Page 91 of Lovers Like Us

“Lied,” Farrow corrects his misuse of presenttense.

Oscar throws a peanut at Farrow, who catches it and throws itback.

“Probably,” I tell Oscar, and I think that the truths or dares can’t be more sexual than that. But I’m also not that damnlucky.

Next rounds fly by, and Quinn is out of the game, losing his last two dice. He accidentally keeps choosing Donnelly’s dares. He sniffs Donnelly’s armpit and then tries to chug whiskey while doing ahandstand.

“Truth,” Oscar reads after he finally loses a dice, “tell us your most recent lay.” He ties a blue bandana across his forehead. “Cleveland—”

“No way,” Quinnsays.

“Learn, my little bro, you take the short windows of time, and you make it happen. Your dick will appreciate you. Just like my dick appreciated the tour’shairstylist.”

“Olana?” Akaraasks.

“Ol-ana,” Oscar says likefuckyeah.

Akara inhales. “She’s ababe.”

“Top-shelf,” Donnellyagrees.

I hired her, so I’m starting to feel protective. But I realize that Olana could easily be talking to the female FanCon crew about the bodyguards. In the same exactway.

Farrow loses his first dice the same time he lights a cigarette. He’s smoked around me a few times before. “Truth.” He blows smoke upwards. “Who’s the sexiest person here?” He catches me staring at him, and his brows lift. “It’s notyou.”

He’s about to name himself. I couldn’t care less about being the “sexiest” guy in any damn room, but I crave to beat him atsomething.

My brows furrow at him. “I didn’t fucking realize you were on the Sexiest Men Alive list. Unless your name is MaximoffHale.”

They laugh, and Farrow can’t detach his gaze from mine. I lassoed him somehow, and the more intensely he stares, the more blood pumpssouth.

Fuckme.

I skim hismouth.

His Adam’s apple bobs hard, and he reluctantly tears his gaze. Putting his cigarette back in his mouth, he says, “You’re something else.” He picks up his dice and announces to the table, “I’m the sexiest bastard here. Clearly.” His hand on my waist subtly slips beneath my T-shirt, on my skin. Warming me—God, that feels more thangood.

Nextround.

Akara loses. “Fuck.” He picks out of the hat. “Truth, describe losing yourvirginity.”

“That one time at band camp…” Farrowbanters.

“Hilarious,” Akara says with a warm smile, and he even explains to me, “all Farrow remembers about me from high school is that I was on the drumline. And I remember nothing abouthim.”

His lips quirk, and he taps ash on atray.

“I was sixteen,” Akara tells everyone. “First girlfriend. Both of us were virgins, and my parent’s place has a pool house. We decided we were ready, and first time, I made hercome.”

I swig my water. “That was beautiful,” I say, sarcasmthick.

“Pay up.” Donnelly holds out a palm toOscar.

“Fuck you, Akara,” Oscar curses. “I bet fifty that Quinn would get the Hale sarcasmfirst.”

I screw my cap on my water bottle. “I did it to Farrowfirst.”

Donnelly opens a new pack of cigarettes. “We eliminated Farrow from the bet since you always ribhim.”