Page 83 of Truth Or Dare
I swallow hard, feeling a lump in my throat. “But you do.”
“I do,” he agrees with a nod. “I know everything about you.” Memories of him comforting me the week after my mom’s funeral come rushing into my mind. I think that’s when I started falling for him. When I realized no one makes me feel like he does. “And you’re twenty times the person of anyone in there,” he adds, his thumb caressing my wrist.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
My heart knocks so loudly I think he’ll hear it. I feel my pulse race with each second that passes with his eyes on mine.
His fingers trace the scars marring my wrist, each touch sending a shiver through me. My breath catches when I realize he’s spelling out a word.
Truth.
Or.
Dare.
A smirk plays on his lips when he’s done, and looks at me, waiting for a response.
My lips lift as a smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. “Dare.”
He takes my hand in his, and lifts off the sidewalk. “Come with me.”
Ten minutes later, we’re standing at the boardwalk, looking out at the ocean and the carnival we love to come to sometimes. My eyes are immediately drawn to the cotton candy, and popcorn stand. I haven’t eaten all day, and now with my belly full of whiskey, I’m hungrier than ever.
Chris lets out a soft laugh, pulling out his wallet. My heart jumps. I didn’t evensayanything. I didn’t have to tell him, or ask him. He just knows.
“The blue one, right?” Chris asks, his eyes locked on mine.
I nod, a smile spreading across my lips. This terrible night had turned around the moment he sat next to me on that sidewalk. “How did you know?”
Chris shrugs casually. “I have a special place in my mind reserved for all things Gabi.”
“Yeah?” I grin. “What’s up there?”
A laugh escapes him. “So much.”
“Like?”
He hands over the cash to pay for the cotton candy before passing me the stick. “Everything.”
“Come on,” I say, taking a bite of the cotton candy, letting it melt on my tongue. “Give me an example.”
His jaw tenses briefly, but he sighs. “Your favorite foods, favorite drink, favorite movie—anything with Channing Tatum,” he says, making me laugh as he stuffs his hands in his pockets. “The way your eyes hood when you’re drunk or tired or hungry.” I swallow the cotton candy, staring at him intently. Chrisswallows too, shrugging slightly. “The color of your eyes, the smell of your hair, the shape of your lips.” Our eyes lock, and I inhale sharply. “Your favorite songs, and which ones to play when you’re sad. How you like your back tickled…” My eyes start to well up, and his gaze remains steady as he shakes his head. “There’s so much, Gabi. So much in here.”
Wetness coats my eyes as I try to blink it away, letting out a soft laugh. “You must have a big brain.”
He chuckles warmly. “Huge. All filled with information about you.”
I blink back tears, laughing along with him. “You’re an expert on Gabi?”
His smile soothes my nerves, and he pulls me closer, lifting my chin to meet his gaze. “A+ student, without a doubt.”
My smile widens, and I allow myself to glance at his lips, just for a moment. Or two. Or three. I don’t know how long I stare, wanting to lean in and press my lips to his.
“Come on,” Chris interrupts, his brows furrowed. “We should get home.”
“No,” I reply, a frown tugging at my lips. “I don’t want to. Not yet.” This night has been everything I’ve ever wanted, and more. I’m not ready for it to end.
Chris sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Where do you want to go?”
