I thought for a moment before I blurted it out, but the wine and water didn't exactly add to my sense of propriety. Besides, it was just a sophomoric game, and it was well on its way in this direction anyway.
"Have you ever used a vibrator?" I asked Cathy with a gleam in my eye and a mischievous smile on my lips. Paige laughed and shot me a knowing glance out of the corner of her eye...she knew she'd probably have to field the same question.
Had we not been inebriated already, Cathy may have reacted differently. As it was, she simply feigned shock and giggled before she answered.
"NO!" She spat defensively, "Have you?" Both women burst into laughter. Within the last few questions, the game had turned into a challenge of one-upsmanship, with each question more shocking than the last. The heat and the alcohol were combining to melt all of our inhibitions away, and we were having a great time. As the laughter subsided, Cathy looked to Paige. "Same question to you." She said predictably as she raised her glass to her lips to take another sip.
"And the dare?" Paige asked as she weighed her options.
Cathy thought a moment, and then threw out the challenge: "You have to run down to the dock and back."
Since we had all long-since shed our bathing suits, and Paige was far from an exhibitionist, I knew immediately which option she would take- I was just surprised by her answer.
"In that case," she paused "No, I have never used a vibrator." She looked at me and started laughing instantly.
"Bull-shit!" I yelled on cue. "You love that thing more than you love ME!"
"Well YOU gave it to me!" She cried defensively between cackles.
Cathy was nearly crying as she fought to catch her breath. "No way!" she said incredulously. "YOU?"
"Hey, don't knock it until you've tried it!" Paige laughed.
When the laughter subsided, I reminded her of the rules. "You can't lie..." I said with a smile. "That's the whole point. You have to be punished." I stated matter-of-factly, looking to Cathy who was nodding in agreement.
"Well I'm not running down to the dock," Paige cautioned. "What would the neighbors say? We could never come back!"
"Well then," I offered as judiciously as I could, "I say the punishment should fit the crime." I looked at Cathy for moral support. "Since you love your vibrator so much, I think you should make out with it."
"You brought it with you?" Cathy asked as she continued to laugh.
"All right." Paige conceded with a smile as she ignored Cathy's question, "but wait until it's my turn...you'll be sorry!"
She stood up and stepped out of the hot tub, quickly donning her robe. "Anybody need a refill while I'm up?" She offered as she turned to walk into the house.
"Just bring the bottle" I suggested as I surveyed the nearly empty glasses. "We're going to need a lot more wine if the game continues like this."
