Page 15 of Truth Or Dare
“I don’t know,” I lie, lifting my shoulder in a shrug. I know exactly what I’m asking him. “Friends, parties.” I glance up at him, swallowing before I say, “A girlfriend, maybe.”
He closes his menu, sliding it to the side with a sigh. “No.”
“No?” I echo, eyebrows raised in curiosity.
“I mean, I had friends,” he says, running a hand through his hair. “They were cool, I guess. Fun to hang out with, and good people, but… they weren’t you.”
My heart skips a beat at his words, a warmth spreading through me. It’s a relief to hear that he didn’t replace me during his time in London.
“And the…other things?” I coax, my heart pounding with anticipation.
He hesitates, his gaze flickering away for a moment before meeting mine again. “We went out sometimes,” he admits, a faint smile playing on his lips. “We hit up pubs, and Liam, my roommate, threw parties at the apartment sometimes, but again…” He smiles, his gaze locking with mine. “Nothing compares to when I’m with you.”
But there’s still one question lingering, unspoken between us, and I can’t help but wonder why he’s avoiding it.
“And the last thing?” I ask, tapping nervously on the table. His eyes drift to my fingers, and I stop abruptly, taking a sip of my drink to mask my nerves.
Inside, though, I’m freaking the fuck out. A million thoughts race through my mind, each one louder than the last.
“No.”
I freeze, setting my cup down carefully. “No?” I repeat, my voice betraying my surprise.
“No girlfriends,” he confirms.
“None?” I press. Why the hell am I goading him? He already said no. I should be happy with his answer and drop it.
“None,” he affirms.
“In four years?” I blurt out before I can help myself.Dear god, someone stop me.
“Yeah,” he replies with a sigh, a hint of amusement in his tone. “What about you?”
“Me?” I ask, trying to keep my tone light despite the sudden rush of nerves.
“Yeah,” Chris nods, fidgeting with his hair and tapping his foot nervously. “Any…Dated anyone?”
I let out a nervous laugh. “Wouldn’t really call it dating,” I admit, feeling a flush creeping into my cheeks.
“Right.”
The silence that follows is suffocating, and I hate silence with a passion.
“Where the hell is the damn waitress?” I mutter under my breath, scanning the café for any sign of the server. Spotting a girl with brown hair in the café’s dark red uniform, I flag her down eagerly. But when she turns to face me, I freeze.
Recognition flashes in her eyes as she approaches. “You again,” Jess says. I can’t help but notice that she’s not wearing the septum piercing she had at the party.
Of all the places to run into her. Is the universe against me or something?
“Hi,” I say, forcing a smile. I glance subtly at Chris, whose brows are furrowed as he watches us.
“Gabi, right?” she asks, her gaze flickering between me and Chris.
“Yeah,” I confirm, my nerves pricking.
She nods, her eyes drifting to Chris. “So, is this…” she trails off, leaving the question hanging in the air.
“No,” I interject quickly, cutting her off before she can say anything else. I can sense her curiosity, probably wondering if he’s the person I mentioned being unavailable for. And Jess wouldn’t be wrong, but the thing is…I’m not unavailable. I’msingle, and technically, I can date whoever I want. But the truth is, I don’t want to. The only person I want is…him.
