Page 88 of A Little Complicated

Archer shoves at my shoulder and tilts his head toward the side of the pool where the girls are all gathered. “Come on, brother. For old time’s sake.”

Old time’s sake.

Yeah.

We’ve been playing Truth or Dare for as long as I can remember. Aunt Blakely taught us the rules one summer when we wouldn’t leave the parents alone during a get-together. Looking back, I don’t blame them for providing a distraction. Then again, after all the reckless dares we’ve thought of, I bet they regret showing us the ropes.

Too late now.

“Come on, Griff,” Finley prods. She pats the patch of pavement beside her. “You can sit by me.”

“Yeah, no,” Everett protests. He takes the spot and stretches his legs in front of him.

“Everett!” She slaps her brother’s shoulder.

Everett grunts, “Just be grateful we’re playing,” and makes himself comfortable.

Despite the fact all of us guys are over eighteen, we give in and sit our asses on the cool pavement beside the pool, forming a circle with the girls.

“All right, who starts?” Dylan asks.

Everett shrugs and turns to Griffin. “Truth or dare?”

“Dare,” Griff answers.

“I dare you to jump into the pool with your clothes on.”

With a smirk, Griffin stands up, wipes his hands on his jeans, and races toward the edge of the pool in the backyard, cannonballing into the deep end. The girls squeal as water sprays over them, and the guys laugh as he pushes himself out of the pool, soaked from head to toe. It’s been a warm autumn so far, and the water’s heated, but it doesn’t mean his balls won’t freeze off within the next hour or so. Then again, the consequences of Truth or Dare make the game entertaining. I find myself smiling as Griffin shakes the water from his shaggy brown hair and takes his seat again.

“All right, Archer’s turn,” he announces.

“Oo, I’ll do it!” his little sister, Dylan, pipes in. “Archer, truth or dare?”

“Truth,” my brother answers.

“What’s the craziest thing you’ve done at LAU?”

“You do know you’re asking the more stable Buchanan twin, right?” Opie interjects.

“You think I can’t be crazy?” Archer quips, his smile spread wide.

Not missing a beat, Opie grins back at him. “Mm-hmm. I’m sure you’re a real loose cannon, Mr. Buchanan.”

Dylan’s eyes light up. “Oo, what if we compared—”

“They hate being compared,” Opie reminds everyone.

“Uh, we’re right here,” Archer adds.

“Actually, I kind of like this idea.” Finley waves her hands around the circle, completely ignoring my brother’s response. “As self-appointed Truth or Dare commissioner for the evening, I decree that for tonight, the Buchanan twins shall be a package deal, and both are required to answer or perform any obstacle for the rest of the game. All in favor, say, ‘I.’”

“I,” everyone yells.

I scoff and shake my head, taking a sip of the rum and Coke I’d stolen from inside.

Clearing her throat, Dylan sits up a little straighter and repeats her question. “So, Buchanan boys, what is the craziest thing you’ve done during your time at LAU?”

“I know Mav’s,” Everett offers. “He had a threesome.”

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