“Well, we'll play the classic truth or dare. You know how that works, right?”
“I do, though it's been a long time since I played. I think the last time was in middle school. How do we add the drinking into it?”
“Alright, so let's say it's your turn. I say to you, 'Truth or dare?' and you have to pick one of those options. If you pick truth, I ask you a question and you have to tell me the truth. If you choose dare, you have to do whatever dare I suggest. Now, here’s the drinking part. If you don't wanna tell the truth, or don't wanna do the dare, you have to drink a large gulp of wine. Got it?”
“Yeah, sounds easy enough. So, who's gonna go first?”
Emerson took a quarter out of his pocket. “I'll flip a coin. Loser goes first.”
“Deal.”
He grinned as he positioned the coin on top of his thumbnail. “Heads or tails?” he asked.
“Heads.”
He flipped the coin up into the air, caught it and slapped it into the palm of his left hand. He kept it covered for a few tantalizing seconds before he revealed the outcome. “Ha!” he exclaimed. “It's tails! Looks like you're up first, Brooke. So, what's it gonna be? Truth or dare?”
I sipped on my wine before answering. “Truth.”
“Alright. I'll start off mild, ease you into the game. So, my question for you is: How old were you when you had your first kiss?”
I chuckled. “Alright, that’s easy enough. I'll answer that one. I was thirteen.”
“Thirteen, huh? And, who was it with?”
“Um, you only get one question, mister. Nice try.”
“Yeah, you're right, you're right, I was pushing it there.”
I smiled. “But I’m feeling generous. I'll tell you anyway. His name was Jimmy Chamberlain. He lived down the street from me at the time. There were some woods near our house. He and I used to go to the woods to catch fireflies in jars
in the evenings. So, one evening we were out with our jars sitting on this old fallen tree trunk when this huge swarm of fireflies came through the trees. It was amazing. Looked like something out of a movie. I remember watching in awe, looking at all these little insects drifting through the trees like floating stars. We were so amazed that we didn't even try to catch any of them. We just sat in silence watching this spectacle unfold. Before I realized it, we were holding hands and the next thing I knew… Well, my first kiss.”
Emerson smiled warmly. “That actually does sound like something out of a movie,” he said. “What ever happened to little Jimmy?”
“Oh, I dunno. My family moved soon after that, and we didn't stay in touch.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah,” I sighed dramatically. “Young love. I guess it just wasn't meant to be. Anyway, enough about my sad love life. It's your turn. So, truth or dare?”
He fired a cheeky smile at me. “I'm gonna go with dare.”
“Alright, mister! Give me a moment to think of something suitable.” I scrunched my nose as I thought. “Got it. Ready?”
“As I’m gonna get.”
“I dare you to walk out on the balcony, do a Tarzan yell as loud as you can, then announce to the neighbors that Brooke is the best neighbor ever! Loudly.”
He grinned and complied without hesitating. When he returned to the couch, I was laughing hysterically.
“If the cops are called, I’m telling them you did it,” he announced as he sat down.
I just shook my head and tried to stop laughing. “They’d never believe me. My Tarzan cry isn’t nearly as good as yours,” I admitted.
“Yeah, yeah. Well, put your money where your mouth is. Take a dare,” he taunted.
“Fine. Dare.” The word slipped out before I even thought about it.