The Truth in a Dare

Chapter 8

"Alright gang, we got everything we need?" My Mom asks as she checks through all the luggage in the trunk of the van.

"Yes, Mom. I sweat I have double checked every single possible thing," I reassure my Mom and she suddenly gasps.

"I forgot the supplies for tomorrow's breakfast in the kitchen!" she exclaims and rushes back into the kitchen as I hear another car pull into the driveway and Evan hops out. 

"Good morning, babe," he greets me and I glare at him warningly.

"Watch it, smooth talker," I warn him as he comes up behind me and breaths heavily into my ear.

"Remember we have to make it seem real," he whispers into my ear and chills run down my spine. I try my hardest to cover them up and luckily, Evan wasn't paying that much attention. He was looking at the mound of luggage in front of us. Why did I get chills anyway? I didn't like him that way.

"This is the lightest year for luggage yet," I announce and Evan looks at me incredulously.

"Seriously? That's at least 12 suitcases! And you only have five people in your family," He points out and I laugh at his attempt to understand why we would need this many.

"My Mom's always in charge of entertainment, so most of these cases are full of games and equipment for other things," I say vaguely, trying not to give away any of the activities we usually do at this three-day-two-night reunion. I kinda wanted it to be a surprise for Evan since he was new to all this. This will probably be the only time he's coming as well.

"What things?" he begins to interrogate me and I turn to face him, placing one finger on his lips.

"Ah, you see, that's a surprise. Now hush. We're supposed to travel together in your car because the twins want more room in the back," I reply, slowly pulling my finger off his lips causing him to smile mischievously. He had a gleam in his eye as I held eye contact and walked backward toward his car with my duffel bag.

"Alright, if I have to," he moans and I chuckle.

"You're ridiculous," I poke at him while I open the passenger door and throw my bag in the back.

"You mean ridiculously hot?" he turns it back around on me causing me to roll my eyes at his ego.

"You have the largest ego on the planet," I sling back as I buckle up and he starts the car.

"You have the worst eyes on the planet," he fires back and I become almost offended.

"What?" I ask, taken by surprise.

"I thought we were playing some sort of lying game," he blurts and I stare at him for a second, ever more surprised. He could be so cryptic sometimes.

"Okay, so it's a four-hour drive out to my grandparents' ranch where everybody's going to be staying and I haven't had lunch yet so we're going to have to stop and get that," I change the subject as quickly as I can and it seems like he barely noticed.

"Let me guess, your grandparents are rich and kind country folk with lots of hospitality?" he infers and I chuckle.

"It's like you've known them for years!" I joke and we both laugh as we pull out of my neighborhood and out into the highway.

"Ya know, I was actually looking forward to this," Evan suddenly announces and I look to him almost confused.

"Don't get too attached. If this plan doesn't work, then it's splitsville," I remind him but he doesn't reply with an 'I know' or an 'Okay! I promise!'.

"So exactly where is this ranch I must drive us too?" he steers the conversation in another direction and I try to act like I didn't notice the sharp turn of topics. And that's when we begin to come up to the city limits sign. 

"Say goodbye to White Sulphur Springs for the weekend!" I shout out as I wave goodbye to the sign and pull out my phone to take a picture with Evan. I wanted Kayden to know that I was spending the weekend with someone other than him. 

And while I smile, Evan suddenly plants his lips on my cheek. They were soft and warm like the breeze and it made my cheeks brighten just the slightest. Before I could say anything, my clicks the button and the picture is taken. Evan then takes it and posts it on every single social media network that he could find.

"Thanks. You definitely convinced people that we're spending the weekend together," I joke and he cackles wildly.

"Well, I had to make it obvious to Kayden and Patricia that we were taken for the weekend," he replies defensively and I laugh along with him.

"Well, I think everyone in town will know now," I add in while I roll down my window all the way and breathe in the fresh beginning of autumn air. The whips through my hair and I reach my arm out the window to catch more breeze as we pass by cars on the highway. 

"You're not one for a quiet road trip are you?" he guesses as I crank up the radio to a good song that comes on. I nod my head eagerly and put on the pair of sunglasses I brought with me, settling into my seat for the rest of the drive.

"What fun is a quiet road trip?" I crack a mischevious smile and he rolls down his window as well, grinning at me as he does.