Page 16 of About That Pact

This one made Jason and Rachel put down a finger. It also made the conversation switch to tattoos and what theirs were.

Charlotte gave herself a mental high-five.

Rachel clapped her hands. “I have a one. Never have I ever had a friend with benefits.”

Everyone but Rachel put their finger down.

Charlotte was happy the attention was off her, but she called bullshit on Rachel. “There is no way you’ve never had a friend with benefits.”

“It’s true. I have either been in serious relationship, a casual fling, or a one-night stand. Never a friend with benefits.”

Jason grinned. “You need me on so many levels. I am a friend, I can give you benefits, and I own a sleeping bag.”

Rachel pretended to think about his offer.

“You’re missing out,” Charlotte’s brother flirted. “Okay, never have I ever had sex in public.”

This game was slowly giving away Charlotte’s secrets. With this one, though, she needed clarity. “I can’t believe I’m asking my big brother this, but what constitutes as sex in public?”

They all sniggered, even Jada who was the sweetest person alive.

“I have a valid point,” she continued. “Are we talking public, like you got arrested for it and now you need to register as a sex offender? If that’s the case, I am concerned why you’re all laughing. That’s a serious offense.”

Their server brought over another round of shots, probably because of Rafe. Or her brother. Who knew at this point?

They took their shots as they talked, no longer playing the game. Rafe whispered in her ear, “Charlie, you had sex in public.”

“You don’t know that,” she hissed back.

“I do because I was there,” he said with a sexy-as-sin smile on his face.

The noise continued to get louder by the minute, and Charlotte was grateful because no one else at the table heard Rafe.

“Why would you bring that up?” she whisper-yelled him.

He casually took a gulp of his drink, his eyes never leaving her. “Why wouldn’t I? It’s the truth.”

A truth they weren’t supposed to discuss. A truth that had changed everything between them. A truth that had broken her heart. Pretty much, a truth she would rather pretend never happened.

“Well, no use in reliving the past and all. It’s not like it meant anything.”

Rafe’s body tensed at her words. His stormy gaze prickled over her body, making her fully aware he didn’t like her minimizing what had happened between them.

“It didn’t mean anything?” he demanded.

This conversation was rehashing an old wound. She rummaged around her purse until she found her phone to order a Lyft.

“We both knew what it meant,” she responded, desperate for him to drop the topic.

This was the defense mechanism she always fell back on wherever Rafe was concerned. Down play everything so she didn’t get hurt.

“Did we?” Rafe lifted her chin so she was looking at him again.

Her phone dinged. Her ride was there to take her home.

She clapped loudly to get the attention of the table.

“Happy Memorial Day. It’s officially after midnight, so I am going home. My ride is here.”