Page 43 of Between Here and There

“You’re evil,” Kate wheezes, glaring at Haley between gulps.

“Next!” Haley says, clapping her hands together and ignoring Kate’s death glare.

Ryan is up next, pulling a truth block. He unfolds the slip of paper and reads it aloud. “‘What is your latest Google search?’”

He freezes, his brows furrowing in mild panic as he leans over to whisper something to Bon.

Bon raises an eyebrow and smirks. “Ryan just asked me how he can check his computer history from here,” she announces, holding out her hand expectantly. “Sorry, my fiancé is basically an old man.” She turns to face Ryan and holds out her hand. “Give me your phone.”

Ryan frowns, but hands it over, the group watching eagerly as Bon unlocks it and scrolls through his browser history.

“Ryan’s latest Google search is…” She pauses for dramatic effect, her grin growing. “‘Unique wedding band ideas. Awwwwww, Ry!’” Bon hugs Ryan, and shakes him intensely.

“Great,” he mutters, his ears red. “Thanks, Bonbon. Just air all my secrets out for everyone.” ‘Bonbon’ is a childhood nickname. We all stopped using it when she turned eighteen and begged everyone not to. I guess Ryan never stopped.

“He calls Wi-Fi ‘phone internet’.” Bon grins and Ryan scowls. She laughs and pats his knee affectionately. “Oh, come on, it’s adorable. You’re scoring major points right now.”

Laughter erupts around the circle as Ryan groans, rolling his eyes but unable to keep the small smile off his face.

“Okay, enough roasting Ryan and his Google habits!” Haley claps her hands, bringing everyone’s attention back. “Let’s keep the chaos rolling. Your turn,” she says, looking pointedly at me.

I take a deep breath, feeling a dozen pairs of eyes on me as I reach for a Jenga block. The tower wobbles precariously, and I hold my breath as I slide the block out. My eyes scan the writing, and I freeze.

“Dare,” I read aloud, my voice catching slightly.

Haley grins devilishly and hands me the fishbowl. “Read it out loud!”

I unfold the small slip of paper, my heart skipping a beat as I read the words. I glance over my shoulder, my eyes locking on Joshua. He’s leaned back casually on the couch, one arm resting behind him, his leg crossed in that way he does when he’s trying to appear nonchalant but is paying attention to everything. He raises an eyebrow, a small smirk playing at the corner of his lips. “Yeah, babe?”

I look at the paper again and say, “Have the person on your right… feed you.”

The room falls a bit quieter. I swear I can feel Rob’s eyes burning into the back of my neck, and I don’t dare look over. Joshua blinks, clearly confused. “Feed?” he repeats, raising an eyebrow in amusement. “As in… actually feed food?”

I shrug, trying to play it cool even though my pulse is racing. I reach for something off the tray beside me—one strawberry—and hold it up between my fingers. The task is ridiculous, but why do I feel nervous?

Joshua stands up slowly, his movement drawing everyone's attention as his presence shifts the energy in the room. He’s wearing his usual laid-back outfit—gym shorts and a shirt—but the way he moves makes everything feel suddenly deliberate. He walks toward me with that confidence of his, making my heart skip another beat.

When he’s standing in front of me, that same quiet intensity that’s always been there is thicker somehow. His eyes meet mine, his jaw tightening just slightly as he looks down at the strawberry I’m still holding between my fingers.

“Go on, just a bite,” Haley says, urging us to finish the dare.

Without a word, Joshua reaches out and gently takes the strawberry from my hand. He lowers his gaze, focusing on the fruit for a moment before bringing it to my lips, his hand steady and sure.

“Say ‘aaah,’” he murmurs, his voice almost intimate, sending a shiver down my spine.

The room holds its breath. I open my mouth, acutely aware of the heat between us, the closeness of his hand, the way his eyes never leave mine even as I take a bite. He’sso goodat this.

Apparently, I only bite half the strawberry, so Joshua takes the other half, popping it into his own mouth. We walk back to our seat, and when I look at him, he’s already looking at me. He puts his arm around me, and the game continues.

“Okay, Rob, your turn,” Haley says.

Rob stands up and studies the Jenga tower. He takes a drink and sets it down before he continues to look at the tower, undecided on which block to pick. After a few more seconds, Richard says, “Come on, man, it’s not rocket science. Choose a block already.”

Rob glares at him, but chooses one anyway. “Truth.”

Haley hands him the bowl. He picks up a paper, and says, “What’s one thing you regret?”

Rob clears his throat, glancing at me, his expression unreadable. But then his eyes shift toward Joshua, his gaze flicking away quickly. He looks at Denise next, his lips pressing together as if weighing his words. He takes a deep breath before speaking.

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