Chapter 7: The Dare

Dinner was lake trout, wild rice and candles in jam jars.

Vera had put all six of us at one long table under amber light.

Winston and I sat at the head, side by side, because of the card.

The camera on its tripod pointed straight at us.

I wore the green dress with the open back.

Winston wore a white shirt buttoned to the throat, with the bandage showing at his cuff.

He had not looked at my back once. I knew, because I had checked.

"Okay," Vera said, tapping her glass. "Dare round!"

She had the salad bowl again.

It was now full of folded cards, each with a red heart sticker.

"Rules are the rules. Every dare is drawn at random, nobody refuses, and everything is on camera."

"Random," I said.

"Totally," said Vera, and handed me the bowl.

I drew a card without looking at the others in it.

I unfolded it and read it aloud for the lens.

"Kiss your swap partner for thirty seconds. Hands above the collar. No pillows."

The table went loud.

Casper whooped. Melina went white. Across from me Tyler set his fork down very carefully.

Vera clapped her hands against her chest.

"Oh my God. That one. That's the best one."

I looked at the card. It was in her round handwriting, with the heart in the corner.

I looked at Winston.

He had gone absolutely still, with his water glass halfway to his mouth.

"Do you want to do this?" I said, low enough that only he could hear.