Truth or Dare - Danielle Allen Page 0,4

down the hall at the resort and I heard him call my name. Tisha, I did a double take. Damn near did a triple take.”

“What are you two laughing about?” Kingston asked as he came over to hug Latisha.

“I just asked Simone where you got this vacation body from,” she joked, pulling out of their embrace.

“He’s out here looking like a thirst trap,” I added.

“A thirst trap and a hunger strike,” she quipped, patting his abs. “Did you feel these abs, Simone?”

Kingston playfully pushed her off him. “I can’t stand either of you assholes,” he replied as we laughed. “I’m going back over here with Eli and Tyler.”

“We hate to see you go,” Latisha started.

“But we love to watch you walk away,” I finished.

We fell into a fit of giggles as he shook his head and joined two of the other groomsmen at the edge of the dock several feet away. We followed him and soon, the entire wedding party was together.

We all met freshman year in college. Our close-knit friend group didn’t see each other as often as we’d like, but for special occasions, it would be like no time had passed at all. Even with the few relationships that didn’t work out within the group—including me and Omar Taylor, Latisha and Eli Washington—we still remained good friends. We didn’t hookup or play games within the group. Every ending ended amicably because we knew how rare it was to have a group like ours and we were bound and determined to keep it that way.

“It’s time!” Chloe yelled, waving her arms in the air.

A man in a captain’s uniform went over the instructions about our five-hour excursion. “…and you’ll have to remove your shoes…”

“So, while you were gone, Eli and I talked about old times,” Latisha whispered.

“Old times like when we all went to Vegas for my thirtieth birthday or old times like when you two were together sophomore year?” I guessed under my breath.

“Old times like when we went to the grand opening of Wright Now two years ago,” she mumbled.

My head swung around to face her so fast that my braids splayed around my shoulders. “You mean when he almost cheated on his girlfriend?”

“Yeah…” Smoothing down her form-fitting, white mini skirt, she nodded. She pursed her lips into a tight bow. “But this time he’s single.”

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” I warned.

“Simone,” she started patiently, tucking one of her locs back into her ponytail. “It’s a wedding weekend in paradise.” She gestured over the water. “And our no intergroup hookup rule is only applicable in the U.S.”

I cocked my head to the side. “Didn’t you two have sex during my birthday weekend in Vegas last year?”

She pointed a finger at me. “This is why I shouldn’t tell you all my business.”

I let out a laugh that I turned into a cough when the captain looked at me. When the coast was clear, I looked at Latisha. “I’m just saying… Chloe will probably have a fit.”

“We’re in paradise,” she reiterated. “And if I’m single and he’s single, what else are we going to do?”

“According to the very detailed itinerary we received two weeks in advance, we are supposed to get a good night’s sleep after the all-white yacht party,” I informed her.

“You know what helps me sleep? Dick,” she snapped.

It took everything in me not to burst out laughing.

Two

I completely understood why Chloe was mad that Corrine didn’t make it. The bride and groom-to-be spared no expense for the bridal party dinner. The yacht was beautiful, the food was delicious, the sunset was gorgeous. It was the type of picturesque event that would be featured in the resort pamphlet. I knew it was going to be a good time, but as the nine of us talked, laughed, and took pictures, I felt so full lounging around the teak deck.

“Let’s play a game,” Maria Davies, the maid of honor, suggested from the couch-like seating directly across from me.

Everyone agreed and suggestions were being tossed out left and right. We had tired ourselves out from dancing and we only had an hour left before we were back at the resort.

“We’re taking it back to our freshman dorm days… we’re playing Truth or Dare,” Dominick declared loudly, holding up his champagne glass.

Amused, I tucked my leg under me as I repositioned myself in my seat. I had a great view of everyone. Some were sprawled out on the deck and the rest of us were on the comfy