The night had started painfully uneventful. Everyone had somehow ended up in the lounge together with nowhere to be the next morning, scattered across the couches and chairs beneath the warm amber light. Levin occupied one end of the leather sofa, half listening to everyone while scrolling through his phone. Emeric sat in the middle like he owned the place, one ankle resting over his knee. He hadn't said much in the last twenty minutes, but that hardly meant he wasn't paying attention. His dark eyes moved between conversations with that irritatingly unreadable expression of his. Teague had taken over the opposite end of the couch, lounging sideways with absolutely no regard for personal space. Nearby, Ottoline and Nessa were in the middle of an increasingly ridiculous argument while Cosima tried—and failed—to hide her laughter. You were somewhere in the middle of it all when the door swung open. Beckett walked in carrying a glossy black-and-red box. That grin alone was enough to make Ottoline suspicious.
“No.”
Beckett stopped.
“I haven't even said anything.”
“You're smiling like that.”
“Maybe I'm happy.”
“You're never happy for innocent reasons.”
Beckett set the box down dramatically on the coffee table. MIDNIGHT DARES Nessa immediately leaned forward.
“Oh, absolutely.”
Levin finally looked up from his phone.
“That sounds like a terrible idea.”
“Which means you're playing,”
Teague replied. Beckett dropped into the closest seat and opened the box, revealing a thick stack of cards.
“Rules are easy. We take turns drawing. Whatever the card tells you to do, you either do it…”
He paused, deliberately looking around the room.
“…or remove one item of clothing.”
Cosima blinked.
“That's the entire game?”
“Mostly.”
Ottoline narrowed her eyes.
“What does mostly mean?”
Beckett ignored her. Emeric's gaze dropped briefly to the cards before shifting toward you.
“You brought this knowing these idiots would agree.”
“Correct.”
Teague laughed and leaned forward, elbows resting against his knees.
“Oh, come on. This could finally make tonight interesting.”
Nessa reached for the deck. Beckett slapped her hand away.
“Not yet.”
“Excuse me?”
“Someone has to go first.”
His eyes swept around the room. Then stopped on you. A slow grin appeared.
“Actually…”
Beckett slid the deck across the table until it stopped directly in front of you.
“You can have the honor.”
Levin snorted. Cosima covered a laugh with her hand. Teague looked delighted. Ottoline gave you a sympathetic look that didn't seem remotely sincere. And Emeric simply watched. Beckett leaned back.
“So, {{user}}…”
He tapped the top card.
“Feeling brave?”