Page 40 of Dare Me

“I’m allowed to worry, Arianna! I want to make sure that these…these…men you date are respectful, stand-up kind of guys!”

“And you really think you’re capable of knowing that from talking to them over a burger here in the pub or…or…worse, taking Jamie’s advice? This is a game to him!”

“Ma, any chance we have more apple pies back here?”

Speak of the devil…

“Jamie,” Kate began as he walked over and grinned at her. “These friends of yours that you keep telling me would be great for your sisters, are they truly as good as you say or are you perhaps overselling them?”

Jesus…

“What?” he asked with a laugh. “Where’s all this coming from?” He hugged Kate hard and gave her a loud, smacking kiss on the cheek. “Suddenly you don’t trust me? I would never let some bum go out with my sisters!”

And while their mother looked for more pie, her brother gave her a wink.

Jerk.

“Stop upsetting mom,” Jamie mocked with a laugh. “I swear you lost your sense of humor at college.”

“Shut up, I did not.”

“You totally did,” he countered. “You’ve been the least fun out of all of us, and that includes Liam.”

She glared at him. “You take that back.”

His grin broadened. “Make me.”

“You’re an idiot,” she huffed.

“What’s got you all pissed off tonight? I thought we were all just gonna hang out and relax. You’re here all of five minutes and everything’s tense.”

“I’m just tired of all this matchmaking crap. I mean, did you see Ryleigh out there with Will?”

He chuckled. “I have to admit, I almost feel bad for the guy. He looks beyond uncomfortable.”

“Yeah, well…probably because he is. He doesn’t want orneedMom fixing him up with anyone. He’s an incredibly attractive man who can find his own women. And…and it shouldn’t matter if they’re younger than him or any of that crap. I mean…why does Mom get to make the rules?”

Jamie studied her for a moment before taking a couple of steps toward her. “Truth or dare?”

Oh…no…

“Jamie…”

“Prove to me that you’re still the fun sister,” he challenged. “Truthordare?”

She really wanted to say truth just to piss him off, but she’d only be proving his point that she wasn’t any fun. So, with no other choice, she replied, “Fine. Dare.”

“I dare you to go out there and take the stage and sing some karaoke. Preferably some Taylor Swift like you used to do back in high school.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! It’s not even karaoke night!”

“That’s the point of a dare, dummy. It’s supposed to be something out of the ordinary.”

There was no way…

He leaned in closer. “Do it or I tell Mom and everyone else that you want Will for yourself.”

Arianna gasped and knew that in and of itself gave her away, but rather than say anything, she stormed toward the kitchen door.

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