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

were sat on the kissing couch, the one sitting just a few feet behind Katia. I glance at it now and my smile cracks at the memory of that day.

I had put Katia and all of my memories of her in a box, mentally of course. Sometimes, the box would crack open by a hair's breadth and a flashback would sneak out. After a jab to the gut, I’d mentally shove it back inside and fasten thick leather straps around it.

Now, the box is made of iron steel, there’s a combination lock on it and it’s guarded by the most terrifying person my imagination could conjure up. Her father.

“I wanted to make sure you were okay with this.” Katia’s voice shatters my mental image of her father scowling at me, his black mustache twitching.

“I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” I say. The words come out like a succession of squeaks. This time Katia looks at me like she’s not fooled.

“Look. It’s Debbie and Mark’s day. Everyone is going to be so focused on them, we won’t need to do anything out of the ordinary,” I say. I lowered my voice, but now it’s too low to sound normal. For goodness sake, what’s wrong with me?

I take another sip of my coffee as if a shot of caffeine is going to calm my already-racing heart.

Katia flicks back her long hair. The sunshine pouring in through the windows kisses her right on her collarbone. My lips have brushed her there before. The thought does something funny to my stomach.

No. Stop thinking about it. I force myself to look up and meet her stare in an attempt to clear my head. She nods as if I’ve just imparted wisdom. But in all honesty, I’m not even sure what’s coming out of my mouth. I could be speaking gibberish for all I know. Seeing Katia here, dressed in a silk blouse and pencil skirt, is distracting.

Her hands are resting on the table. I cradle my cup in a bid to stop my hands from reaching for hers. I’ve heard of muscle memory before. Is that what this is? Sitting so far away from her feels weird and unnatural.

“We need to decide on a story, you know––to tell people when they ask.”

I blink several times, taking in her words. “Ask what?” I blurt, drawing a blank. Katia shakes her head with a laugh, a real one this time. It makes her nose wrinkle.

“How we got back together, silly.”

My heart simultaneously sinks and squeezes.

Katia

“Atlantic City, here we come!” Debbie shouts out of the open window as we drive away from my apartment. I grind my teeth and grip the steering wheel until the whites of my knuckles show, the memory of my conversation with Ryder on repeat in my head.

Debbie's twin radar picks up on my lack of enthusiasm. “You’re quiet. What’s wrong?” She asks.

“Nothing, you know I hate driving on the freeway.”

“That’s not it. Have you spoken to Ryder, yet?”

“I don’t get it, Deb. It’s your wedding. Why do you want Ryder and I to parade around like we’re in love when the day is all about you and Mark?”

Debbie sighs with an overly exaggerated eye roll. “We’ve been over this already, Kat.”

It’s true. Debbie wants as little attention on her as possible. The fact that they didn't book a fancy venue to invite hundreds of guests was all her doing. If she had it her way, they would have been married already––in secret––at a registry office.

But our dad would never forgive her. Mom might be okay with it, though. If she was any more laid back, she’d be lying down.

“I don’t get you two.”

“What?” I side-glance my sister with a frown then focus back on the road.

“Ryder and you,” Debbie says, as if those three words clear everything up. They don’t. I still have no idea what she’s talking about. Then Debbie huffs.

“You two were so close during high school. Now… You’re both single, living in the same city, and the sexual tension between you is off the charts!”

My cheeks burn as I wonder whether to argue or not. Is the tension between us so palpable that other people can sense it?

But then I get hit by a flashback of the stone-cold expression on Ryder's face just before he left for college. No warning. No hugs. Not even a final kiss.

The way he dropped me broke my heart into a million pieces. My first two semesters sucked because of him. In fact, looking back, it’s all just a haze of ice cream and crying into my pillow.

“Be serious, do you really want me to get back with Ryder?”

“Kat. Of all of us, you and Ryder were the obvious match. You two belong together.”

I swallow against the lump of emotion collecting in my throat. If I think about Ryder much longer, my eyes will grow misty and it'll be a struggle to see the road. “Okay. So what time is the flight coming in?” I say, switching the subject.

“Oh, please no,” Debbie whispers. There's a mass of people gathered outside the lobby. But in the darkness of the night, I can’t make out any faces.

“What’s wrong?” I ask. Then the headlights illuminate the crowd and my stomach starts doing standing backflips.

“When dad said he was bringing the family over from Italy… I didn’t know he meant the whole family.”

Debbie pats my leg a little too hard and shouts “Just drive!” like we're in a heist movie and I’m the getaway driver. I do as I’m told and keep moving forward until we go around the corner. Debbie’s aura turns panicked and her nervous energy starts to give me jitters.

I turn off the ignition and stare at her, stunned.

“No, no, no. This isn’t happening,” she moans into her hands. “This was supposed to be a small wedding.” She looks behind us, peeping through her fingers. “Do you think anyone saw us?”

I shrug, chewing my lip. “Deb. I can’t go through with this dare.”

Debbie’s hands drop and she looks at me as if I’ve just given