Truth or Dare by Jacqueline Green Read Free Book Online Page B

the party file out behind them. “Looks like Ten’s Commandments are back in effect,” Caitlin whispered.
    “Looks like it,” Tenley said, unable to keep the pride out of her voice. She just wished Guinness were still there to witness this. But he’d stayed for a full hour at least, drinking her lemonade and—she swore—touching her on the arm way more than necessary.
    “Okay,” Tenley said, as everyone got settled in. “I’m assuming you all know the rules of the game. But just a warning. If you lie during a truth, and someone catches you: Watch your back.” She let her eyes wander over to the pool, which was glowing brightly in the darkness. “Retribution is expected,” she continued. “And believe me, it’s a bitch. So make your truths
good
.”
    “Like how-many-people-have-you-slept-with good?” a girl Tenley vaguely remembered as Karen asked.
    “Too many to count,” Hunter Bailey yelled, slapping hands with Nate Roberts.
    Tenley shook her head. “The whole point is to ask questions people don’t
want
to answer. Here, I’ll give you an example.” She gave the group a quick scan. “Let’s say I was to call on Emerson, and she was tochoose truth. I might ask her, let’s see…” She rubbed her hands together. “Who she cheated on Scott Ratner with, for example.”
    Emerson’s eyes widened. Behind her, someone let out a gasp. The gossip had been all over town since Tenley returned. Just yesterday she’d heard two younger girls chattering about it at the salon. According to them, Emerson and Scott, a yearlong couple, had split because Emerson had strayed. The thing was, no one seemed to know who, exactly, she’d strayed with.
    “Good thing I always choose dare,” Emerson said coolly.
    Tenley met Emerson’s eyes. Thanks to all the pageants she’d competed in over the years, she was good at staring people down. She expected Emerson to back off quickly, look away. But she didn’t. She kept her eyes locked on Tenley’s, blazing with an expression Tenley couldn’t quite read. “Good thing,” she agreed at last.
    “I’ll start,” Hunter cut in eagerly, drawing everyone’s attention away from Emerson. He looked at Tenley questioningly, and she nodded. “Okay. Audrey.” He leaned forward in his chair, training his bright blue eyes on Audrey Miller, a sporty-looking girl who in middle school had been the star of the field hockey team. “Truth or dare?”
    Audrey blew out a breath, thinking for a moment. “Dare,” she decided at last.
    “Niiiice,” Hunter cheered, making everyone laugh. Hunter looked around, his eyes landing on a guy in a tight white T-shirt whose dark brown hair was buzzed short. “I dare you to… give Blake a lap dance. In your bathing suit.”
    The dares only got wilder from there. Marta faked an orgasm. Tim Holland dialed 1-800-STRIP4US and sent Destiny, a “fun-loving contortionist,” to the gym teacher Mr. Stark’s house. And at three AM Tricia rang the doorbell of Simon Howe—a local newsman and Tenley’s neighbor—and asked him ever so politely if he would mind sucking on her big toe.
    Several rounds into the game, Emerson called on Tenley. “Dare,” Tenley decided. She wasn’t worried. Emerson was a total novice at this game. She’d probably end up daring Tenley to post a weird status on Facebook or something lame.
    “I was hoping you’d say that.” Emerson ran a hand through her glossy black hair, smiling sweetly. “I dare you to kiss Calum Bauer.” She paused dramatically. “With tongue.”
    Tenley choked back a laugh. A
kiss
? Just like she’d thought: a total novice. Though that name did ring a bell. Bauer… of course. Calum must be that billionaire tech wizard’s son, the one her mom wanted so desperately for her to hook up with. Well, it looked like her mom was going to get her wish.
    “No problem,” she said easily—just as a guy sitting in the corner leaped to his feet. She winced when she saw his SUPERHERO-IN-TRAINING