Page 44 of The Backup

He tilts his head, studying me like he’s trying to figure out where to start. “Why are you so afraid of letting people see what you really want?”

The air in the room feels heavier, like the question itself is pressing down on me. I stare at the whiskey in my glass, the amber liquid swirling under the dim light.

“Because I don’t want to be a liability for you,” I say quietly. “Because I know what happens when people start talking, and I don’t want to make things harder for you.”

“Harder for me?” he echoes, his brow furrowing. “Sloane, you think I care what they say? The only thing that’s hard for me is pretending I don’t want you every time I see you.”

My breath catches, and for a moment, I can’t look at him. But then he leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his eyes locked on mine.

“Your turn,” he says, his voice low.

I force myself to meet his gaze. “Truth or dare?”

“Dare,” he says immediately, his lips curving into a faint smile.

I take a shaky breath, my mind racing. “I dare you to…close your eyes.”

He raises an eyebrow but obeys, leaning back slightly and letting his eyes drift shut. The room feels impossibly quiet, the faint whirr of the party below muffled by the walls.

For a moment, I just watch him, the tension in my chest building with every passing second. Then, slowly, I reach out and brush my fingers against his cheek, letting them linger for a heartbeat before pulling back.

His eyes open, dark and intense.

“Your turn,” he says, his voice rougher now.

“Dare,” I whisper.

He doesn’t hesitate. “I dare you to sit next to me.”

I bite my lip, hesitating for only a moment before moving to the bed. The space between us is almost nonexistent now, and I can feel the heat radiating off him as I settle beside him on the bed.

The air feels electric, charged with something neither of us can name but both of us can feel.

“Truth or dare?” I ask, my voice trembling.

“Dare,” he says again, his gaze never leaving mine.

I swallow hard. “I dare you to kiss me.”

He doesn’t move right away, and for a second, I think I’ve made a mistake. But then his hand reaches up, cupping the side of my face as he leans in.

The first brush of his lips is soft, tentative, but it doesn’t stay that way. The kiss deepens, his other hand finding my waist and pulling me closer. My glass slips from my fingers, forgotten, as my hands find his shoulders, his hair, anything to ground me in the overwhelming intensity of the moment.

When we finally pull back, I’m breathless, my heart pounding so hard it feels like it might burst.

He rests his forehead against mine, his voice a whisper. “Truth or dare.”

“Truth.”

“Do you just want to be my dirty little secret?”

My throat catches, and I feel unable to speak. In that moment, I know there’s no going back. I’ve got to do the best to put my feelings into words, and just be honest.

“I can’t stop wanting you, Asher. I keep trying. But…”

His eyes are still dark and brooding, but they don’t feel judgmental.

“But…? Just give it to me, Nerd.” He sticks his tongue out at me playfully.

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