Page 139 of Resurgent

“This doesn’t involve you.”

Theo shrugs. “Annalise is a big, tough girl. I'm sure she can take care of herself and doesn’t need to ask you for permission.”

The air changes instantly as Matt's smile disappears and the rest of us forget how to breathe.

“Don't,” he warns. “You don't know what you're talking about.”

I reach over and catch Matt's wrist before he can say anything else. “Mattey, he doesn’t know. You know that.”

His jaw tightens as Theo's expression shifts.

“Know what?” Theo asks, understandably confused.

“Anything it seems…” Matt shoots back, a look of challenge in his eyes.

Thankfully, we’re saved from any other outbursts when Ian clears his throat. “So...the weather…”

Emily jumps in immediately. “Who wants another round?”

“Drinks, yes!” Sasha cheers brightly. “Everyone’s just thirsty! We need drinks!”

“I’ll take another beer,” Ian calls before Theo and Matt grumble that they’d like the same.

“I'll help,” Emily says, ready to escape.

Ian nods toward me. “You?”

“Margarita.”

Sasha’s already to her feet. “Don’t worry, I’ve got it! Extra tequila. No salt.”

When they return a few minutes later, Matt, Theo, and I are still sitting in an uncomfortable silence.

It isn’t until Emily places my glass in front of me that Matt finally cracks a smile. “That's going to end badly.”

“I can handle one margarita.”

“You can…it’s the fact that this is your second that has me concerned,” he laughs, bumping my arm.

I took a sip, and it’s absolutely perfect!

Sasha raised her glass. “To questionable friends, questionable choices, and whatever the hell else we’re about to do. May the consequences be someone else’s problem. Skibble and prosper, bitches!”

We all clink glasses, and thankfully Theo takes the hint and doesn’t ask what skibble means when I shake my head.

The night gets progressively louder after that.

The card game dissolves into old memories being told—several at my expense. Sasha somehow manages to knock over her drink twice and insists the table is moving.

Then, somewhere between another round and a very heated argument over whether a three-minute-long hug is considered cuddling if you’re standing, Sasha claps her hands and declares we’re now playing truth or dare.

Matt groans. Theo blushes. And Emily's eyes light up.

“Oh, yes.”

“Yes,” Sasha confirms. “So, Lee. Which is it: Truth or Dare?

“Truth.”