Taking a deep breath, I did something that never steered me or anyone else wrong before.

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe,

Catch a tiger by the toe.

If he hollers, let him go,

Eeny, meeny, miny, MOE

I jumped at the fourth person, a calming presence. They snatched me up, cradling me close as the sultry aroma of tart fruitiness and birch cloves whisked into my senses, igniting everything.

Fluffy soft lips pressed into my inner world, sending electrifying tingles all up my skin. All the cloudiness in my head intensified, creating a delicious haze that made me almost moan. Strong fingers played along my hips as a sweet tongue licked my lip.

"Yo we about to get a porno," Rucker said. "I always wanted to be in one of those."

"Shut up," Yaz said.

Those voices broke my concentration, the thick haze evaporating and I pulled back, coming to my senses.

The person holding me whispered, "You taste really sweet."

Khan.

My thoughts instantly went to Sebastian, and an intense self-hatred entered me, sobering me a bit. I pulled off the blindfold, looking into Khan's gorgeous, smiling face.

"Uhh, sorry for attacking you like that," I said, moving out of his arms.

He flashed me an exhilarating grin. "Trust me, no apologies needed."

I looked at Sebastian to the left of me and he had an unreadable expression on his face. "Uh the queen wants to go to the next card," I said, running back over to my floor pillow and picking up the next card. "A dare — someone go skinny dipping."

"Me!" Rucker yanked off his shorts and jumped in the pool, bringing Yaz screaming with him. She splashed to the surface.

"I'm going to fucking kill you," she screamed as her wet hair clung to her neck and face. Her hands wrapped around his neck, flinging his head back in forth.

Khan laughed, watching them while playing with Duke who begged for attention.

Sebastian sat next to me, still unreadable.

"I'm so sorry," I blurted out, knowing he might be mad, but instead he laughed.

"It's fine, Betinia," Sebastian said. "Really."

"Really?"

He looked down at his hands. "I'm not your keeper and I don't want you to feel like I am. I don't want you to have to watch yourself around me. I want you to be comfortable to be yourself. I'm sorry that I'm coming off like I'm trying to control you. I'm just not used to feeling this way about someone so it's very new territory for me." He smiled. "You're having fun and you seem happy. I like that. I always want to see you happy. And it's only a game. Who hasn't kissed someone in truth or dare before? It's all fun."

I leaned my head against his shoulder and smiled. "Thank you for understanding," I said, watching Yaz continue to choke Rucker, but somehow he got out of her grip and swam downward. Seconds later, he pulled her under.

"You just gotta promise me one thing," Sebastian said.

"What?"

"That you'll still go out on that date with me."

I laughed. "Sure."

"How about in a few days?"

"Why not? We got nothing else planned," I said, stretching out my legs. "We're just waiting for the next challenge."

"I hate you." Yaz panted as she crawled out of the pool and flopped onto the floor. She was soaked and angry.

I turned back to the pool, watching Rucker swim laps, a happy grin on his face.

"The producers did this to torture me — I know they did," Yaz said, dropping onto the floor pillow.

"What's the next card?" Rucker shouted as swam over to the edge of the pool near us.

I picked up a card. "What's your favorite sex position?" These cards had to be chosen by Jookie.

"Wheelbarrow," Khan said without hesitation.

"What's that?" Rucker said.

"None of your business," Yaz said, flinging a burger at his head. It hit him right in his dome. "That's what you get fucker."

"Yaz is such a meany." Rucker pouted, rubbing his head in the pool. "I bet you don't even get laid."

Yaz flipped him off. "I can get some anytime I want. And cowgirl is my shit."

"That's lame," Rucker said. "Cross-booty where it's at."

"Fuck is that?" Yaz shook her head. "Never mind."

Rucker started chanting "cross-booty" while swimming backward.

"The rest of you go so Rucker can shut up," Yaz said, as Rucker began screaming "cross-booty."

"Ah I guess the valedictorian," Sebastian said with a shrug.

"Uhh I don't have one," I said, picking up the next card

"Everyone has one," Rucker sang. "Unless—" he paused and swam over to the edge. "Are you a virgin?"

Before I could lie, he lurched out of the pool, dripping wet as he gripped my hands, ass bare for everyone to see.

"Rucker!" Yaz said, eyes widening. "Put some damn shorts back on."

