Page 28

Angelique

I t’ s been years since I last played Truth or Dare, and I’m pretty sure the last time was with these same people—minus Reign and Terry. We’re all a little older now, but the electrifying energy is still the same.

Willow starts the game off with a smirk. “Alfie,” she says sweetly, “Truth or dare?”

He leans back, eyes glittering with the challenge. “Dare.”

“I dare you to make out with Max,” she says without missing a beat.

The table bursts into laughter when Max groans, dragging a hand down his face. “Of course you would.”

“Just close your eyes and think of England, mate,” Alfie says, already leaning in.

Max sighs. “Let’s get this over with.”

Alfie grabs him by the collar and pulls him in for a noisy, exaggerated kiss that lasts just long enough to make the entire group lose it. Willow’s cackling, Lando nearly chokes on his drink, and even Reign lets out a soft exhale that might’ve been a laugh .

“Alright, alright,” Max says, flipping us off as he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. “Angelique. Truth or dare?”

I lift a brow, already bracing for something diabolical. “Dare.”

He grins. “I dare you to feed Reign one of your truffle fries without breaking eye contact.”

The table breaks into obnoxious cheering. I throw Max a look— traitor —but reach for a fry anyway, heart thudding. When I turn to Reign, he’s already watching me, blue eyes lit with dangerous curiosity, mouth tilted in the slightest challenge.

I lean forward slightly. “Open.”

His lips part slowly as I place the fry between them, and just as he leans in to take it, his tongue drags across the pad of my finger before he bites down, causing my breath to catch and stomach to flip. The moment lasts less than a second, but it’s enough to make my face burn.

Oh. Shit.

The table whoops and bangs on the wood like we’re at a rowdy pub instead of a posh lounge. I sit back and try to play it cool.

“Your turn.”

Reign doesn’t look away from me. “Terry.”

Terry smirks. “Dare.”

“I dare you to show the table your last saved selfie.”

Terry groans. “You bastard.”

But he still unlocks his phone and passes it around. I lean over to look as it makes the rounds. It’s a shirtless mirror picture, with a bright green face mask smeared across his cheeks, and I can’t stop laughing.

Max wheezes. “Why do you look like the Hulk in the middle of a thirst trap? ”

Lando takes the phone next and whistles. “Honestly? You’re kind of hot. We love a man with a skincare routine.”

Terry smirks. “Thank you. I exfoliate for the gays and the gods.”

Then, without missing a beat, he rubs a hand along his beard and gives Lando a once-over, slow and obvious. His tongue pokes out a little, almost thoughtful. “You’d be surprised what else I’m good at.”

Lando blinks, surprised, and I giggle as he turns a light shade of pink. When the phone makes it back to Terry, he lifts a brow and turns to Reign.

“Alright, Harrington. Truth or dare?”

I look at Reign when he doesn’t answer right away. His jaw tightens a little, eyes narrowing just slightly like he’s trying to weigh the safest option. Then his eyes find mine and he holds my gaze as he answers.

“Truth.”

Terry doesn’t hesitate. “Where was the last place you flew to?”

His eyes slide back to Terry, and based on the innocent grin Terry shoots back, I know this question is something Reign doesn’t want to answer. He reaches for his tequila shot, clearing his throat.

“New York.”

The sound of the table fades, everything muffled under the ringing in my ears, and he throws back the tequila before anyone can react. The burn of it ripples across his throat, and something in me unravels.

“What?” I breathe, staring at him.

Terry jumps in casually. “That’s right!” He snaps his fingers. “I was with you on that trip, wasn’t I?” He turns to me. “That was the last time I saw your performance. ”

I turn back to Reign, blood rushing in my ears. “You were in New York?”

He’s quiet for a long moment before he gives me a slow nod.

“Did you watch me perform, too?”

Another nod. I sink slowly back into my chair as I stare at him. My back touches the seat, but I feel nothing except for the pressure building in my chest. He was there, and I never knew. I never saw him in the audience, never got a text. Nothing.

The words Terry had said to me days ago echo in my head.

“You’ve been to my performances?”

“I’ve practically been to all of them . ”

I turn toward Terry now. He looks a little drunk, eyes glassy, but not completely out of it.

“How many times did you two come to New York together?”

“Angel,” Reign says in a low warning.

Terry waves a hand like he doesn’t even hear him. “Oh, I lost count. We went down every few months over the last five years.”

Five years.

My breath catches. That’s the entire time I was gone. The whole time he ghosted me. The whole time I thought he didn’t care.

“And each time… you came to see me perform?” My voice is quieter now, but shaky.

Terry nods. “Every damn time.”

I can’t stop staring at Reign, and he doesn’t look away as he watches me come apart, my throat tightening. The burn behind my eyes is sharp, but I blink it back. He didn’t speak to me, but he watched me. Repeatedly. Even when I didn’t know he was still there…he was.

What the hell do I do with that?

“Let’s go,” Reign says, grumpily, standing from the table and looking at me, Terry, and Lando. “We have rehearsal in the morning with Volkov, and I don’t want anyone puking on me because they’re hungover.”

“I’m not even that drunk,” I pout, but I stand up, pulling Lando with me.

“Nuh-uh, no way am I getting in your car,” Lando says, holding up a finger in Reign’s face, moving it side to side. “I saw you take those tequila shots, and I don’t ride with intoxicated drivers.”

Reign slowly pushes Lando’s hand away from his face and pins him with an annoyed look. “I called us a cab.”

“Oh,” Lando says, pulling his hand back. “Forgot those existed.”

“I’ll need to crash at your place when we get there,” Terry says, standing up and stumbling to the side before he throws his hands out to steady himself. “There’s no way I’ll be able to drive myself home.”

“You can stay in the main house with me,” Lando offers.

Terry tuts before smirking at Lando. “Nuh-uh, twinkle toes. I don’t sleep with coworkers, no matter how good looking they are.”

Lando turns a deep scarlet but keeps his mouth closed as we make our way out of the lounge, waving goodbye to the others, and jump into the cab. Terry takes the seat next to the driver, and I sit squished between Lando and Reign.

Twenty minutes later, we reach the estate and after saying a quick goodnight to us, Lando makes his way toward the main house.

“Terry, you can sleep in my room,” Reign says, walking toward the guesthouse and unlocking the door.

“Mate, I know we’re best friends and all,” Terry says, walking in after Reign as I follow closely behind. “But I am not sleeping next to you.”

Reign turns around and narrows his eyes at him. “You can have my room because I’m sleeping on the couch.”

“Aww,” Terry says, placing a hand on Reign’s shoulder. “Such a gentleman.”

And without another word, he throws a hand up over his shoulder, waving goodnight as he walks down the hall and into Reign's room, leaving us alone by the front door.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay on the couch?” I ask as I slide off my shoes.

Reign smirks, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the wall. “Is this your way of inviting me into your bed?”

I don’t answer as I slowly rise. Do I want him in my bed?

I mean, I did sleep next to him last night, and apparently, I’m okay with his hands on me now, too.

But I know that if I have him in my bed, things might get heated, and I don’t think I’m ready to be touched like that.

Not yet. Not to mention, we still need to have a conversation about him ghosting me.

And silently keeping tabs on me in New York too.

He clears his throat when I don’t answer. “I’ll be fine,” he says, pushing himself off the wall and walking over to the couch to set up a spot for himself. “Get some sleep.”

I nod. “Goodnight, Reign.”