Truth or Dare: A Sweet Romantic Comedy Collection

by Laura Burton

  “Please remove your outer clothes, and we will begin. Who wants to be massaged first?” she says softly.

  I pull my shirt over my head and drop it on the ground next to me without another thought, but when I look up, Michelle hasn’t moved. She's staring at me like a deer in headlights.

  “You okay?” I ask. The question jolts her. She blinks a few times and forces a laugh.

  “Sure, I’ll just erm…” she says. Then she starts to fiddle with the ties on her dress.

  Watching Michelle undress in these circumstances feels wrong. So I avert my eyes and focus on getting ready. As we awkwardly go about stripping down to our swimwear, Jameela watches us, unabashed.

  Now I'm sitting in my black swim shorts. I do my best to relax and swallow the wad of spit that's suddenly gathered in my mouth. The Hawaiian heat and the burning incense bring sweat to the surface of my skin and I'm almost breathless, looking at Michelle.

  Her dress falls to her waist, revealing a black and white polka dot bikini top. I’ve seen Michelle in her swimwear before, more times than I can count.

  But never like this.

  The candlelight dances across her shiny skin and the slow rise and fall of her chest sends my mind into a frenzy. And we’re supposed to touch each other? I worry if I allow myself to touch her skin, my body will take over and I won't be able to make myself stop.

  But we’re just two friends pretending to be a couple, right? Nothing can happen between us. Otherwise, we’ll soon be skinny dipping in the Hudson river like Holly and Cameron. Which Cameron said was not as pleasant as it sounds.

  This is a cruel joke.

  “I’ll massage you first,” Michelle says, shuffling out of her dress. I nod. My mouth is totally dry now and I'm trying my best to keep down a cough.

  “Excellent, now... Jonah is it?” Jameela says. I nod. Her face breaks into a smile again and she nods back at me. “If you turn away from your wife––”

  “We’re not married,” Michelle and I say in unison. I almost add, “We’re just friends.” But I remember we’re playing make-believe here. If I'd said that, I'd have let the cat out of the bag. Michelle appears to follow my train of thought.

  “Yet,” she says.

  Nice save. I swivel around and sit with my back to her.

  “Now, move up nice and close,” Jameela instructs Michelle. A wave of heat washes over my back as she edges up to me. She's hovering two inches away from my skin, but it’s like I can sense her and our energy fields are touching or something. There’s a magnetic force pulsing between us. Drips of sweat run down my temples as I think about it.

  “Come on, don’t be shy. You’re not strangers here,” Jameela says with a chuckle. Michelle shuffles forward again. Now she's lingering less than an inch from my back and everything is zinging. Every time she brushes against my skin, a little zap jolts straight to my heart.

  Jameela gives Michelle instructions and she follows with an air of confidence. Perhaps the fact that I can't see her has given her courage. Or maybe she’s come to her senses and remembered that we’re just a couple of friends having some fun.

  Her hands move over my tight shoulders and within seconds I forget about the odd-smelling incense, and how nauseated I am by the heat.

  Instead, my muscles begin to loosen up and I sigh heavily with relief. The dull ache magically disappears as she carefully runs her thumbs over every nodule of my spine.

  I had no idea Michelle had healing hands. She digs her fingers in at just the right places and my body reacts, like a dog obeying his master. I roll my head from side to side as my neck cracks and loosens up.

  “That feels awesome,” I say with another sigh. And it’s true. I could sit here all day with Michelle gripping my shoulders and running her hands down my back. But before long, she pulls away. I open my eyes with a start. My body is in agony again. Only now, there's something extra––a need to feel her touch.

  “Well done, very nice job,” Jameela says, unaware of my inner turmoil. I swivel around, sensing my turn is over. Michelle begins shuffling her back to me but stops mid-way as the woman holds up her hand. “Wait a moment,” she looks at me pointedly. “Aren’t you going to thank your girlfriend?”

  I give Jameela a sheepish grin, then nod to Michelle. “Thanks.”

  “No, no, no.” Jameela waves her hands and shakes her head. “I meant a kiss.”

