Beware Of Truth Or Dare
Forward:
I've been slow getting another story out. I thought maybe shifting to very short "flash stories" would help. It didn't. I so admire those authors that can write such marvelous tales with 750 words. Wish I could do that.
My stories seem to have a mind of their own and keep going, which requires more of everything, editing, proof reading, time, a lot of time. For those of you who don't write, please appreciate the amount of time, measured in days (or months, sometimes) that it takes to complete one of these.
Some readers have commented that my dialogue comes off as stilted or stiff. Sorry if that's the case, but the characters speak that way because I kind of talk like that & their words come out of my head that way. If my style is not for you, please look elsewhere, I'm too old to change much.
This one is totally fiction. The characters are flawed and do not always make rational decisions, but as one of my favorite authors, S.T. says "This is my universe."
Please enjoy... and for my perverted soul mates, yes, there is some sex.
Special thanks to help from wayniepoo62, andyinoz, Charlie & Ted L. in trying to make my work better... they fix a lot. The final edit is mine though, so all blunders rest with me.
---------------------------Friday-----------------------------
Nick and Jan Cerilli were at a Friday night block party with about 24 other people. For special reasons, she was up for having a good time and had been drinking a bit more of her favorite wine than normal. Jan's best friend Lana, and her husband Steve, were hosting that night's festivities and decided to get a game of Truth or Dare started. The hosts had talked five other couples into playing, but the women, in particular, were hesitant because Lana could be a bit naughty. The game had started off relatively tame as one of the women had stated up front that she would not do any racy dares, like expose her bare boobs. Several of the others agreed to keep the challenges reasonable.
As the game proceeded, alcohol began influencing the questions and dares. As the requests became racier, in order to keep things moving, one of the women suggested, and it was agreed that if a request was too much, the person could pass.
After some time, it was again Lana's turn and she asked Jan, "Truth or Dare," truth was selected. Lana asked, "Who was your best lay ever? Nick, I guess?"
The excessive amount of wine that Jan had downed helped out an answer that was unexpected by all. After taking another sip and setting down the glass, she giggled like a school girl and said, "Actually, no."
There was a collective gasp. Lana said to Nick, "Well, not number one, eh sport?"
Nick's answer was not verbal or jovial. His face turned beet red with a mix of embarrassment and fury. Jan sobered up some instantly, enough to realize that she had stepped in it and a recovery was attempted. Jan revised her answer, claiming that she was only teasing her hubby and that he truly was her best ever. Nick got up, and said, "Fuck it," and headed to the cooler for a beer, but didn't return to the game.
A round of comments like, "Jesus, Jan" or "Shit, that's hitting where it hurts," echoed around the firepit
.
Lana said, "I thought that dumb blonde thing was a myth, but damn girl! You just told your husband that he's no better than number two, and in front of 10 other people. Is he even second? ... Or maybe further back?"
"Shit, Lana, I thought you were my friend," Jan said as she struggled to get up, "I was just kidding, damn it."
"I am your friend, I'm just kidding too. Go drag him back here, we'll all help get him calmed down," Lana volunteered.
Jan felt a sense of urgency, she needed to get to Nick and quickly get this foo-pah corrected. Even under the influence, she knew soothing her hubby's mind wouldn't be easy.
She found him hanging out by the wide screen with some others, there was a game on, but he wasn't watching it.
"I'm sorry baby, I'm a little drunk. I thought I was being funny, but I guess not. Come on back to the game. Let me make it right," she pleaded.
"No. Just keep away from me. You stay, I'm going home," he said and got up and started saying his goodbyes to those nearby.
Lana came over to Jan and asked, "Where's Nick going?"
"He's heading home."
"I'll go apologize to him before he goes, I made it worse, I'm sorry," Lana said as she was preparing to catch up to Nick.
"Let him go, please. Right now, he doesn't want to hear anything from either of us," Jan said while starting to cry.
"That asshole, you wait here, I'm going after him."
"No Lana, don't... You'll just make it worse," Jan pleaded.
