Truth or Dare: A Sweet Romantic Comedy Collection by Laura Burton (free ebook reader for ipad txt) 📗

of my lips tug upward as I approach the hot tub. A gazebo covers the tub, fitted with a string of fairy lights. But it’s not dark enough to turn them on yet.

A twig snaps underneath my foot, prompting Cameron to swivel around and look at me. It takes every ounce of my self-control not to wince as I stoop down and pluck the stick from my skin.

“Hey,” I say, trying to sound breezy as I glance at my foot to check for bleeding. Thankfully there isn't any.

“Why are you hiding?”

I look up to meet Cameron’s stare, heat rising to my face. “What?”

His eyes lower from my face. “Haven’t you had that giraffe towel since like the seventh grade?”

I feel myself blushing fully now. In my excitement, I grabbed the first towel in my cupboard, not paying attention to which one I picked.

I shrug. “I like this towel.”

It’s true. But now I’m starting to think I need to go to the mall and upgrade my wardrobe. I’ve never been a mall girl, always choosing comfort over fashion.

Cameron knows that, and he rolls his eyes with a shake of the head. “Whatever, are you coming in?”

“Yes, scoot over.”

I slide into the hot tub, doing my best to keep my footing. Cameron has it on the most intense setting, and the jets bombard my body like twenty gnomes beating a punching bag. Once under the water though, the sensation is no longer irritating, and the heat washes over me, relaxing my muscles with immediate effect.

“We should have come out here last night,” I say, resting my head on the edge of the tub and closing my eyes. A low rumbling hum prompts me to blink and look at Cameron. His muscular shoulders are peeping out from the foaming water and he's grinning at me like a Cheshire cat.

“Nice to see you acting more normal.”

I frown, but he’s right. It’s not until now, with my tension melting away from every inch of my body, that I realize just how uptight I’ve been.

“What’s got you so stressed out, anyway?” Cameron asks, following my thoughts. I puff air from my cheeks and shut my eyes again. Oddly enough, if I don’t look at him, I feel more courage to be honest. “This dare thing… I was so excited about it, but now I’m just…”

“You know what?” Cameron begins. I snap my eyes open and see him leaning forward. His hands find mine beneath the water and he gives me a hard look.

“We’re not in college anymore, backing out of a dare isn’t the end of the world.”

He squeezes my hands, but I can’t help but frown even deeper. If I backed out of my one chance to break down the friendship barriers with Cameron, it will be the end of the world. Or my world, at least.

He’s had girlfriends through college. I dated around too. We’re finally both single, back in the same city, and setting up our adult lives. Pretty soon, one of us will end up in a serious relationship.

And once that happens, we will never be together.

I picture a tall athletic blonde on his arm, stroking his chest and flicking back her hair with a giggle at one of his jokes. We’re at a party, and a shiny ring is sitting on her wedding ring finger.

The image lights a fire in my stomach, and all of my thoughts evaporate. No more thinking. No more nerves.

I tug on his hands and lean over the steam to meet his lips. Maybe the heat is getting to my head? Everything is fuzzy. I drag my hands through his damp hair and press my lips on his, testing the proverbial waters.

He responds. His nose nuzzles my cheek and he sucks on my bottom lip in a way that makes me want to scream.

He grips the back of my neck and the two of us moan, in unison. No teeth clashing. No fumbling.

This kiss is steamy. The bubbles lick at our heated bodies as we lose ourselves in the moment. I’m beginning to wonder if I’ve actually done it, if those walls have come crashing down, when I lose my footing and crash to the bottom of the hot tub.

The jets blast my face, pushing me back to the surface, as a pair of strong hands lift me by my arms.

“Are you okay?” Cameron’s worried face comes into view and I blink water out of my eyes. “I’m––I’m fine,” I splutter. I want to say, “Where were we?” and get back to kissing, but Cameron lets go of me and backs away, settling on the other side of the tub again.

He rubs his mouth with the back of his hand and I can’t decide if he’s disgusted or just deep in thought.

“Everything okay?” I ask, my stomach knotting. Cameron’s face breaks into a smile and he looks at me again.

“Fine… We both forgot to set up the camera.”

My face falls. If that’s his first thought after that kiss, then I’m not out of the friendzone. What the heck is it going to take to get out? What is this friendship box made of? Iron steel?

If I want Cameron to be mine, it’s going to take more than one short steamy kiss.

Cameron

There are a million reasons why I shouldn’t be with Holly. Her rich parents expect her to be with someone established, successful and, - most importantly - rich.

In addition to that, she wants to travel the world shooting movies, walking on red carpets, and telling funny stories on late-night TV shows.

I want to stay in the city teaching kids how to use acting to build their confidence the way I did when I was in school.

I've spent so many years pretending; I don’t even know who the real Cameron is.

During the whole of middle school, I was the kid with a stutter. The other kids laughed at me, so I avoided any opportunity to speak or stand in the spotlight. Drawing attention put me in the firing line for more ridicule.

Then I met my first love, drama.