Page 7 of Riding the High

“Truth or dare?” I ask him as we watch an episode we’ve seen at least five times before.

“Truth?” he mutters as he leans back on the sofa. “I’m too tired for a dare.”

“You never choose dare.” I scowl. “Alright, real talk, do you ever give any of these women a fighting chance?” I ask, genuinely curious to hear his answer. “You never know, one of these days any given Tracey could be the one. But you’d have toactuallytry.”

Cole shrugs his broad shoulders and puts his hands behind his head.

“I enjoy women. I make sure they enjoy me. That’s where it ends.”

“TMI …” I retort, although there’s really nothing that is too much for me when it comes to Cole. “But glad to know you’rejust cocky enough to consider yourself advanced in the women’s enjoyment department.”

He gives me a half-grin but doesn’t say anything.

“Maybe you’re choosing too many amateurs,” I push on. “You should start screening them first to make sure they’re on your level, so they don’t bore you. You could have a sign-up sheet, or hold auditions?”

Cole’s grin grows wider, but he keeps his eyes on the TV.

“I could wear a t-shirt when I go out that says ‘Not for beginners’?” he counters.

“Title of your sex tape?” I retort, referencingBrooklyn 99one-liners.

He looks over and leans in, a wide smile on his lips.

“Or ‘Advanced Users Only’?”

“Fuck,” I say, although it comes out a little breathless. “Please stop.”

There’s a beat before we both laugh, and I toss another Skittle at him.

He scrubs his freshly shaved jaw with his knuckles.

“I’m used to women telling me to do anythingbutstop, Vixen,” he says in a low voice, and pinches my calf. It’s meant to be playful, but his tone is too low for my lady bits to handle.

“Gross,” I say, averting my eyes from his.

“Look. The truth is, everyone needs their thing. And the women I meet, they’re my only vice. Though sometimes I wish I chose better the first time around. But the moment that thought goes through my head I feel like shit. Because Mabes wouldn’t be who she is if she had a different mom.”

I nod. I want children, but I can’t imagine carrying the weight of a human being’s life on your back, and doing it virtually all alone. Cole turns his whiskey eyes on mine. There’s a glint in them that tells me the serious talk is over and he’s about to say something mischievous.

“Your turn. Truth or dare?”

“Dare. Always,” I answer confidently as I take a sip of my water. Readying myself for whatever Cole tells me to do.

“You always sound so sure of yourself.” He tilts forward, his elbows resting on his muscular legs as he thinks.

“You’re tired after all that advanced sex, remember? Probably can’t come up with much at this hour. I’d say a dare is a safe bet.”

The glint in his eye returns as he picks up the remote for the TV.

He opens YouTube and searches “Macarena dance” before handing me the remote back. It’s the song I performed junior year with CeCe and Liv as part of our talent show routine, and he knows it. He also knows I hate it.

“Grr.” I grunt at him but stand anyway.

“Backing down already?”

I narrow my eyes at him, but don’t answer.

“A dare is a dare so … start dancing,” he commands like a drill sergeant. “And I’ll be judging your technique.”

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