Page 16 of One More Dare
Which is true. Mostly. I think.
Fuck, I don’t know what’s going on. Am I flirting with Porter? No, that wouldn’t make sense. I’m just trying to be his friend… even if I don’t talk to my other friends like that.
He watches me curiously for a long moment. “Alright, well, in case you were actually looking for an answer, no, it’s not an option, so keep it in your pants. I’m not interested in being anyone’s experiment.”
“Understood, but I wasn’t,” I assure him with an awkward laugh. “Sorry if I made things weird.”
“Nah, I don’t always have the best filter either, I get it. So are we dancing or what?”
I’m not opposed. “I don’t think you’re ready for these moves,” I answer with a more genuine laugh this time, shaking my hips.
He smirks and shakes his head. “Oh, I think I can handle you.”
I’m back to grinning. “You’re going to regret this, I’m sure.”
“Oh, I already regret lots of things,” Porter replies cheerfully, tugging me toward the dance floor. “One more won’t kill me.”
I’ve always enjoyed dancing at bars. It’s freeing being in a crowd where everyone lets go and embraces the music. The carefree way Porter is moving makes me think the alcohol is hitting him just as hard as it’s hitting me. With his arms raised and his loose black crop top, his bare skin is on display, demanding attention. He certainly has mine. He’s nodding his head to the beat, smiling at me, and it warms something in my chest.
We aren’t touching, just dancing near each other, and it must be because I don’t usually dance with so much space between me and another person that I feel a tiny urge to pull him closer to me. I shake that thought loose, though. I don’t need to be touching him.
Porter asked me to dance. He wants me here with him—that’s all that matters.
9
PORTER
“Hi, I’m Josie!” my best friend says to Will, who’s dancing beside me with plenty of space between us, as she approaches us. Her tone is awfully nice after giving me such a hard time about being friendly with him the other day. But who am I to judge? Even if he’s attempting to make up for his past mistakes now, I did forgive him pretty quickly.
“Will,” he introduces.
“Mhm, I know about you,” she says in a tight yet overly cheery voice that’s so fake. I bite back a laugh because it’s very classic Josie. “And I’m sure you remember our sweet, dear friend, Abbey.”
“Josie!” Abbey warns, reaching out to grab her arm.
“What! I just want to make sure he rememberswhyhe’s now gotten multiple drinks thrown on him,” Josie directs to Will with a shit-stirring grin.
I don’t know what I’m feeling right now, but part of me kind of wants to defend Will. On the other hand, Will’s a big boy, and he can stand up for himself.
Besides, I don’t owe him any loyalty.
“Water under the bridge, seriously. No hard feelings.” Abbey offers a quick, small smile.
“For what it’s worth, I am sorry. I learned a lot about setting clear expectations from you.”
“Well, that’s good then,” Abbey dismisses, then turns to talk to Ty—the winter break crush that seems to be goingverywell.
Will leans in so only I hear him. “Okay, now I see what you meant about the strikes. Please tell me there’s nothing else I did to already earn a third one?”
“Nope,” I answer quickly, going up on my toes to speak near his ear in the crowded bar. “That’s why I’m giving you the chance to redeem yourself in the first place.”
“Ready for another shot?” Josie interrupts, giving me a questioning look as her eyes bounce back and forth between Will and me.
“As long as it isn’t that same disgusting concoction as last time.”
She smirks, heading to the bar with Carrie while Will and I keep dancing. They really seem to also be hitting it off, and I try to shake off the loneliness that’s attempting to creep in. I’m single by choice. It’s better that way. Easier. Safer.
“Tequila this time. You’re welcome!” Josie announces, pulling me out of my head, and I plaster on a smile.
