Page 16 of Take the Plunge

It’s true. I can’t believe Rufus took our fucking socks. Who does that? Oh, I know, the same guy who strands his brother and best friend in the middle of nowhere.

The sofa is a three-seater. Jett sits on one end, so I do the polite thing and sit on the other, putting a gap between us.

“You go first.” We speak simultaneously.

I burst out laughing. The corners of Jett’s mouth twitch up into a sweet smile.

“Seriously, you go first,” I say.

“Never have I ever been arrested.” He looks confident for a second. Then his jaw drops as I grab the hem of my T-shirt.

I snigger and drop it again. “I’m kidding. You know I’ve never been arrested. I’m a good boy.”

I purse my lips. What could I say? I could play it safe and say something I know neither of us has done. I could say something I’ve done, but not him, to see how he reacts to me taking my T-shirt off. No. That’s a bad idea. I need to behave. Didn’t I just tell him I was good?

“Never have I ever got a speeding ticket,” I say.

As expected, he doesn’t take anything off. Jett is far too conscientious a driver to get a speeding ticket. I have my licence but don’t own a car.

I laugh. “Well, we’ve established we’re both good boys. Your turn.”

His cheeks pinken.

“Get your mind out of the gutter,” I tease. “I meant that completely innocently.”

“Says the man who wants to take those handcuffs home.”

I rake my teeth over my lower lip. That’s the most flirtatious thing Jett has ever said. To me anyway. He must have flirted a lot. Although he hasn’t had a girlfriend in a while, not since that messy break-up.

He clears his throat. “Never have I ever kissed a woman.” He takes one of his rings off and puts it on the coffee table.

I point at the ring. “That’s cheating.”

“Why? It’s something I’m wearing. Have you?”

“Kissed a woman?”

Jett nods.

“No. If I had, my T-shirt would be on the floor by now. I’m not a cheat.” I glance at his hands and wrists. He’s wearing four more rings and two bracelets. All right, then. It’s time to get serious. “Never have I ever had sex with a woman.”

“What the fuck kind of question is that?” He huffs and puffs as he takes another ring off and puts it beside the first.

I flutter my lashes. “Your turn.”

“Never have I ever shoplifted.”

I fold my arms. “Never have I ever worked in IT.”

Jett growls. “You’re doing this on purpose.”

“Yes. I’m trying to level the playing field. I promise I’ll behave once you’ve taken your jewellery off.”

“It’s not my fault you don’t wear any.”

I inspect my fingernails. “You could play dirty too. Just saying.”

He grumbles and takes off another ring. Then he sighs, takes the rest of his jewellery off, and puts it on the coffee table. “Are you happy now?”