Page 71 of Somehow You Knew

Gage and Hazel,

It’s time for your next task! If I know you both like I think I do, I imagine not much has transpired between you since your last date. So, instead of waiting for your two-month anniversary, I thought you two should get to know each other a bit better, sooner rather than later.

Truth or Dare is the perfect way to get you to open up to each other—or at least have a few laughs at the other’s expense.

Life is unpredictable, messy, and sometimes unfair, but if you can laugh together, you’ll always have something worth holding onto.

Have fun and good luck. I’ll be rooting for you.

Love,

Diane

I set the letter back down on the counter. “Well, do we do this tonight or put it off?”

Gage chugs half of his beer. “Let’s just get it done. At least I have alcohol for the occasion.”

I study his beer bottle and then an idea pops into my head. “How about we play Truth or Drink?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m not about to go streaking down the street in my underwear for a dare.” Gage’s eyebrows lift in surprise, but I press on. “You know what I mean. Lord knows the kind of shit we would have to do for a dare. So, we throw those cards out, and if you don’t want to answer a truth card, you have to drink.” Since Gage isn’t a big drinker, but he brought beer home with him, I assume he’s in the mood to put a few drinks away.

Gage dips his eyes to the glass bottle in his hands and then back up to me. “Deal.”

I fill a wine glass and we reconvene in the living room after Gage has changed into a pair of athletic shorts that do absolutely nothing to hide the bulge between his legs.

It’s ridiculous how my mouth waters from seeing just the outline of his cock.

God, it’s been far too long since I’ve had sex. That’s it. That’s why I feel feral every time I look at him.I’m just horny. Looks like a date with my vibrator is in store.

“Okay.” I set my wine glass on the table, take the truth cards out of the box, and shuffle them before placing them in a stack on the coffee table. “Do you want to go first?”

“I don’t fucking care,” Gage grumbles.

“Yeah, I’m beginning to understand that.” Rolling my eyes, I reach for my phone. “Let’s take a picture really quick to document this for Timothy.”

He doesn’t protest, so I take that as permission to approach.

Sliding next to him on the couch, I lean in close and flip the camera to selfie mode. What I see on the screen takes me by surprise.

Gage’s eyes are closed and his nose is buried in my hair. When I hear him inhale, something tightens in my chest.

I close my eyes and snap the picture, wanting to capture this moment as a reminder that he’s not always the grumpy man I’ve become so used to.

He opens his eyes, finds the camera poised above us, and says, “Are you gonna take the picture or what?”

“Um, yeah.”

I smile while Gage keeps his lips in a flat line, and I take a few more pictures before settling back in my original spot on the couch, willing my heart rate to come back down.

What the hell is going on with this man?

I pick up the first card, clear my throat, and read the question out loud. “What’s the grossest thing you have ever eaten?”

Gage narrows his eyes. “I’m supposed to answer that?”

“Yes, Gage. That is how the game works. It’s not that shocking of a question, but if you don’t want to answer it, you can always take a drink.”