  Her words hang in the air and tighten around my neck like a noose. The last time I thought about kissing Michelle, she left me alone on the dancefloor at prom––dripping in punch. Dozens of eyes were staring at me.

  I shake the memory away. That was a long time ago.

  Now, I’m dripping in my own sweat with a racing heart, looking at the most gorgeous creature on earth. She gives me a sweet smile, the corners of her mouth picking up softly, and it pulls me in.

  On impulse, I lean forward and give her a quick peck on the lips. It’s the kind of kiss I’ve seen old married couples give each other on the spur of the moment.

  “Thank you, darling,” I murmur, smiling warmly at her. Michelle’s smile widens and it’s like sunshine. She's glowing. For a split second, I forget we’re just acting and my heart squeezes. It hasn’t done that in a long time.

  Suddenly, the door opens a crack and Malcolm pokes his head in. “Jameela, can I borrow you? We’ve got some latecomers and there’s no one to get them started.”

  Jameela rises to her feet and gives the young man a nod. Then she turns to me. “Are you two alright to keep going alone?”

  She doesn’t wait for an answer before she hustles out of the room. Now alone, Michelle and I exhale as if we had both been holding our breath the entire time. Then Michelle drops a hand on my forearm, looking at me with eyes as wide as saucers.

  “I’m so sorry, I didn’t know this would be so…"

  “Sticky?” I ask with a laugh, gesturing to our glistening bodies. “This room is like a sauna.” Michelle’s responding laugh makes my heart squeeze again. What is happening to me?

  “Well, come on, turn around,” I say, circling my thumb in the air. Michelle pulls her hair back into a low ponytail. “You don’t have to…” she begins, but stops when I give her a frank look.

  “You’re tense. Turn around,” I say, firmer this time. Michelle does as I say, and I settle down behind her. “Now, relax. This isn’t my first time,” I murmur in her ear, my face breaking into a devilish grin.

  Michelle

  Jonah White is flirting with me. I’ve dreamed about this day for so long, I can’t believe it’s finally here. Sure, it’s probably an act. We’re alone now, but there's the risk that Jameela will come back at any moment. So maybe he’s just keeping up the show.

  I don't care what his motivations are though. I clamp my teeth together to stop myself from moaning as Jonah massages me. Who knew a neck and shoulder massage could be so sensual? He breathes soft and slow, running his thumbs down my back, then back up again, stopping at the base of my skull. He grips my neck, digging into the knotted muscles with so much force, it’s almost impossible to keep myself from crying out with pleasure. His touch makes me open up like a flower, sighing with every touch and straightening my posture. He grazes my shoulders and squeezes me until my body succumbs to his will. He’s good at this.

  Clearly, this isn’t Jonah’s first time giving a massage. But I don’t want to think about that. As far as I’m concerned, I'm the only human being he has ever touched. Ever.

  I release my jaw and relax, my breath following his rhythm. “That’s better,” he whispers into my ear. He grips my upper arms and digs his thumbs in-between my shoulder blades, rubbing in small circular motions. The sensation makes my back arch involuntarily and I lose my resolve, letting a deep guttural moan escape my lips. It’s not a sexy moan though, more primal. Like a woman in labor.

  My eyes fly open at the sound and a rush of heat rises to my face, surprised by my lack of willpower. I crane my neck and lock eyes with Jonah. He grins smugly at
me. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

  Yes. But I don’t want him to know just how much. I snort softly and turn away again, worried he might see the truth in my eyes.

  The door opens again just as Jonah prompts another moan from me. Jameela walks in and hums her approval. “You’re a natural, Jonah. She looks much more relaxed now.”

  Jonah’s hands drop from my shoulders and a part of my soul aches at the sudden deprivation.

  “That’s all we have time for, I’m afraid. I hope you both learned something today. Nurture your relationship by serving each other, it’ll keep you connected.” Jameela waves her hands in the air, speaking whimsically. “Human touch is so powerful; it releases all those love hormones that keep you close and feeling happy. So, keep it up.”

  She launches into a rant about modern-day technology breaking up marriages, as couples spend more time in front of screens and less time looking into each other’s eyes. Then she claps her hands. “I’ll leave you two to get dressed. We shall meet again tomorrow for your next session, yes?”

