Free Strum Your Heart Out by Crystal Kaswell

tight.
    "More like five days."
    "It sucks we don't have any classes together." She bites a piece of salmon sashimi in half.
    "It was bound to happen eventually." I glance at the guys in the band. They're all sitting at the table together—even Pete—and whispering about something.
    Meg follows my gaze to the guys. She leans in close and lowers her voice. "Are you really going to be okay living with Drew?"
    "Better than Nadeen."
    Apprehension flares in her expression. "What if he brings another girl home?"
    I clear my throat. "That crush is ancient history."
    "I'll do you a favor and not call you on that today."
    My cheeks flush. "Thank you." An immediate change of subject is the best way to avoid any further discussion of my feelings for Drew. "How's everything with Miles?"
    A dreamy look spreads over Meg's face. "It's like paradise spending the day with him up in Malibu." The dreamy look fades. "Of course, it means I have to spend all day Sunday studying."
    "Small price to pay for paradise."
    Someone clears his throat. Sure enough, it's Tom, calling our attention.
    Okay, fine. Meg and I join the discussion at the table.
    Tom nods to the bottles of liquor. "We're going to play a game: truth, dare, or drink. Except for Miles. He's stuck with truth or dare."
    Meg looks at me as if to ask okay? I nod. Yeah. Fine. I'm not fourteen. Truth or dare doesn't scare me.
    Drew looks at me the way Meg did. Like he's concerned about me. I turn on the bubbly. I am not about to be some kind of pity homing beacon.
    Meg slides into Miles's lap. She kisses him on the cheek. "I'm not drinking either."
    "I'll start." Tom turns to Pete. "Truth or dare."
    Pete mumbles his answer. "Dare."
    "Call Cindy and tell her what you really think about—"
    Pete grabs the bottle of whiskey, pours a shot, and slams it. "That's the drink part of the game." He turns back to Tom. "Truth or dare, Tom?"
    "Truth."
    Pete shakes his head. "Pussy choice." He rubs his chin like he's thinking. "Is the reason you've never had a girlfriend that women can't tolerate your personality, or is it that you're so bad in bed no woman dares let you touch her twice?"
    Tom raises a brow. "I've fucked plenty of women three or four nights in a row."
    "Must be the former then," Pete says. "Your turn."
    Tom holds Pete's stare for a moment. He shakes it off and turns to me. "Kara, truth or dare."
    "Truth." I hesitate. Dare is a better choice. Dare can't open me up or make me reveal anything personal.
    I shake my head. This is a stupid game. It won't open me up. Worst case scenario, I can take a shot.
    "Do you regret moving in with Drew yet?" he asks.
    My neck relaxes. An easy question. "Not yet. But there's always time." I clear my throat. I have to smile. I'm supposed to be the fun friend. "Meg."
    "Truth," she says.
    I throw her a bone. "Is Miles as good as he says he is?"
    She turns back to Miles and plants a kiss on his lips. "Don't know. Miles has a big mouth."
    "Pretty sure you like it." He sucks on her neck.She giggles. "So cocky. So smug. Why do I put up with you anyway?" She leans into his kiss with a slight groan.
    He grabs her and holds her against him. Okay. Now they're making out. She turns away with a little giggle and a "Miles" that seems to mean oh my goodness, not in front of our friends.
    "You're not doing that in my place." Drew glares.
    Meg pushes off Miles. She turns back to the table with a shy look on her face. "I'll have to take him to the bedroom to verify. I can't be sure I until I test out that mouth—"
    "One more word and I'm dragging you to the car, babe." He grabs her thigh.
    Tom clears his throat.
    They keep making out.
    Pete looks up, then his eyes go back to the table. "We can call that a yes."
    Meg pushes off of Miles with a desperate sigh. She makes a circle with her finger like she's deciding who to pick. It stops on Pete. "Pete, truth or dare."
    He pulls his hoodie up over his head with a sigh. "You pick."
    Meg frowns. "Uh, I guess truth. Why do you