“The town, I mean.” He shrugs. “I don’t know, I guess I figured I’d find strip malls and a fucking Walmart when I got back here for some reason.”
“There’s a Starbucks now, apparently. Out on Reed Road.”
He makes a face.
“Yeah, seriously. Watch out, this town’s on the up.”
He laughs as he raises his beer. “Well, cheers to Shelter Harbor finally getting itself on the fucking chain coffee-retail map.”
I snort a laugh as I clink my bottle to his before taking a sip.
This is easy. It’s easy to lapse into this sort of rapport with him. So easy that the first beer goes easy, but I hesitate when he passes me a second.
He shrugs as he starts to pull it away. “No problem.”
“You know what, sure.”
What am I doing?
I’m alone, on a deserted beach, with Silas Hart.
And I’m drinking.
What good do I possibly think could happen from this?
“Remember those bonfires we used to have down here?”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, stupid high school parties. Someone always ended up puking or naked.”
He laughs.
“God, or truth or dare.”
He grins. “Hey, I loved playing that.”
I give him a look. “Yeah, because you always took the dare.”
“Yep,” he winks at me.
I shrug. “Well, we could play now.”
Silas eyes me. “Well, well, well, Hammond.”
“What?”
He grins. “Nothing, you’re just not really a truth or dare type girl.”
I shrug casually. “You don’t know that.”
“I thought I did.”
“Well maybe I’ve changed.”
He eyes me for a second, half-smirking, before he nods. “Fine. Truth or dare.”
“No fair!” I push his arm, grinning. “I’m going first.”
He laughs. “Be my guest.”
“Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
I blink, surprised, and he grins. “Weren’t expecting that, were you.”
I wasn’t.
But I shrug it off as causally as I can.
“Did you ever kill anyone while you were way?”
My eyes go wide, taken aback at my own words, and I bring my hand to my mouth.
“Ohmygod, I’m so sorry! That-”
“Wow, Ivy,” he chuckles. “You got deep on the first round there.”
I shake my head still covering my mouth. “That’s none of my business, God, I’m sorry that was a stupid-”
“No,” he laughs. “Jesus Christ, no.” He shrugs. “Got in some fights, but no, Ivy. I’ve never killed anyone.”
He gives me a look as he grins and sips his beer, shaking his head.
“Truth or dare, Debbie Downer.”
I poke at the sand by my feet with a finger.
“Truth.”
“Ever thought of me while you were masturbating?”
My face goes bright red as I jerk my head up to stare at him.
“Are you kidding me?”
“Well shit! You asked me if I committed fucking murder!”
My face goes red.
“Ivy…” he teases, grinning wickedly at me as he wags his eyebrows.
“I…I don’t know,” I mutter.
“It’s truth or dare, Ivy.”
I look away sipping at my beer.
“Maybe.”
He chuckles. “Ivy-”
“Okay fine, yes.”
He’s silent, and when I turn back, he’s smirking at me smugly, his hand pushing through his hair.
“Oh yeah?”
I scowl at him. “Yeah, and it was awful.”
He laughs, his eyes dipping over me as his brows shoot up again.
“Oh shut up.” I stick my tongue out at him. “Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
“Again?”
“I’m full of surprises.”
“Fine. Have you?”
“Have I what.”
I blush, almost not believing that I’m actually asking him this.
“Ever, you know, thought of me when you…” I trail off as he meets my eye.
“All the time.”
I look away, my face hot. But when I turn back, he’s still right there, looking right at me.
“Well then…” I mumble, swallowing thickly.
Silas smiles. “Truth or dare.”
I don’t think I can take what he tosses my way next in the truths department.
“Ugh, fine. Dare.”
His lips curl devilishly. “You sure about that?”
No.
“Yep,” I say defiantly.
He shrugs, leaning back against the log behind him.
“I dare you strip down and go skinny dipping.”
My jaw drops. “I will not!”
“Hey, you said dare.”
“Yeah, but it’s dark!”
“I’ll go with you if you want.”
The smirk on his face says he’s only half kidding.