Page 37 of Hairpin Curves

“Because we’re not at my twelfth birthday party.” Megan stared fixedly ahead. Wait, had they actually played truth or dare at one of Megan’s birthday parties? Surely, Scarlett would have remembered. Although even she didn’t get up to much trouble at twelve.

“I’ll ask first.” Scarlett shifted to look at Megan. “Truth or dare?”

“Truth.”

“Are you just gonna pick truth every time?” Nothing ruined a truth or dare game like someone who wouldn’t do any of the dares.

Megan sniffed and raised her eyebrows. “Is that my question?”

“No. That’s not your question.” Scarlett considered. “How many people have you slept with?”

Megan paused, and it took Scarlett a second to realize she was counting. “Eight. And I would have just answered that question if you asked.”

“Eight?” Scarlett had been expecting three or maybe, maybe four, after the slow reveals she’d been getting about Megan’s past.

“Eight.” Megan’s expression was still carefully neutral. “Does that offend you?”

“Nah. Just surprised, that’s all.” Scarlett really didn’t know this girl. “Your turn.”

“Truth or dare?”

“Dare.”

“Okay. Um...” Megan trailed off.

“You suggested truth or dare and you don’t have any dares in mind?” Unbelievable.

“Shut up! I’m thinking.” Megan glanced over at her, then back at the road. “Wave enthusiastically at the next five cars we pass.”

“You have to go fast enough to pass someone first.”

Megan made another face. “Shut up. Just because I don’t drive like I want us to die in an accident.”

“You drive like you want us to die of old age.”

Megan laughed at her own roast. “Fuck you.”

Maybe to prove Scarlett wrong, she accelerated enough to pass another car on the highway. Scarlett rolled down the window to wave, giving an enthusiastic thumbs-up at the car they were driving past and the very confused driver, who waved back after a moment. Megan moved back into the slow lane after that and settled back to something near the speed limit, leaving Scarlett in no immediate danger of having to wave to anyone.

“Truth or dare?” Scarlett asked.

“You haven’t done your five.”

“And I’m not going to do my five until you drive faster.”

Megan sighed. “All right. Dare.”

“Sing along to the next song on your CD.”

“I’ve been singing along with the CDs. We both have.”

“But just you. Full voice. Whole song.” Scarlett wasn’t really sure why she was asking for this, when it wasn’t like it was challenging for Megan or anything. Maybe that’s why she was doing it.

Megan made another confused face. “Okay. Fine.”

The next song was “Kiss Me Deadly” by Lita Ford, and Megan leaned into it without any hesitation from that opening high note and onto the wailing, punk rock chorus. Damn, she was good. Scarlett could listen to her all day. Maybe that was the reason behind all of this. Maybe she just wanted to hear Megan sing.

The song ended, and Megan let the CD keep playing, but turned the volume down. Instead of asking Scarlett “Truth or dare,” she stayed quiet. “I like hearing you sing,” Scarlett said at last to break the silence.