Page 61 of The Roommate

Only Naomi lowered a finger on that one.

Clara turned to her. “Are you serious?”

“I didn’t take it,” Naomi assured her.

“Never have I ever turned down a million dollars,” the next player said.

Naomi flashed him the middle finger, conveniently the only one remaining up on her right hand.

All heads turned to Clara for her turn. “Umm. Never have I ever broken a bone?”

“You mean like a boner?” Stacy bent a finger halfway down. “Like breaking someone’s dick during sex? ’Cause I’ve totally done that.”

Clara forced herself not to recoil at that mental image. “No, I meant like a regular bone.” She held up her arm and mimed wearing a sling.

Stacy deflated. “Oh.”

Naomi took her turn. “Never have I ever fucked a celebrity.”

“How are we defining celebrity?”

“B list and above,” Naomi clarified.

“Damn. Close but no cigar,” said Stacy’s date. “Never have I ever fucked a world leader.”

Most people had one hand left up or less. Clara’s ten fingers stood out like a neon sign announcing her as an outcast. A couple people looked at her with arched eyebrows.

“You’re supposed to lower a finger when you’ve done something,” Stacy whispered to her unhelpfully.

“Oh no.” She craned her neck, trying to see the drinks table. “I think we’re running low on ice. I’ll check.” Clara walked into the kitchen and opened the freezer, letting the blast of air cool her heated cheeks.

“You need any help?”

She shut the door and faced Josh. “No. I’m sorry. I know I’m making a habit of running out of rooms.”

“That game wasn’t fun for you, huh?”

“Not so much. My sex life is very vanilla.” She sucked in a breath and looked away. Present company excluded.

“We can play something else.”

“It’s not the game, Josh. Look at me. I don’t fit in. You go back out and have fun. I’m sure no one wants to be on their best behavior because of me.”

“Come on. No one thinks of you like that. Everyone wants to get to know you. You’re a mystery to them.”

“Mystery is a nice word for weirdo. The cool kids in high school used to use buzzkill.” Clara had tried blending in with Everett’s new friends after he’d started getting attention for his burgeoning looks, but casual had never come easily to her.

Josh reached over and wrapped her in a hug. “You’re not in high school anymore.” He bent his knees so her chin could rest on his shoulder without strain and applied the perfect pressure, firm but loose. The scent of fresh laundry filled her nose. “Clara, those people out there are showing off. Half that stuff is exaggerated, guaranteed. Besides, our sex lives are hardly average. You’ve done tons of stuff none of those people have ever even attempted.”

She stepped back from the hug, grateful he’d let her break away first. A part of her could have stayed there forever. “Yeah, right.”

“Throw up some fingers.”

Clara waved him off.

“Come on. I’m serious. Put ’em up.”

She rolled her eyes and held up her right hand.

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