Page 23 of The Bully's Dare

“I’ll wash, you dry?” Jason offers.

“Works for me.”

We find a rhythm—he suds and scrubs, and I dry everything off with a towel before putting it on the dish rack.

“So,” I start. “You didn’t tell your dad that I cast off your boat?”

“Nope.”

“Why not?”

“Dad’s version of grounded is making me do laps in the pool and play table tennis. I think I’ll live.”

“He seems a little stricter than that,” I offer.

He shrugs. “I guess.”

He doesn’t want to talk about it, and I can’t blame him. So I counter with: “Besides, I didn’t think self-sacrifice was really your style.”

“Isn’t it?” He casts me a curious side-eye. “What’s my style?”

“Spoiled rich boy who sneaks by on his good looks and daddy’s money.”

“So you think I’m good looking?”

I feel my face go hot. I hand a dish back. “You missed a spot.”

He chuckles as he re-washes a perfectly clean plate.

“What’s your deal?” I ask.

“What do you mean?”

“Like…what do you want to do with your life?”

“I’m going to become a doctor.”

“Like father, like son?”

“Something like that.”

“Do you want to work at the hospital?”

His jaw tightens. He doesn’t move his eyes from his plate. “You’re going to laugh at me.”

“Maybe. But I’ll wait until you’re out of ear shot.”

He casts me a sidelong look. Finally, he says: “I want to join the Peace Corps.”

He’s right. That catches me completely off guard.

Jason King is full of surprises tonight.

“Why?” I ask.

He glances at me. “Isn’t it obvious? You tell a girl you spent a year in the Peace Corps—instant panty-dropper.”

I roll my eyes. That’s a little more his style…but I can tell he doesn’t mean it.

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