Truth or Dare: A Sweet Romantic Comedy Collection by Laura Burton (i read a book TXT) 📕

I thought that studying behavioral psychology would help me figure out how to calm my overactive brain and take more risks. All it's done so far is fuel me with justifications for my obsession with being prepared for every worst-case scenario.

However, I am taking more risks.

This weekend, for example, will change everything. Jonah and I will be thrown together and bond in a way that can only end in three little words. The words that make me swoon when the hero says them at the end of a movie.

The words that tell me someone out there who does not share my blood, wants to be with me forever and ever.

Or at least until I gain twenty pounds or a pretty young woman starts working in their office.

Be quiet, right brain. Nobody needs your skepticism today. 

I buckle my lap belt and pull it tight as the engines begin to rumble.

“Good evening passengers onboard flight 626 Newark to Hawaii,” a voice announces through the PA system. “We at Tropical Airlines would like to thank you for choosing to fly with us tonight...”

The cabin crew line the aisles to carry out their safety demonstration and I kick back my water like it’s a shot of vodka. As if chugging a bottle of water will fool my brain into thinking I'm drinking alcohol. Right now, I need a courage boost.

But here’s the truth about placebos––you need to be ignorant to the fact you’re taking them for them to work.

So the drink does nothing to help and only adds to my anxiety because now I have to pee, and the seatbelt sign is still on.

“Calm down,” Jonah mutters to me, placing his hand over mine.

“What are you talking about? I’m fine,” I say. But my voice comes out so high; I can’t blame Jonah for looking at me like I'm the biggest liar on the planet.

“You’re making my seat shake with all the trembling,” he whispers before pressing his lips to my temple. The chaste kiss is purely platonic, and so is the squeeze of his hand over mine. But his actions only remind me of the very reason we are on this plane in the first place.

The dare.

We agreed to pose as a couple and spend the weekend at a resort in Hawaii. There we will take classes and participate in activities just for couples, designed to teach people what it takes to make a relationship work. The dare; don’t fall in love.

My plan, of course, is for him to fail miserably so that we can return to New York as two crazy lovebirds.

I’ve successfully paired two couples. Now it’s my turn to find Mr. Right. I look over to the fine specimen of a man sitting next to me.

Jonah White.

We met at Glee club, and I loved the way he sang––so much energy and passion. We went on one date in our senior year––prom.

I don’t like thinking back to prom night though, because that was a total disaster.

College took us to opposite sides of the country, but I never stopped thinking about Jonah.

Now that we're back together––living in the same city and reconnecting with our group of misfit friends––it's our time.

Another reason I want to go to this couples’ retreat is I want to see if Jonah and I have what it takes to make a relationship last. Call me paranoid, but my parents do not make the best example. My dad left my mom for his secretary, who is the same age as me. Understandably, my mom has sworn off dating for the rest of her life.

Jonah’s heart has been through the wringer as well. Last summer, he proposed to his college girlfriend, Tessa. Jonah being Jonah, he took Tessa to their favorite restaurant and sang out his proposal like he was Zac Efron in High School Musical. From what I heard, people were staring, and Tessa didn’t like the attention. Besides, only Zac Efron can get away with bursting out into song in public. People recorded the whole thing and put it up online. Now, the video is out there for everyone to see. Just search “Proposal FAIL: loser sings to his girlfriend and gets DUMPED." It went viral.

Shortly after that, Jonah left Colorado and came home to New York, totally heartbroken. The experience sort of helped us get closer though. I know a thing or two about public humiliation, thanks to prom. But honestly, I want more than friendship.

I turn to look at Jonah’s side profile. He's watching a movie. His thick brows furrow and I want to trace a line down his forehead, over his defined nose, and stop on his juicy lips. But I restrain myself and hold still. I can still see traces of hurt between his brows ––a new worry line with Tessa’s name on it.

I make a silent promise to myself to bring Jonah back fully healed. In no time, he’ll be saying “Tessa who?” and someday soon we’ll sing a duet at our engagement party.

Jonah

I don’t know what game Michelle is playing, but I know she’s playing us. Her friends, that is. First of all, I don’t believe for a second that this Truth or Dare challenge is all part of her thesis. I can’t imagine her handing in work for her Masters with an outline of a juvenile game she played with her friends to prove whatever hypothesis she claims she's gunning for. And what hypothesis is it? People fall in love under the right conditions is my best guess. I also find it highly suspect that the first two couples to play the game are now in a serious relationship––heartbreak is on the horizon. I have personally had enough heartbreak to last a lifetime. So I'll have to be on my guard.

The thought makes me think of junior high when we all had to grow sunflowers.

If the conditions are right, the seed will eventually grow and bloom into a big yellow flower. Everyone succeeded, except me. Just as mine