Page 44 of Cabin Fever

I discovered something about my beautiful, helpful guest—she snored.

"None of that helps the heat. I don't understand. A week ago, I couldn't get out of here because of all the snow, ice, and freezing temperatures. Now, it's midnight and I could walk outside in a light jacket and be fine. Is it spring?"

Olivia lifted the hair from her back and fanned her neck. With my eyes adjusted to the dark and the faint glow of the moonlight from the window, I could see her skin glisten. I bet she tasted salty and sweet, just like caramel popcorn.

"Spring is still several weeks away. Tomorrow is the first day of March."

"Then why is it so hot? Is this normal?"

"No. But there's the occasional warm winter day that happens every few years. It'll make dealing with the sheep tomorrow extra messy." I made a face to emphasise my point.

There were a few things I'd learned about Olivia since living with her. Despite not understanding basic self-care until she came here, she was a hard worker. Olivia loved bacon and hot chocolate. But what she hated above all else were any gross messes. The slimier and grimier, the more she acted as if the world would end.

"Ugh! And I was getting used to stepping on the frozen poop that doesn't stick to your boots. We need to think of something else or I'm going to be sick."

"Aren't we supposed to be going to sleep? It's past midnight."

"But I can't sleep. And, it seems you're not sleeping, either. Oh, I know. Let's play a game."

I knew I was childish with my pranks and grumpy meltdowns, but I found Olivia was child-like with everything else. Every night with her in the bedroom was like a sixth-grade sleepover. Or, what I imagined a kid's sleepover would be, having never experienced one personally.

"What game?"

"Truth or dare," she said, and my heart started to beat faster.

The last time I played that game, I ended up having sex with the other game player. Not that the same thing would happen with Olivia, but the thought was causing the blood to race to my thighs.

"Okay. You start." I tried my best to sound relaxed as if the idea of playing this with her wasn't causing every muscle in my body to tighten.

"Truth or dare?"

Fearful of what she might dare me with to get me back for the days of teasing her, I picked truth.

"Where were you born?"

I shifted my gaze to the floor. Why would she ask that? Did she know? No, she couldn't. When I played the game before we started off with easy, light questions. Perhaps to Olivia, where a person was born was not that important.

Just telling her the location of my birth wasn't going to affect her. I was overthinking this.

"Georgetown University Hospital."

She was from DC. I would be surprised if she hadn't heard of the hospital.

I watched Olivia's face for surprise or shock or any realization of what that meant. But for the first time since she'd arrived, I found nothing. She was expressionless, if that was even possible. I couldn't tell if she was happy or sad or even gassy.

"Your turn to ask me, Carter." There was a wobble in her voice. Maybe? Did I imagine that?

I loved playing this game the first time, all those years ago. Also, in a bedroom. But this time, I wanted it to end. Perhaps Olivia had some things she didn't wish to discuss.

"What other things did Derrick do that spooked you into running from your wedding?"

An expression finally appeared on her face and it wasn't happy. "No, you have to ask me truth or dare."

"Fine. Truth or dare?"

She straightened her shoulders and sighed. "Dare."

Of course, she was going to say that now that she knew the truth I was going to ask her. But what she didn't realize was that I could dare her with something that would cause her to immediately end the game.

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