“He’s too old for you,” said Claire.
“I like older men,” said Hannah. “In fact, I’ll take Josh if Charlie doesn’t want him.”
“Either one, huh? Something makes me doubt your level of commitment,” Grace jested.
Hannah crossed her arms. “I’m not going to let you lecture me about commitment. You’ve turned out to be a commitophobe.”
“That’s not even a real word,” Grace objected.
“It’s in Wikipedia, and your picture is on the page.” Olivia sidestepped the pillow Grace threw at her.
“Stop it! I’m not afraid to commit, I just want to be careful about it.”
“I think you’re not willing to give up being president of the Marshall Sisters for a lesser post. You’re addicted to power,” said Claire.
Grace raised an eyebrow. “I have no intention of relinquishing my post as president if I ever commit to some guy. I will always be the head honcho around here, and don’t you forget it.”
“So you’re going to commit to Brad now? You’ve been skirting around our questions this whole time. What are you going to do about him?” asked Hannah.
“She’s in love with him.” Olivia turned a wry grin toward Grace. “Aren’t you, Grace?”
Olivia saw Grace’s face turn beet-red. “Enough about me... Let’s talk about Claire’s new boyfriend.”
Olivia held up her hand before Claire could respond. “Wait. I’m invoking the Truth or Dare law. Either you tell us the truth now, or you have to accept any dare of our making.”
Grace threw herself face down on the bed and let out a muffled, agonized moan. “Why God? Why did you give me sisters? Spencer is so nice—he’d never do something like this.”
“You know you love us,” said Olivia. “But you still have to make a choice right now. Which one will it be? Truth or dare?”
Grace flipped over. “Dare. I’ll take the dare. What is it? I want to get it over with.”
“Oh no you don’t.” Olivia motioned her younger sisters into a huddle. “We get to take our time deciding what it will be. We’re not going to waste our dare on something lame. You’re going to wish you’d chosen truth.”
Grace’s eyebrows drew together. “Maybe I’ll just change my choice. Fine. I’ll tell you the truth.”
“No way,” chuckled Hannah. “We figured out the truth as soo
n as you refused to answer. You’re in love with Brad or you wouldn’t have minded telling us. Now we know the truth, and we still get to give you a dare.” She turned toward Olivia and Claire, jumping up and down, her reddish curls bouncing. “I’ve got a great idea.”
Olivia felt the grin growing on her face as Hannah explained her plan in a low whisper. She glanced across the room at Grace, who appeared more than a bit anxious about the turn of events. Oh well, at least they’d gotten her mind off the biopsy. This was going to be fun.
*****
“Olivia? Olivia? Are you awake?” Grace whispered into the darkness.
Olivia groaned, “I am now. What’s wrong? You can’t sleep?”
“No. I’m still nervous.”
“Are you worried about the IV? Or is it the biopsy that scares you?”
“I’m worried about the dare. I can’t believe you’re making me talk to Brad right after the procedure.”
Olivia chuckled. “Oh, that—it’ll be so easy. You’ll be under the influence of the drugs. You probably won’t remember anything you said.”
“It’s so unfair! I think there must be some exception. Didn’t we pass an amendment on that Truth or Dare law when Hannah sprained her ankle that time?”
“Yes, but it only applies to the endangerment of life and limb. Embarrassment doesn’t count.”