down on the couch.
I remove myself from Cole’s arm and turn to face the table. Bending over, my pen hovers over the paper.
What kind of dare could I possibly do? Shelby told me they have been doing these for a while, and they physically hurt themselves. I don’t want to be responsible for someone getting hurt. That will just give them another reason to hate me.
Think! What all has Cole told me? Not much. I know they killed a guy. I know that the guy has a brother who beat his wife and then killed her …
I get a thought. It’s crazy and borderline illegal, but not enough to where I would spend the rest of my life in prison. Or end up dead.
I hear the guys behind me and know they are all done. They knew what tonight was so they already had their dares chosen before they walked in the door.
Even though I didn’t want anything to do with this, I feel like now I have something to prove. I have to show them that I’m not afraid. I can hang with them.
I write down my dare and consequence and stick it in a bowl in the middle of the room. Then go sit on the couch next to Cole. I cross my legs, and he slides his hand between them, gripping my inner thigh. Kellan’s eyes go to his hand and then to Cole’s. He doesn’t acknowledge him. But I tense.
Why does he hate me so much? Does he not understand that I don’t want to be here?
Shane walks up to the bowl and draws a piece of paper out. His eyes go straight to mine. I swallow nervously.
He begins. “SURPRISE! I’ll meet you in the sea. We’ll swim together as we flee.” He looks at Cole and then back down at the paper. “Consequence: you must dress like me for the day.”
Kellan is the first one to speak. “What the fuck is this shit?’
Cole shifts his body on the couch and turns to me. “This isn’t how it works, Austin.”
“What?” I shrug. “You didn’t say it couldn’t be done like that.” I didn’t want to give the dare away because I don’t want to be told I can’t do it by someone. I had to make it to where no one would catch onto it. If they’re making me do this, I’m all in. Too late to turn back now.
“It doesn’t make any fucking sense,” Kellan snaps.
“It’s a riddle, idiot,” Cole defends me. I almost smile.
“Absolutely not!” he snarls at Cole. “Draw again, Shane,” he demands.
“No,” Bennett says. “She’s right. She isn’t breaking any rules. And that is what he drew. We’ve never had anyone draw twice before, so we’re not gonna start now.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
COLE
“THIS IS BULLSHIT!” Kellan barks, standing to his feet.
I slowly remove my hand from between her legs and stand, facing him. “You don’t like it, you can pull out.”
His eyes widen for a brief second before they land on Austin where she still sits on the couch. I don’t agree with her dare, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to back her. She doesn’t know what we’re doing. I’ve kept the rules as simple as possible for her. Not wanting her to know more than she needs to. She’s a fucking chick. What did he think she was going to have us do?
“Pull out?” Kellan growls at my words. “Want me to leave, Cole?”
Anyone can withdraw at any time. But to be thrown out, we all have to agree. I wish the fucker would just walk away. Kellan and I have always butted heads even though we’ve all been friends since we were little. I didn’t hate him at first, but after Maddox, Landen, and Eli died, things changed between us. And the fact that he took my car to Bruce’s house to fuck his wife isn’t setting well with me. Why would he do it? Did he want me to get caught? If that’s the case, why? And if so, would Celeste have said I was the one she fucked? Does he want me to rat him out? Me take the fall? I’m not sure, but I’m keeping my mouth shut until I find out.
“Cole—” Shane starts.
“No, let him make his decision,” Deke interrupts him. He comes over to us and crosses his arms over his chest, ready to fight Kellan. But I don’t need his help, and he knows it. “I’m tired of you two fighting over fucking pussy.”
“Hey,”