Page 11 of Truth or More Truth
I huff. “Far be it from me to insult the Russian mafia.”
“I’d like to see you try to insult them to their faces. See where that gets you.”
“What is it you want from me?” I ask. “Why are you being like this?”
“All questiony?” She smirks.
“Yeah. That.”
“Maybe it’s simply because I enjoy irritating you.”
“You’re doing an excellent job of it. Gold star for you.”
An hour or so later, Melissa turns down the music and asks, “Truth or dare?”
She has done nothing but sing along with the Pet Shop Boys for almost an entire album, and now she wants to play a game? “Excuse me?”
“We’re playing ‘Truth or Dare.’”
“Oh, no, we’re not.” I shake my head. First of all, it’s a silly child’s game. And second, although she seems to be warming toward me, I’m not ready to share my secrets, so “truth” is out. And goodness only knows what this woman would dare me to do.
“Dare, then. Let’s see …” She rubs her chin as if she’s thinking hard.
“We’ll see nothing.”
“Okay, then, I’ll start. Truth or dare,” she says in a comically low voice.
I bark out a laugh. “Is that supposed to be my voice?”
“Yeah, was it good?”
She gives me a goofy smile, and I can’t help but laugh again.
“It was terrible. And fine. Truth or dare?”
“Dare!” she shouts gleefully.
“You’re driving a car. There’s not much I can dare you to do that won’t put our lives in danger.”
“Guess you’ll have to get creative, then.”
I look around the car, trying to find some inspiration. When my gaze lands on the radio, I get an idea, and I pop the tape out.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Melissa asks with narrowed eyes.
“Setting up my dare.” I wave the Paula Abdul tape in her face before shoving it into the tape player.
“Oooookay.”
I check the album liner and get the tape cued up to where I want it before ejecting it.
“Whatcha doing there, Bobby Joe?”
“I dare you to listen to ‘Straight Up’ and not sing along, bob your head, tap your hand on the steering wheel, nothing. You have to stay perfectly still and mute.”
Melissa’s eyes go wide. “Noooooooo. I’ll never make it!”
“You have to, because I double dog dare you.”
