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Blu eberry barks at me from the floor. “Did you know your mom was up to all of this stuff?” His head tilts to the side. “I wish you could speak so you could tell me what’s going through your mind.” I scoff. “Then again, even my husband can’t seem to do that, so…”

“Are you talking to yourself in here?”

I jump at the sound of Gage’s voice. He comes around the corner holding a six-pack of beer, looking delectable in his signature all-black outfit, his hair a mess from his bike helmet.

Fuck . He’s like every teenage girl’s fantasy and exactly the type of guy their dad would threaten with a shotgun.

“ Actually , I was talking to Blueberry.”

Gage looks down at the dog and then back to me. “Not sure that’s any better.”

I sigh. “Why do you care?”

“I don’t, I was just …” But his words trail off as his gaze lands on the counter, where the pink envelope and box sit like a ticking bomb.

His shoulders fall. “Is that…”

“The next letter?” I finish for him. “Yep. This one came with a box and I’m sure you’re going to be just as thrilled about its contents as I am.”

Gage peers inside the cardboard box at the game and scowls. “What the fuck?”

“Yeah.” I reach for the envelope and slide my finger under the seal. “Shall we see what your aunt has in store for us this time?”

Gage heads to the fridge to deposit his six-pack, taking one bottle out and popping the top. “Why the hell not? The sooner we read it, the sooner we can get it over with.”

“God, I’m so lucky to have married someone with such a positive outlook on life,” I say mockingly, pulling the paper from the envelope and unfold ing it.

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 f ill 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 m an?

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.”

He shakes his head, staring down at his beer bottle between his spread knees. “Fine. Probably my belly button lint.”I scrunch my nose. “Ew, that’s disgusting.”

“Yeah, well, some kids ate boogers. I ate my belly button lint.”

I stare at the man sitting across from me, not sure if I like where this game is headed. “Okay then, I feel like I’m starting to understand you better already.”

Gage smirks as he reaches for a card. “Describe your most embarrassing moment.”

“Oh, that’s an easy one. I was photographing a wedding and my leggings split right down my ass crack. I was bending over, talking to everyone all night long with my bare ass sticking out since I was wearing a thong.”

“You didn’t feel a breeze or anything?”

“It was an outdoor wedding, and it was already chilly outside, so I didn’t think anything of it. Luckily, I have a nice ass, but still. I’m sure I was the talk of that wedding for years afterward.”

His gaze drops down my body, slow and appraising, before he clears his throat. “That’s pretty embarrassing, Spitfire.”

I shrug, reaching for a new card. “Nothing I can do about it now. Okay, next question. When was the last time you cried?”

Gage’s face instantly grows serious. “The day I walked into my aunt’s house to clean it out.” He takes a swig from his beer and picks up the next card.

I r each out to place my hand on his. “Gage…”

“Don’t, Hazel. I answered the question, now let’s move on.”

Sighing, I return to my spot on the couch. “Fine.” But for just a split second, I learned something about Gage—he does have a heart under that tough exterior, and maybe he hasn’t dealt with his aunt’s death as well as I thought.

Gage clears his throat. “What’s the worst date you have ever been on?”

I roll my eyes. “Oh, this is easy too. It was about a year ago and it’s actually the reason I swore off men—including you, since Diane was determined to set us up.”

“What happened?”

I spend the next few minutes recounting my date with Derek, the thunder guy.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Gage finally says, shock written all over his face.

I take a sip from my wine glass because I deserve a drink after getting through that story again. “I wish I were.”

His fingers drum against his knee, nostrils flaring. “I’ve never wanted to throat punch someone so hard that I’ve never met. The way he treated you…” He clenches his jaw. “You deserve someone better than that, Hazel.”

“I know, but I’m done looking for him because that night I finally admitted that he may not be out there.

” Gage’s eyes remain locked on mine. I can hear my pulse in my ears, and that’s when I know that I need to keep moving this game along, or I might start daydreaming about him potentially being my person.

Sitting here with him, having a drink and talking—albeit forced—is exactly the type of relationship I’ve always wanted.

I want to be with my best friend, someone I can be honest with.

And part of me wants to let Ga ge see who I really am.

It’s not like I have anything to lose—this marriage has an end date, so who cares what he thinks of me at the end of this?

Gage breaks our stare first, so I reach for the next card. “What is your biggest fear when it comes to love?”

He doesn’t even hesitate before taking a drink from his beer, choosing to avoid the question.

I put my hands on my hips. “Seriously?”

“Hey, you gave me the option of drinking if I don’t want to answer, so that’s what I chose.”

“Fine, then I’ll tell you mine.” I sit up straighter on the couch. “I’m afraid of ending up alone, but part of me thinks it would be better than settling for someone who doesn’t see me.”

“What do you mean?”

I stare down into my wine. “When I find my person, I want to know that when he looks at me, there are no doubts.” I lift my gaze to his. “I want the kind of romance that feels effortless because there were no other people in the world for us but each other. I want the kind of love my parents had.”