"We joke around here all the time. What the fuck is the matter with him, it's not like you've been fucking someone else for him to be second to," Lana volunteered, intending to lend support.
But then the expected agreement from her friend didn't come, instead a look of sadness and shame were written all over Jan's face. Instantly, understanding registered with Lana, "Jesus Christ Jan, you didn't. OMG, you did!"
"Please keep quiet. If Nick thinks anyone else knows, my marriage will be toast. Please Lana... promise me, not a word, not even to Steve," Jan said, begging.
"OK... OK. Not a word. But, after you sober up, we are going to have a talk," Lana responded.
"I need to get home. He probably won't talk to me, but I have to try," Jan said softly, and started walking out the backyard gate.
Lana went back over to the firepit and announced, "I'm going to walk her home, just to make sure she gets there safely... be back in ten."
By the time Lana got caught up, Jan had arrived at the side door of her house. Lana called out, but Jan just turned, gave a little wave, and went inside.
Jan went straight upstairs, made a bathroom stop, slipped on a nightie and then went to bed. She touched Nick's shoulder hoping he would turn to her for a kiss, but he remained motionless. In an attempt to gain some response, she stroked her fingernails backwards down his back, just the way that he liked. After several minutes of caressing, he remained still. She imagined that a tear was running down his cheek, just as it had the time before.
One last attempt was made to diffuse the escalating situation, "Honey, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it that way. I love you," she whispered into his ear.
The tender peace offering was not received as hoped. "Don't lie to me. I know what you said and what it means. Go fuck yourself, and leave me alone," he fired back.
The outburst was followed by him getting up out of bed, going into his den and slamming the door. Jan cried herself to sleep.
------------------------- Saturday -------------------------
Morning came late, as the previous night's over indulgence kept Jan from a desired early rise. In the kitchen, there was no coffee in the pot, no dishes, nothing. It seemed that Nick had got out of the house in a hurry, not wanting a face to face. Jan was saddened knowing that she was the reason he was absent, as his schedule was supposed to be clear that Saturday morning.
Again, she relived her answer to her friend's question. The alcohol consumed had removed any restraint on her tongue and hurtful truth had erupted with only two words, "Actually, no," and, she had said it loud enough for all to hear. The obvious implication was understood by their friends, though they all saw it as Jan just giving her hubby a playful dig.
She was hoping a sincere apology and heartfelt reassurance could convince her husband that the previous night's comment did not have the meaning that he obviously thought that it had. Unfortunately, this pledge that she intended to convince him with, was a lie. She was determined to keep that fact and reasons that it was a lie secret from him and everyone else.
Desperate to reverse her lapse, Jan decided to send her husband a text, "
I am so sorry for last night. With what we had been planning, to start our family, I decided Lana's party was my last chance to let go and get a little blotto. That I over did it, is an understatement. I was so blitzed that I thought I was being funny, maybe even playful. I believed that I was teasing my beloved hubby, just like any wife might, but the look on your face told me in an instant that I had fucked up. That Lana picked up on it so quickly and added her own jab, is just her nature. She's unaware of our past and likely thought that she'd just pile on for fun. You know that she adores you. Please, don't blame her. Baby, I didn't mean it. You are my best ever in everything. Forgive me for being a stupid drunk who didn't realize how that my love, my best friend might be hurt by my feeble attempt at humor. I love you with all of my heart... come home or at least call me. Please, I love you."
A pot of coffee was made and Jan settled into a chair at the table with her head in her hands. The number of times that she asked herself out loud, "Why would you say something so stupid?" reached double digits in no time.
Just then her phone buzzed and the thought that Nick was responding flashed through her head. The text, however, was from Lana and Jan chose to ignore it. Only a few minutes went by until Lana's ringtone sounded from her cell. Jan decided to answer, this conversation was also unavoidable.
"
Yes, Lana?"
"Honey, what the hell is going on? You started to tell me something last night, then clammed up. It isn't like Nick to react like that because of a little harmless kidding,"
Lana said.
"
No... it's not,"
was Jan's slow, and subdued reply.
"I'm coming over
," Lana stated.
"