Page 90 of Lovers Like Us

Alright, they all have some sort of knowledge that I don’t, and before I even ask Farrow, he pops his gum and says, “Kitsuwon playsdirty.”

And bydirty, he meanssex questions. Gotit.

Akara holds my gaze. “I would’ve gone easier with the truths foryou.”

I can’t expect these guys to treat me like I’m one of them if I need half the truths and dares removed. I said I wanted all-in on Farrow’s world, and I’m going all-fucking-in.

So I say, “I’m glad you didn’t know I’d be herethen.”

Akara smiles and raises his glass in cheers, and the first round of the game starts. Dice hits the table, we make bets, and Thatcher loses one dicefirst.

“Oohh,” the tableerupts.

Thatcher takes the hat, not saying a damn thing. Being around him on tour, I’ve noticed that if he’s not discussing work, he’s quiet. Brooding. He unfurls the shred ofnapkin.

“Truth,” he reads. “Strangest place you’ve ever had sex?” One sip of whiskey, he answers, “Back of a Walmart outside.” He crumples thenapkin.

Oscar and Akara rib him for choosing Walmart, and he justnods.

Dice in hand, we roll again. More bets and swigs of whiskey, water and Lightning Bolt! and Quinn loses theround.

“Get it, Quinnie,” Donnelly jokes as Akara jostles the baseball hat to the youngest bodyguard. Quinn digs his hand in the napkinshreds.

“Dare, lick the floor.” Quinn shakes his head at Donnelly and slides off the stool. “You’re sick,bro.”

Donnellysmirks.

“Need a puke bucket?” Farrowbanters.

Quinn humphs and kneels down. Licking the floor in point-two seconds. Then he’s back on the stool. We roll. Cosmic justice at play, Donnelly loses a dicenext.

“Truth,” he reads a napkin, “how much longer do you see yourself working in security?‘Til I’m dead or fired, whichever one comes first.” He sucks his cigarette and slides the pack to Akara. Filmy haze of smoke clouds the air. It doesn’t bother me, but I’m not much of asmoker.

Donnelly loses another dice. “Truth, who has the best ass here?” He drums the table and then points to Oscar. “For the self-esteemboost.”

“Aw, fuck you.” He messes Donnelly’s chestnuthair.

We all laugh, but in the back of my mind, I think about how he’s chosen two easy truths. Leaving behind more difficultones.

And after I make a bad bet, I lose the round. One dice gone, and as I pick a truth or dare, no one speaks. Airstrains.

I flatten the napkin, black pen scrawled across, and I read, “Truth,worst sex you’ve ever had?”Fuck.

Farrow curves his arm protectively around my waist but leisurely swigs his drink. I can handle this, and I’d be pissed if he spoke on my behalf. So he’s nottrying.

“Please tell me it’s Farrow,” Oscar says. “The guy needs knocked down a couple pegs after landingyou.”

Farrow’s amused smile gradually expands. “Feeling threatened? You really did need that self-esteem boost,Oliveira.”

Oscarclaps.

“Worst sex I’ve ever had…” I draw their attention. “Is easily a girl I hooked up with a couple years back.” I rest my forearms on the table, sort of leaned forward. “She started crying about five minutes in, not upset. Just overwhelmed. She kept saying how she loved me—and I get it, that’s not that big of a problem, but we agreed to a one-time, one-night thing. And I don’t really like fucking people while they’recrying.”

Quinn winces. “Damn, bro, that’d kill metoo.”

Akara pats myback.

Oscar nods, not even marginally surprised. “I bet people lie to you about their virginity all the time too. Just so you’ll still fuckthem.”