Page 63 of The Dare

“This is Coach’s house.”

She blinks. “I don’t understand what you mean.”

“I mean this is Coach Jensen’s house. Forty-two Manchester Road.”

“But this is Chad’s house.”

A strangled laugh pops out. “Hey babe, let’s play a game—”

“What are you babbling about?”

“—It’s called ‘Guess Coach Jensen’s first name.’”

There’s a beat. Then Taylor’s cheeks go pale. “Oh my God. IS IT CHAD?”

“It’s Chad,” I choke out between hearty chuckles. I can’t stop laughing. I know, I know, a total dick move, but come on—what are the fucking odds?

Taylor shoots me a glare, as if this is somehow my fault, and I can only imagine what’s going through her mind. I know Coach Jensen is a standup guy, but Taylor doesn’t know him at all. Right now she’s got to be asking herself if she’d want someone like me, someone like Hunter or Foster or any of those other hockey bros sliding into her mom’s DMs.

Honestly, I can’t blame her. Hockey men are definitely a handful. We’re animals.

The numbers on my dashboard blink from 7:13 to 7:14. I glance toward Coach’s house. The curtain moves in the living room window.

“T?” I prompt.

She digs her fingers into her temples, then releases a heavy breath. “Let’s get this over with,” she says.

Before we even reach the porch, the front door swings open to reveal Brenna. “Oh, this is perfect!” She shakes her head with a look of amused pity. “You dumbass.”

“She’s talking to me,” I assure Taylor.

“Obviously,” my girlfriend replies.

The girls hug and compliment each other’s outfits. I’ve already forgotten what Taylor’s wearing, because I’m busytrying to figure out if her mom marrying Coach makes us brother and sister until I realize Coach and I aren’t related. My brain’s stuck in neutral.

“You still have time to run, Con,” advises Brenna. “Go. Run free, you sexy Viking conqueror.”

Taylor turns to study me.

“What?” I demand.

“Youdolook like a sexy Viking conqueror.” Then she grabs my hand and grips it tightly. “And you’re not going anywhere, Thor. You’re my wing-man, remember?”

“I agreed to the job before we discovered your mom’s banging my Chad.”

“She’s banging mydad,” Brenna corrects with a snicker.

“Can we please not discuss our parents’ sex life?” Taylor begs.

“Good point.” Brenna opens the door wider and takes our coats, hanging them up in the front hall. “You seriously didn’t know?” she asks me.

“Did you? Because a warning would’ve been nice.” I hear voices coming from the back of the house and figure everyone else is in the kitchen.

“I knew I was meeting Dad’s new girlfriend’s kid, but I had no idea it was Taylor—or that she’d bring you. This is the greatest night of my life.” Brenna goes running into the kitchen ahead of us like a fucking tattletale. “Hey, Dad! One of your goons is here.”

Coach is already grimacing at me when we turn the corner to find him and a slender blonde standing at the counter picking at a cheese plate.

I gulp. “Uh, hey, Coach.”

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