14. knife in the gut, let them bleed out.
First up, Vince, picks up the chit that said "Stop the music and sing on the microphone dedicating the song to a stranger," he declared, his voice filled with determination and a hint of nervous excitement. He then strutted confidently onto the dance floor, seizing the microphone. “this song is dedicated to the dude with the yellow shirt and bald spot. I miss you babe please take me back” everyone in the group chuckled. He sang I want it that way and pointed at the unexpected stranger, during the first verse he managed to hold the strangers had and while singing the chorus he was rubbing the unexpected guy’s bald spot. It was unnecessarily funny. With a wink and a nod, he sprinted back to the table, plopped down on the sofa and grinned back at us. I was in awe.
Mila drew the next chit from Anderson's bag, "Use a stranger as your pole while you pole dance in the middle of the dance floor," she declared, I laughed at the ridiculousness of the dares.
With a playful twinkle in her eye, Mila approached a stranger and, with a winning smile, invited them to join her in a daring dance routine unlike any other. With a nod of agreement, the stranger eagerly joined Mila, who would refuse her when she looked like a model with her pink short skirt and a tube top. Their bodies moved in perfect sync as they twirled and gyrated to the pulsating beat of the music. She whispered something in his ear and after that he stood completely still. She hopped on his and hung onto him, then got down and rotated around his while twirling her hips, the whole thing was funny yet mesmerizing.
I went next, my chit said "Approach a stranger you find attractive and ask them to rate your flirting skills out of 10." I looked up to find Chase scowling at that, Anderson whispered in my ear, “jealousy is a fun emotion when you're not the one feeling it.”
I laughed, took a deep breath and made my way across the crowded dance floor, With a playful smile I made my way to the bar and found a cute enough stranger seated near the end of the bar. With a playful smile, I leaned in closer, catching his eye as then twirled a strand of my hair between my fingers. "Mind if I join you?" I said in a low voice, giggling inside my head to how ridiculous it might look. He motioned to the empty seat beside him and turned towards me, "Not at all," he smiled, his gaze lingering on me with unabashed admiration. "I was just about to order another round. Care to join me?" he said and motioned for the waiter to come over. My breath mingling with his in the intimate space between us. "I'd love to," I murmured, and raised my glass in a playful toast. "To unexpected encounters and the thrill of the unknown.” He smiled. I touched his arm a few times and after a bit of back and forth I told him what’s up. He laughed and told me it was too good to be true anyway and rated me a 10 on the napkin and I beelined towards the table.
“Chase could not keep the eyes off you. We need girl time to decipher what’s up” Payton said
“Yeah, much needed” I agreed
Next up was Payton. With a wink and a grin, she selected his chit and read aloud the dare, "Kiss a stranger and their significant other." The challenge was met with nervous laughter from the group, but Payton, never one to shy away from a dare, accepted it with gusto.
she scanned the crowd until her gaze landed on a couple engaged in a lively conversation, “watch this.” She said . With a smooth approach and a charming smile, she boldly planted a quick peck on the lips of the unsuspecting couple, leaving them stunned but smiling as he retreated with a triumphant grin. It was Vince’s turn to scowl. When he made I eye contact with me I just smiled. He blushed. Chase stood behind me and leaned towards my ear to whisper, “Payton does not know about him.” Shocked I turned towards him.
“how the fuck it’s so obvious!” I exclaimed, all the booze wore off after my conversation with him in the mirrored room. I faked my drinks after that.
“you find it obvious because it’s not you. If it was you even a neon sign{write something funnier} would be no detectable as a sign.”
“makes sense, but can I ask her?”
“well no one has tried it, Payton usually keeps to herself. I think if you ask she might open up. Better to open up to an unknown person than your other half right?” he gleamed
“I cannot believe you're using my tactic against me. I wish I knew how things would turn out the day I met you.”
“ I just-“ he started but Anderson asked him to pull the last chit.
"Find someone wearing the same colour as you and switch your clothes in the middle of the dance floor," Anderson announced with a twinkle in his eye towards Chase. Huh. Wait. He has to change in front of people. Jealously. A nasty emotion.
Chase turned towards me, “I never lose club dare val, but if there is any reason you don’t want me to do this dare, you tell me right now and we walk out of here.”
“what would happen if you lose?” I asked considering. Not sharing him to the world, because even undecided I was selfish without restraint to cut people looking at him.
“Anderson gets the next kill. But I can live with that.”
Dilemma.
I hated dilemmas.
“let’s leave.” I decided and with one curt nod he threw his chit and we exited the club. I didn’t know where we were going, but in that moment, the only thing that I knew was my wanted Chase in my life.
We entered Mila’s house as Chase knew all her passcodes. The gang wanted to stay a bit longer at the club but Chase and I were both done after that intense round. It was quiet. Too quiet. I could hear my own heartbeat. We went into the kitchen. I sat on one of the platforms as Chase poured glasses of water for us.
“thanks.” I said and chugged the water.
“so.” He stated rubbing the back of his neck. After an intense night all I wanted right now is to get out of these clothes and sit in silence.
“I need to get out of this.” I said. He smirked.
“I’m down to watch” he took a step forward, I playfully smacked his arm, “shut up” I mumbled.
“wait. Sit right there.” He said and ran out of the kitchen and I think I heard the main door close. I took sips of the water and checked the damage done by my makeup.
I texted my people I was secure in the house and then our girl group to get updates. They had just left the club. It would take them 20 minutes to reach Mila’s.
Chase came back with a black Nike duffle bag.
“here” he handed it to me.
I opened the bag and my heart melted.