Page 46 of Calling a Cease-Fire

She sent me a flirty smirk and I knew I was going to regret this.

“Take your shirt off.”

I raised a brow, challenging her.

“That’s still PG-13.”

I got in the right lane and slowed down. Luckily, the route we were on wasn’t a highway. “Take the wheel.”

She did and I worked my T-shirt up and over my head. The sun was starting to set, and the air now had a bit of a chill to it, but this time it was her eyes on me that caused goose bumps to break out over my skin. Her smile as she took in my bare chest said she was loving this. I had to admit, I liked that she found pleasure in seeing me without a shirt.

Now back to her turn, and she picked dare again. I paid her back by making her hold my hand until her next turn. The awkwardness in which she did it confirmed that she wasn’t used to the gesture. I found it adorable.

I picked truth for my turn.

“What’s one thing you’d do if you knew there were no consequences?”

The first thing that came to mind was to make her mine. Spend as much time as possible kissing her, touching her, pleasuring her.

“No cheating,” she chided. “Remember you have to tell the truth.”

“Be with you,” I answered softly, knowing we were treading on thin ice.

I could feel her assessing stare, and after a moment, I stole a glance over to find disbelief in her eyes.

“I’m telling the truth.” I pulled my gaze back to the road. “If I knew no one would get hurt or upset, and it wouldn’t negatively affect our friendships, I’d agree to your terms⁠—”

“Why?” she asked, cutting me off. “You’d be sacrificing the chance to find someone you could have forever with. For what? Sex?”

I shook my head. “Not just sex. At least, not for me.” I still didn’t understand it, but there was no denying I wanted her in ways that went beyond physical.

“Zack…” she whispered, low and almost sad.

“It’s just an answer to a question. One based on fiction, because unfortunately our actions always have consequences.” The mood had gone from fun and lighthearted to heavy. I needed to get us back on easygoing and carefree—my favorite place to be. “Do over. Forget about that question and give me a dare instead. Something good this time.”

“What? The shirtless one wasn’t good?”

I shrugged. “You can do better.”

She was quiet for a moment before she reached in the back and pulled a notebook out of her bag. I glanced over at it as she placed it on her lap and flipped through it to a blank page. It seemed to have page after page of drawings. Was she artistic?

She scribbled something on a piece of paper and ripped it out, handing it to me. “You have to hold this up to the next three cars we pass or stop next to, but you can’t look at it until after the third car.”

A smirk tugged at my lips. It probably said something like “I like to suck dick.” Ok, fine, I was game. And I knew it would make her happy. What was a little embarrassment on my part if it helped bring her smile back? Maybe she’d even gift me with her laugh when the dare was done.

The first car had some young twentysomething girls. The passengers smiled, elbowed the driver, and she honked three times as they all giggled. The next one was a middle-aged woman who shook her head with a smile but still honked. The last one we came to a stop next to at a red light, and there was a couple in it. The guy snarled at me, but the girl leaned over and honked. The boyfriend did not find this funny. In fact, he looked downright pissed off.

“Oh shit,” I laughed as he went to get out of the car. Luckily, the light turned green, and I floored it out of there.

Mia started laughing so hard she was hiccupping and struggling to catch her breath. “That was hilarious,” she stumbled out through her laughter. “He was totally going to kick your ass.”

At the next red light, I turned the sign over in my lap to read what she wrote.

Honk if you think I’m sexy AF.

I threw my head back, cackling. But then I sobered, realizing if her goal was to get people to honk at me, that meant only one thing. “You think I’m sexy?”

She rolled her eyes. “You know I do. Don’t play coy. You’re also annoyingly frustrating and cocky as hell.” Her expression turned serious before she added, “And I would too.”