Page 58 of False Start

“You can get the fuck out of here.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

“Excuse me?”

“I didn’t over serve you, but someone did if you’re waltzing in here asking for people’s clothing. Make sure your lady friend is driving you home.” He swiped the bourbon off the bar, downing it in a gulp. The glass hit the bar top with a thud, and he pointed a finger at the door. “Now, you’d best get out of here.”

I turned to Kit. Her jaw hung open, and in a breath, she stood up and hurried to my side, grabbing my hand. “Sorry about my friend. He’s just…I don’t have an excuse for him. Have a great night!”

She hustled us out of the bar, collapsing in laughter as soon as the door slammed shut behind us. “Oh my god, why are you so weird?”

“Me? Weird?”

“Could I maybe get your shirt, sir? Let me give you some money. I don’t want it in a strange way.” She pitched her voice down low until contagious laughter took over. “Wow. I thought that’d be bad, but I didn’t expect that. You got us kicked out of a bar!”

“You didn’t give me any instructions.”

The spotlights shining at the hotel across the street provided the only illumination on the silent street. Silent besides Kit’s gasping laughs.

“Maybe go for a truth next time. You suck at dares. We didn’t even get the shirt. I did get that on video, though.” She wiped tears from her eyes as she straightened, her eyes skittering back to the closed door.

“I don’t think Tom likes me.” I followed her gaze. Through the window, the bartender’s eyes met mine and narrowed. I looked away. “I bet we could get some points if you blur the bartender’s face and post it. He’d probably enjoy watching me get humiliated.”

“Probably, but I’m keeping this all to myself.” She tapped the phone in her pocket. “A personal little pick-me-up for anytime I’m feeling down. I can remember that superstar wide receiver Trent Vogt once got kicked out of a bar for being a total weirdo.”

“You made me do that.” A smile formed on my lips despite the threat as we made our way across the street toward our hotel. “And I’m gonna need you to sign an NDA. I should call my lawyer about that.”

She shook her head, strands of brown hair escaping her falling ponytail. “Nope. Not happening. All’s fair in Truth and Dare, and I get one more.”

The door slid open with a swoosh, and Kit contained her laughter long enough to get checked in. I followed her as she doglegged around the corner to the bank of elevators.

“Dare.” I mashed the “Open” button, and the doors slid open.

Kit raised an eyebrow, resting her back against the wall. “You’re not a fast learner, are you?”

“Well, there are no more burly bartenders to hurt me, so I think I’m pretty safe.”

Kit tilted her head as the elevator slid to a halt. The doors opened up, but she kept her eyes on mine.

“Ladies first.” I gestured to the exit.

She pushed off the wall, sauntering down the hallway to her door.

“Fuck it.” She whirled around, and I stopped short not to run into her. “I dare you to kiss me.”

“Wait, seriously?”

After turning me down with the first dare, I half expected her to ask me to run around the hotel naked or steal a car. Something over the top ridiculous just to continue my humiliation. And if she laughed like she did outside the bar, I’d do it in a second.

She shrugged. “You’ve got me thinking about it, and sure, why not? It’s going to be a disaster.”

“Probably.” I grinned.

“And this is just in the name of science.”

I laughed, pressing my arm on the door frame and leaning close. “Yeah. Science. Whatever you have to tell yourself.”

“This changes nothing,” she muttered as I ducked my head down. My forehead brushed hers, and I ran a hand down her arm.

She shivered. “No. Probably not, other than we’ll both know.”

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