Free Truth or Dare by Sloan Johnson Page A

watch him try to stretch, knowing that his body is punishing him the same way mine is. It’s been a dry summer and the ground is hard as rock, not ideal for sleeping, even if it is next to a sexy man. Colby reaches over, digging the tips of his fingers into my sides. “Oh, you think my pain is funny?” he kids as he continues tickling me.
    “No…yes…Colby, stop!” I say as I gasp for air. Colby pulls me onto his lap as the fighter jets from the National Guard hangar fly overhead. We sit there until all of the jets are in the air, feeling the rumble of the low-flying aircraft throughout our bodies. “We should probably head home,” I say sadly, wishing our date never had to end.
    “Are you going to let me kiss you goodnight?” Colby asks as he helps me into the car. Cocking my eyebrow, I pretend to think on his request for a bit. Unable to keep a straight face, I know Colby knows he’s getting at least a kiss. What is the protocol for goodnight kisses that take place at seven in the morning when you already live together?

Chapter 10
    Colby
    Knowing that today was coming doesn’t make it any easier. Lea and I have spent every possible minute together for the past few weeks, even turning down invitations to parties and avoiding the dead end. But today, I’m making my girl breakfast while she flips out, wondering if she’s forgetting anything for her classes.
    “Babe, if you do forget something, call me. It’s not that far and I can bring it to you,” I call across the apartment as I pour her a travel mug of coffee. “Come on, I’m not going to make you a hot breakfast every day, so you’d better enjoy it while you can!”
    The truth is, the number of mornings I’ll be spending like this are quickly dwindling. I haven’t told her just yet, but in just under a month, I’m going to be headed down to Nashville. It turns out that Robby’s dad knows a guy, who knows a guy, and I have a job waiting for me at a new club. It’s not playing my music, but it’s better than nothing.
    “Wow, someone’s grumpy this morning,” Lea teases, wrapping her arms around my waist from behind. I put on my best happy face before turning in her arms to see if I can kiss off all of her kiwi lip balm.
    Tonight. I will tell her, after she’s made it through her first day of classes. God, I don’t want to tell her. The biggest part of me doesn’t even want to do this right now, but I’m pretty sure Lea and I got our worst fight out of the way first because she refused to back down about me going to Nashville. When Robby’s dad overheard me bitching to Robby, he took it upon himself to make some calls. After not having a dad who supported my music, it’s nice to have Mister Coy in my corner.
    “Only because I don’t want you to leave,” I say softly and I mean every pussy-whipped word. Not that I’m sure you can be whipped if you haven’t gotten any, but I think I am and I’m okay with that. “Hurry home so we can go out to dinner and celebrate.”
    Walking her to the door, I try to convince myself that this is a good thing. Sure, I’ll miss her, but at least this way, we’ll both get used to not being together all the time before I leave. I can’t imagine quitting this girl cold turkey.
    I pull out my acoustic once Lea’s gone, working on a song that came to me a few nights ago. True to my word, not a day has gone by when I haven’t screwed up something. After telling her that I’m doing the best I can, the lyrics started flowing and my biggest concern became finding a notepad before they left my mind.
I am doing the best I can
With everything I am
Don’t you know I think you’re worth it?
Do you understand how hard I’m trying to do
The best I can?
    Who knows if anything will every come of it, but I’m determined to record this song on my crappy home setup before I leave so Lea has a reminder that I’m doing this for us. The only reason I’m taking this step is because she pushed me to follow my