"Ah Rucker your um.... thing is on my f—" I started.

"I have to say this first," he interrupted, clutching my hand as he stared at me. "I will protect you and your virginity, Bet. Not even a tampon will ruin you. You will live on as a virtuous mermaid swimming in the milky sea of Jesus juice and rosaries with the bible written on your skin in holy water."

"Jesus what?" Yaz squinted her eyes. "Am I the only one getting a Layla déjà vu moment?"

"Before I was rudely interrupted by don't-know-when-to-shut-up-Yaz," Rucker said, turning back to me.

"Oh, I got your don't-know-when-to-shut-up-Yaz," Yaz muttered as she went to grab his hair, but Khan gripped her back. "Let me go! I'm gonna make his ass bald."

"I promise to kick the living shit out of any degenerate that comes your way," he said, hugging me to him, still naked.

"T-thank you," I whispered, sobering up.

Rucker pushed me away to point at Sebastian and Khan. "Stay away from, my Betty. Neither of you nor Jookie are good enough for her. Her virginity is sacred, okay? It was created by Lucky Charms himself."

"Lucky Charms is not real." Yaz tried to get out of Khan's grip, but he held her tight. "He's just your fucking imaginary pigeon."

"Nah-ah. Lucky Charms does exist," Rucker said. "Your nose is just too big to see him." He pointed to her head. "He's shitting on your head right now, saying 'Fuck you.'"

"Khan," Yaz said, voice calm. "Please let me put hands on him. Please. I'm asking nicely and as a friend."

"You'll kill him," Khan said, not letting go.

"He'll be dead for a few hours, but he'll wake up soon," Yaz said, glaring at Rucker.

"Back to my speech," Rucker said, but I cut him off.

"Please stop," I said, shaking my head.

This was more embarrassing then Tim giving me condoms in front of my friends. "Uh next card," I said, trying to eliminate this embarrassing moment from my life. "What's the most spiteful thing you've ever done?"

"Set my ex's car on fire," Yaz said.

"What?" Sebastian looked at her.

Yaz let go of Khan and leaned back. "I heard he was looking at some bitch, so I set it on fire."

"Did he actually do it?" Khan asked, sitting next to her.

"No — it wasn't him, but so what?" She shrugged.

"A motherfucker's insurance rate is going to skyrocket dating your ass," Rucker said.

"So?" Yaz tossed his wet short at his face, hitting him right in the eyes. "He shouldn't have been at the party without me." She turned back to Rucker. "You've never done anything without thinking before?"

"All the time," he said, sliding into his shorts. "I told a snitch that if he ate horse shit, I wouldn't kill him. I still killed him."

"What the hell does that have to do with not thinking?" Yaz asked.

"I don't know," Rucker said, scratching his head.

"Can someone please go next, so I don't have to hit him? Yaz asked.

"I'll go." Khan whistled and Duke jumped into his lap. "My parents have only ever cared about their reputation. To everyone in the world, we were one of the richest and most religious families. They loved to brag, and they always had to have the best — best houses, best cars, smartest kids..." he trailed off, looking almost sad for a moment. "If everyone around them, including their kids, didn't fall in line, they'd punish them. I remember this one business associate dropped out of a deal, and my father ruined his life. He lost everything — money, wife, kids, even his own family."

"Wow," I said, leaning forward.

"My father used to threaten to cut me off all the time if I didn't follow his rules. I had to be the best student. The best dressed. The best athlete. He was like this even after I turned eighteen," he said, tugging on Duke's tail. "He even threatened to disinherit me if I didn't go to the college of his choice and study what he wanted me too. And my mother was just as bad, if not worst." He shook his head. "So one day, I posed nude for a gay magazine centerfold and sent it to all my parents' colleagues and religious friends before telling them to kiss my ass."

"Holy shit," Yaz said, sitting up. "What happened afterward?"

Khan got lost for a second before smiling. "Major shit show."

"Damn, man," Rucker said. "That's so badass. You literally told your parents to kiss your ass, and then sent them a picture of your ass to kiss. Like can you imagine their faces? They're sitting at the dining room table, enjoying coffee, checking their email and BAM -- son's ass is on the screen with a "kiss my ass, mommy and daddy" sticker."

Everyone broke into laughter for a few minutes. I picked up a new card and sighed. "I feel like these were hand-picked by Jookie."

