Page 45 of Cold Front
Eli snorted but stood up, anyway. Hunter groaned, tugging his hoodie over his head before tossing it at Eli. In seconds, they’d swapped to the whoops and laughter of everyone around us. I shook my head, exhaling slowly. This was getting out of hand.
But the dares kept escalating. Sitting in each other’s laps. Speaking in a bad British accent for a full round. One of the rookies was dared to drink from a beer bottle using only their mouth, which ended in a coughing fit and more laughter. The room buzzed with energy, alcohol fueling their recklessness.
Then Micah turned, his gaze too sharp despite the alcohol making his movements a little loose. His eyes flicked from me to Eli. I knew that look.Trouble.
“All right, Captain,” Micah said, grinning. “Truth or dare?”
“Not playing,” I muttered.
“Oh, come on,” Eli nudged my arm, his tone teasing. “Live a little.”
I rolled my eyes. “Fine. Truth.”
Micah groaned, throwing his head back dramatically. “You suck. All right, fine. When was your last serious relationship?”
A muscle in my jaw ticked. “Pass.”
“No passes,” Micah shot back.
“I changed my mind. Dare.”
That was my mistake.
Micah’s grin turned downright wicked. “You and Eli. Five minutes. Bathroom. No leaving early.”
Laughter rippled through the room, mixed with whistles and groans. Eli blinked, eyebrows raising in something that looked like amusement.
I tensed, my stomach twisting in ways I didn’t like. It was a joke, but under all the noise, there was something else. Something sharper. Heavier.
Eli met my gaze, and for the first time all night, I couldn’t read him.
“Well?” Micah pressed. “Rules are rules.”
The bathroom door shut behind us, sealing us in with a quiet click. It wasn’t a big bathroom. Not cramped, exactly, but small enough that Eli’s presence filled it in a way that felt entirely different now that we were alone.
Eli huffed out a laugh, leaning back against the sink like this whole thing was the funniest damn joke. “Kinda funny, huh? You and me, trapped in here.”
I crossed my arms, willing my pulse to settle. “Hilarious.”
My sarcasm didn’t faze him. He just grinned, and for some stupid reason, I looked directly at his mouth. Mistake. My stomach tightened, and I had to shift my stance, suddenly hyper-aware of how warm the room felt. Or maybe it was just him. His scent—soap and something sweet, probably from whatever drink he’d been nursing—was way too distracting.
Silence settled. The kind that wasn’t exactly awkward but wasn’t comfortable either. Just charged. Heavy.
Eli’s eyes flicked over me, his grin shifting into something more thoughtful. “So,” he said, voice casual. “You never answered Micah’s question.”
I blinked. “What?”
“When’s the last time you were in a serious relationship?” He tilted his head, waiting, like he was genuinely curious. Or maybe just amused at how I immediately tensed up.
I scoffed, shifting my weight. “Never.”
His brows lifted. “Never?”
I looked away, my jaw tightening. “Not really.”
Eli was quiet for a beat, then softer, “Why not?”
I exhaled slowly. I wasn’t sure why I was answering him at all. He didn’t push, he just waited, patient and steady, until I realized I wasn’t scared of the questions anymore. I was scared of the answers.