  The thought of having another intimate couple’s massage with Jonah makes me want to punch the air victoriously. But I successfully resist the urge and keep myself composed. Holly would be so proud of my acting skills.

  With Jameela gone, we quietly get dressed and avoid eye contact. But just as Jonah makes for the door, I grab his arm.

  “Wait,” I say. I'm surprised by my courage. I’m not sure if it’s the essential oils, the stifling heat messing with my head, or the fact that we’ve just been massaging each other for the last hour, but I feel like doing something bold. Like jumping out of a plane. Or zip lining over a zoo. Or…

  “What is it?” Jonah asks me, his brow cocked. I snap out of my thoughts, reach up and place a hand on his cheek. My fingers graze over his stubble.

  “I need to thank you,” I whisper, rising to my tiptoes. Jonah’s startled expression zooms in as I make the move without letting my brain think of all the reasons not to.

  His lips are clammy and hot, and our kiss has a salty taste to it. Jonah flinches at first but settles down as I rest my hand on his shoulder and lightly suck on his upper lip.

  The kiss lasts less than three seconds. But it’s enough. As we break apart, my heartbeat pounds my eardrums and throbs against my ribcage. Jonah grins at me, his eyes twinkling.

  “Thanks for the massage, I feel great now,” I whisper, grinning back.

  Jonah hums in thought, his expression turning wicked. “Anytime.”

  After the couple’s massage, we are given free time to do whatever we want before dinner. Holly and Cameron make a beeline for the pool, while Debbie and Mark make their excuses and go back to their room. Part of me wonders if they're really here to keep an eye on me and Jonah. But the more logical side of my brain figures they would jump on the opportunity to have a weekend away and enjoy some alone time.

  I’m just glad they’re not hovering around us like bees. The more time I get to spend with Jonah alone, the faster he’ll fall for me.

  Jonah and I decide to lay on the beach, listening to the tide roll in and out. The fresh air is a huge relief after the stuffy massage room. And the salty sea air reminds me of Jonah’s lips. I lay on the beach towel with my eyes closed, smiling at the sun. The plan is going better than I could have imagined.

  Jonah and I really connected today, and my suspicions are confirmed. My feelings for him are beyond a silly crush. They’re real and we’ve totally got chemistry. Now, he looks at me like I’m more than just a friend. Maybe, just maybe we will...

  “Honey, will you rub some lotion on my back? Wait––Jonah? Is that you?”

  I sit up sharply at the silky sound of the woman’s voice. Then I sit there blinking dumbly into the blinding sunlight, looking for the woman who just addressed my man. Finally, my eyes land on a Beyoncé lookalike, with skin like smooth cocoa and long brown hair fanning over her shoulders like a mermaid.

  “Tessa?” Jonah says in a strangled voice. The woman rises from her stomach to a seated position. She has killer curves and the kind of full lips that would make any man weak at the knees. This is Tessa? The woman who broke Jonah’s heart last year. She looks a bit like the person in the video, but far more attractive in real life. And she’s ten leagues above me.

  I want to shake my fist at the universe. Of all the weekends, of all the places, how have we ended up at the same resort at the same time? Fate has a sick sense of humor.

  She walks over, eyes locked on Jonah. I feel like a forgotten beach towel on the sand. They hug and my hands ball into tight fists.

  “It’s so good to see you again,” Tessa says as they break apart. Jonah doesn’t speak. He’s probably just as stunned as I am. I sit frozen in place, my jaw hanging and brain going over the burning question; How is she here?

  “Honey, come and meet Jonah. This is my fiancé, Eddie.”

  “You’re getting married?” Jonah stammers. His words bring me back to life and I stumble to my feet just as a tall black man walks over.

  “Hey there, Jonah,” he says. The man is head and shoulders taller than Jonah, with broad shoulders, a shaved head, and a glint in his eye. He’s a man’s man, with big, strong hands which he now uses to grip Tessa’s waist. Veins bulge out of his forearms. They look like a power couple ready for a photo shoot.

  Jonah and I, on the other hand, are small and average-looking next to them. I glance at Jonah’s crestfallen face and do the first thing that springs to mind. I move to his side and grab his hand.

