Page 12 of Truth or More Truth
She gives me a pouty face that is ridiculously adorable, but I keep my face passive.
“Not the double dog dare!” she whines.
“Watch it, or I’ll triple dog dare.”
“Fine. What do I get if I succeed?”
“The satisfaction of knowing you can show a little bit of restraint.”
Melissa shakes her head. “There’s no satisfaction in that.”
I shrug. “Too bad. Those are the ‘Truth or Dare’ rules. I didn’t make them up.”
“It feels like you did, but I’ll play along. I’m gonna nail this.”
“I thought you said you’d never make it.”
“I’ve changed my mind.” She jabs a finger into the air. “I’ll make it if it’s the last thing I do.”
“I hope it’s not the last thing you do, because if so, we’re both in trouble.”
“Facts. Okay, play it.” She pretends to zip her lips and throw away the key before putting both hands on the steering wheel and staring straight ahead.
I push the tape back in, and when the music starts, I begin bobbing my head to the beat while keeping my eyes on her. Her eyes dart over to me for a second, and she smiles. Even though she doesn’t look at me again, her smile gets bigger as I start tapping my hand on my knee.
“No laughing either,” I say right before I start singing along to the chorus with gusto.
It’s all she can do to keep from laughing. Her stomach muscles are contracting so much her entire body is shaking.
“I said you can’t move!” I point at her with a big grin.
Somehow she makes it until the bridge without audibly laughing or moving in any other way, but she finally lets out a giant belly laugh and then sings along to the rest of the song.
“That was amazing!” she says through giggles when the next song starts. “I can’t wait to tell everybody about your singing performance.”
“You’re not tellinganybodyabout that.” I shake my head.
“That wasn’t part of the deal.”
“Hey, you lost the dare, so you’ll be keeping your mouth shut.”
“That’s not how it works!”
“It is now.”
“All right. If it means that much to you, Bobby Joe, I promise I won’t tell anyone about your excellent singing skills or your intimate knowledge of Paula Abdul lyrics.”
I honestly don’t care if she tells our friends about it, but I’m beginning to think she might keep my secrets.
five
. . .
“It’s your turn now, Bobby Joe,” I say. “Truth or dare?” I really hope he picks truth. I have so many questions I want to ask.
“Dare.”
I should’ve known. “Hmmm. What can I dare you to do that will fully humiliate you?”