“And what kind is that?”

Looking him straight in the eyes, I say, “I want someone who will fight with me and fight for me.” I shrug. “It’s really that simple.”

Before Gage can reply, his phone rings. When he fishes it out of his pocket and sees the screen, he launches from the couch. “Hey, sorry. I’ve got to take this.”

“Yeah, okay.”

I can feel our moment break, but I don’t regret anything I’ve said. Gage looked as if I had spoken his worst fears out loud. I wish he’d had the chance to respond, to let me see him a little too.

He heads down the hall to his room and I hear him say, “Hey, Miranda.”

Fucking Miranda.

Biting my bottom lip, I look at Blueberry sleeping peacefully in the recliner, and then I glance down the hall to Gage’s room. I can faintly hear his voice through the walls, but if I went to his door, I could probably hear more.

Do I want to know who this Miranda person is? Will it make me feel better, or will it just expose something I’m not prepared for?

Why do I care about him talking to some woman on the phone anyway? For all I know, she could be his cousin.

But Gage said he doesn’t have any family left.

As soon as I start to stand, intent on eavesdropping, he comes out of his room and back toward the living room. “Sorry about that.”

“No worries,” I say, heading to the kitchen as if that was my plan all along. I pour more wine in my glass, even though I haven’t actually had much since we started the game. When I return, I find Gage staring off across the room.

His jaw is tight, his shoulders stiff. But when he sees me coming back, he smooths his expression, forcing something neutral.

“Whose turn is it?” he asks as we both settle back into the couch.

“It’s my turn to answer a question.”

“That’s right.” He reaches for the top card from the stack. “What is your favorite part of my body?”

Both of our heads snap up at the same time, our eyes locking.

“That is not what it says!” I challenge as my pulse climbs.

He twists the card around to show me, and when I verify he’s telling the truth, I bring my wine glass to my lips and make a show of taking a long drink.

The corner of Gage’s lips lifts. “Interesting.”

I s mack my lips in appreciation of the wine, buying myself some time. “I’m just drinking so I don’t have to lie to you.”

“And what exactly would you be lying about?”

“That I find any part of you attractive.”

“You’re a shitty liar, Spitfire.” His eyes dart down to my nipples that are suddenly standing at full attention.

“Ugh.” I take down half of my wine before wiping the back of my mouth with my hand. “Fine. You’re a decent-looking guy, okay?”

Gage’s smile spreads wider. “Just decent, huh?”

“Yes. And that’s all you’re getting.” I lean forward and pull the next card from the stack, eager to move on from that question. “What is one thing you wish I would stop doing?”

“Hmm, where to start…” He taps his chin as if deep in thought.

I playfully whack him with a throw pillow. “Watch it!”

Still smiling, he looks over at the recliner. “I wish you would stop being so thoughtful.”

“What?”

He brings the beer bottle to his lips, keeping his eyes locked on mine. “You heard me.”

“And why would I do that?”

“Because.”

I scoff. “Wow. Hard to argue with that logic.”

He shrugs and then picks up the next card. “Have you ever had a dream about me?”

God, really? What is with these cards?

“Yes,” I answer honestly, remembering several that have infiltrated my sleep recently.

Gage’s eyes darken, but he remains perfectly still in his seat across from me. “That makes two of us then.”

The temperature in the room seems to skyrocket as heat blossoms all over my body, a current traveling right between my legs.

Is he trying to get me even more riled up? And if he is, what’s the point when he’s not going to do anything about it?

“Next card.” I pick up the one on top. “Have you ever wanted someone you knew you couldn’t have?”

“Yes,” he says without hesitation before lifting the beer bottle to his lips.

I freeze.

Is he talking about me?

He picks up the next card. “Do you think we met for a reason?”

Holding his gaze, I say, “I think we already know the answer to that question.”

“Have you changed your mind about it though?”

“What do you mean?”

He leans his head on the back of the couch, staring up at the ceiling.

“I don’t know. I mean, I know that my aunt arranged this, but lately…

” Blueberry starts barking in his sleep, pulling our attention over to him, and when I turn back to Gage, he’s taking a drink from his beer bottle and avoiding my gaze. “Never mind. Next card.”

I pick up the next card from the stack. “Have you ever lied to me?”

The silence is so thick I can hear my heart hammering as I wait for Gage to answer.

But he doesn’t.

Instead, he abruptly stands from the couch and says, “I’m done with this game.” He drains the rest of his beer and heads to the kitchen, tossing the empty bottle in the recycling.

I practically launch off the couch, pissed. “Seriously, Gage?”

“Goodnight, Spitfire.”

Wit hout a backwards glance, he walks down the hall to his room and shuts the door behind him, shutting me out even more in the process.

But what keeps me up that night is the question he refused to answer.

What is Gage lying to me about? And does it have anything to do with Miranda?