  Tessa’s hazel eyes shoot in my direction and for a moment she sneers at me, pulling a face like she just picked up a bad smell. But then she recovers herself with a smile and looks back at Jonah again. “Who is this?” she asks.

  I squeeze Jonah’s hand, but nothing brings him to life. He's staring at Eddie like he’s going to rip him to pieces. Or try, at least. “I’m Michelle. Jonah’s girlfriend.” I hold out my hand and offer a charming smile.

  “I didn’t know you were seeing someone,” Tessa says to Jonah, ignoring my existence again. I lower my hand with a feeble smile, then Eddie and I glance at each other, seemingly sharing the same concern. Is there going to be a problem here? Should we be worried?

  There’s an awkward silence and Jonah’s hand grows clammy in mine. “Babe,” I say, patting his shoulder. “We should get ready for dinner.”

  Jonah startles and looks at me, then he clears his throat and turns back to Tessa and Eddie. “It was nice to meet you, Eddie, good seeing you Tessa... Congratulations.”

  We pick up our belongings and trudge up to the hotel, neither of us looking back, wanting to get as much space between us and Tessa as possible.

  On the way to the hotel, we bump into Holly and Cameron, chilling by the pool with Debbie and Mark. Debbie shoots me an odd look but I shake my head with a frown. The last thing we need is to talk about this awkward situation. With any luck, we won’t even see Tessa and her fiancé again. I mean, this resort is massive. There must be a couple of thousand guests here. Lightning can’t strike twice, can it?

  We go straight up to our room and Jonah sits on the bed dazed as I open the patio door and let the sea air come in. “Well, that was unexpected,” I say, trying to sound breezy like we bumped into an old teacher or something.

  Jonah’s face is pale and he stares at the floor for a long moment, then he finally looks up at me. A single tear rolls down his cheek. “Tessa’s here, and she’s getting married.”

  I gulp. My hands tremble slightly as I imagine myself punching Tessa in the throat for hurting Jonah like this. But then my heart pangs. Getting Jonah to move on will be so much harder than I thought. Especially now that she’s here. No. It’s going to take more than holding hands and shoulder rubs. It’s going to take something big.

  Jonah

  I can’t believe Tessa is here in Hawaii. With a guy who could pummel me to the ground without breaking a sweat, and a giant rock on her ring finger. When we broke up, she sai
d we wanted different things. I wanted to settle down and get married. She wanted to travel the world and enjoy the single life.

  Now I’m the single one and she’s getting married. It’s like I’ve walked into a parallel universe. I can’t think straight. I just sit on the edge of the bed, staring blankly into space as Michelle gets ready for dinner.

  Seeing Tessa again stirred up all the emotions I'd been bottling up for the past year. How can she move on so fast? Or is it odd for me to be stuck in this rut? All this time, I had sworn off being in another relationship in the vain hope that Tessa would come to her senses and ask to have me back.

  But she’s never coming back to me.

  The bathroom door opens and Michelle walks in. I’m not sure whether it’s my new revelation or the vision of Michelle in a rogue red dress that has my stomach doing flips. I sit up and watch her cross the room to sit at the dressing table.

  “What’s the special occasion?” I blurt. Sure, we’re on vacation, but everyone at the resort is walking around looking casual. Michelle looks like a Broadway star. I catch her eye from the mirror, and she grins at me. It’s the kind of grin a child makes when they get caught doing something they shouldn’t be doing.

  “Distracting you from she-who-must-not-be-named,” she explains, lifting her dark wavy hair into a high ponytail. “Is it working?”

  I watch her fasten her hair in place with bobby pins, the back of her neck on show, and I get a flashback of running my hand down her spine.

  “Maybe,” I admit, clearing my throat. My stomach knots uncomfortably as I wrestle with the idea of walking over and pressing my lips on the base of her neck. How can I sit in self-pity right now, when Michelle is sitting just across the room, looking like a million dollars?

  Evening dinner is set up outside. Round tables are scattered across the sand, facing a stage, and tall, lit torches cast a golden glow across the couples. A group of women dance in grass skirts as Michelle and I walk arm in arm, approaching our friends’ table.