Page 41 of Dare Me

Behind her, her brother laughed. “Make it something fun like ‘Shake it Off’ or maybe ‘You Belong With Me’!” he called out after her. “And maybe throw in a little dancing too!”

Oh, she’d do it and then later, she’d strangle him.

Will was about to slip out while Mrs. Donovan was still in the kitchen, but once Arianna got up on the tiny stage and started singing, he was pretty much glued to his seat.

“Um…what is happening right now?” he murmured to Ryleigh, who looked like she was ready to burst out laughing.

“If I had to guess, I’d say this was a dare,” she said, nodding.

“A dare?”

“Oh, yeah. Arianna is the queen of dares. I think we all pushed her into it because she was the youngest. Whenever she wanted to hang out with any of us, we made her work for it a little.” She chuckled. “You wouldn’t believe some of the things we got her to do.”

Actually, he would because he remembered Arianna telling him about that the day they met.

Up on the stage, she was singing somewhat off-key, but smiling like she was expecting a Grammy. “What song is this supposed to be?”

“‘Love Story’ by Taylor Swift,” Ryleigh said. “She used to sing this all the time when she was younger. Sometimes she’d sing it too much and we’d all yell at her to shut up.”

“That seems a little mean…”

“Trust me, she was doing it to bug us, so…not mean.”

He let out a long breath and tried to figure out how to leave when he really wanted to stay and watch her.

“It’s okay, you know,” Ryleigh casually said beside him.

“Huh?” he asked, but his eyes never left Arianna.

“I know you’re the guy from San Francisco,” she said as she moved closer. When he tensed, she groaned. “I’m not cozying up to you, dude. I just don’t want anyone overhearing me.”

“Over your sister’s singing? That’s highly unlikely.”

“Look, all I’m saying is that I know about the two of you and there’s no way I’m going to go out with you, okay?”

He turned his head and glanced at her, but he had no idea what to say.

“However,” she went on. “If you want a chance to see Arianna without anyone giving you grief, you might have to say that you’re going out with me.”

“I’m not following you.”

She rolled her eyes dramatically. “If anyone asks, you’re out with me. The reality is that you’re out with her.”

His eyes narrowed. “Why? Why would you do that?”

“Ugh…you’re just as suspicious as my sister. No wonder the two of you hit it off.” Pausing, she shook her head. “It pretty much benefits all of us. For starters, it gets my mom off my back because she thinks I’m out with you. Next, you’ll be somewhat off her radar because if you don’t date me, she’ll be on the hunt for a girl for you. Trust me.”

“And…not Arianna?”

She shook her head. “Definitely not Arianna. She thinks you’re too old for her.” Pulling back, she studied him. “Wait, how old are you?”

“Thirty-two,” he murmured, feeling a bit self-conscious. “It’s not like I’m that much older.”

“In my mother’s eyes, you are.”

“And how is this all benefitting your sister? Won’t your mother put her focus on her next?”

“Ari can stall her a bit. And as for what she’ll get out of this, she’ll get time with you, which is what she wants.”

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