Page 19 of Rescued
Luca shrugs. “You get public ridicule. And,” he adds, casting a glance at Hunter, “you don’t get to accuse people of cheating at the game.”
Hunter rolls his eyes so hard it’s a miracle they stay in his head.
“Alright, I get it. Austin, truth or dare?”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Truth.”
“Way to start easy,” Arlo says, his tone teasing.
Fuck, this is harder than I thought it would be. I know a lot about Austin as it is. I hum. “Do you believe in ghosts?”
He seems to consider it for a second. “Yeah, I think so.” Eyes darting from person to person, they settle on Luca. “Hey, baby, truth or dare?”
Luca flashes him a bright grin. “Dare.”
“I dare you to read your last five searches in your search history to the group.”
Flushing bright red, Luca takes his phone out of his pocket. “Oh God.” He stares down at it, then looks up at us, eyes sweeping slowly from person to person. Clearing his throat, he looks at his phone. “Veto.”
A chorus of groans goes around the room.
“You can’t veto the very first one,” Hunter argues.
“I can. It’s just author stuff. You all wouldn’t get it.”
“I think if you veto, you should lose your turn,” Theo says, chuckling.
Luca’s head snaps up. “What? That’s not fair. You can’t just change the rules.”
Kissing the side of Theo’s head, Hunter smiles. “Good call, sweetheart.”
Groaning, Luca nods. “Fine. Alright. Fine. I’ll skip my turn. Who’s next then?”
We go around and around for what feels like hours. Luca and Theo laugh until they cry, and Austin and Hunter join in. Arlo stays against my shoulder for the whole game, and when he becomes more yawn than man, he sits up, rubbing at his eyes with his fists. “I’m exhausted. I’m calling it.”
“If Arlo’s calling it, so am I.” I gesture toward him. “Besides, I drove him.”
Theo nods. “I’m pretty damn tired too.” Luca shoots him a concerned glance, and he smiles. “Normal tired. We got up early and didn’t take a nap.”
Everyone stands, saying their goodbyes.
“Thank you all for everything,” I say, hugging Austin and slapping him on the back. “I had fun, like always.”
“You too, man. I love our game nights.”
By the time Arlo and I are on the road, I’m exhausted too. I know it’s probably a long shot, but I really just want to curl up with Arlo and sleep, so I reach across the console and take his hand, giving it a little squeeze. “Will you stay with me tonight?”
He glances at me, his eyes searching my face. “I’m not really in the mood. I’m pretty tired.”
Does he really think I only want him for sex? Fuck, I’d marry him if I could. I’d spend all my nights with him. Sex or no sex. “We don’t have to have sex. I just… I want to sleep with you. I miss you.”
He’s quiet for a long time. “We just spent the whole evening together.”
Well, he’s got me there, but… “It’s not the same. I want to hold you and be free to do it.”
I want so much more than that, but I can’t tell him.
“Okay,” he whispers. “I’ll stay the night.”