"What's it say?" Yaz asked.

"Where's the weirdest place you've had sex?" I asked.

"Nursing home," Rucker said.

"You did not fuck that old lady," Yaz said.

"Sure did," Rucker said. "She asked for a round two, and I thought why not? I put the avocado in her mouth so the nurses couldn't hear."

We all laughed again.

"We still text from time to time and I go over and play bridge with her sometimes," Rucker said. "We bonded a bit."

"I bet," Yaz said, shaking his head. "Who's next?"

"Principal's office," Khan said.

"Huh?" I asked.

Khan shrugged. "I had a fling with my principal senior year. No big deal."

"You've lived a very interesting life," I said before laughing.

"Church," Sebastian said.

"Ahh, goodie over here had sex in the lord's house?" Rucker laughed. "You just went up a few notches. A few more and I might actually call you by your name, sunflower seed."

"Thanks," Sebastian murmured.

"A coffin," Yaz said.

"Okay, you won," I said.

"You had sex with a dead person?" Rucker gagged. "I thought old dick was bad but dead dick? Eck."

"They weren't dead!" She snapped. "Their dad owned a funeral parlor and we did it in one of the new coffins. It looked comfy."

"So, you fucked in it?" Sebastian said, confused.

Yaz shrugged. "Are you judging there, church boy?"

"Enough said," Sebastian said and they both cracked up.

"Next card," I said, pulling it out. "If you could date any two villains from a horror movie, who would it be?"

"Yo Annabelle could get it," Rucker said.

"She's a fucking doll," Sebastian said.

"Love is Love, cheddar cheese," he said with a shrug.

"Who's your second person?" I asked.

"Tiffany from Chucky," Rucker said. "She's loyal as fuck."

"Didn't she try to kill Chucky?" Yaz asked.

"Uh says the girl who set her boyfriend's car on fire?" Rucker said.

"Just because he was in it doesn't make me a bad person," Yaz said, throwing her wet hair over her shoulder.

"He was in the car?" Sebastian asked, eyes wide.

"How else would he know I did it?" Yaz shrugged. "I wanted him to feel my pain. I wanted him to look in my eyes as he felt pain."

"How about you, Khan?" I said, turning away from Yaz.

"Hmmm," Khan said, petting Duke. "Esmerelda from Dusk to Dawn the movie. She was fucking hot and the Blob because you could literally stick your dick anywhere and it'll feel the same."

We all burst out laughing.

"That blob gon take your dick right off," Rucker said, doing a motion. "You're gonna be just like that gyno from that movie teeth where the girl had that killer vagina and basically took of all his fingers. That's gon be your dick."

"Hey, I'm here for a good time, not a long time," Khan said. "It'll probably be the best sex I ever had."

"I'm actually going to miss this Khan when you sober up," Yaz said, hitting Rucker. "This one over here won't sober up fast enough."

Rucker pouted. "Meany."

"What about you?" I asked Sebastian.

"Only one I could think of would be Baby Firefly from Devil's rejects." He licked his lips. "She played that part so realistically. She was hot and crazy. The perfect mix."

"Boo boring," Rucker said, making Sebastian glare. "You go, Betty."

"Uh." I bit my lip. "Pyramid head from silent hill. He's muscular, bloody and mysterious."

"Don't this motherfucker got a block for a head?" Rucker said, confused. "It's like fucking a bitch with a bag on her head. Or imagine this, you're fucking him good and you bump heads. BAM — concussion. Ya dead."

"Says the guy who wants to fuck a doll," Sebastian said.

"Hey, the bitch is magical, okay?" Rucker said. "Who's your last one?"

"Pennywise or Jigsaw," I said.

"Ah fuck that — I hate clowns," Yaz shuddered. "That motherfucker made me hate clowns."

"Me too, but isn't that what makes it exciting?" My mind began to wander to dark places, slicing into my deepest fantasies. "The delightful fear and the delicious pain of being with him would just make every experience more intense and sexy. And he can change forms? Ahhh! And Jigsaw — his mind is just fucking brilliant. He's such a creative mastermind, and his traps are just fucking mind-blowing. I would literally beg him to put me in one—"

"Betinia!" Yaz called, breaking me from my haze.

"Huh?" I asked, lost in thought.

"Uh you can stop your horny fangirling now," Yaz said.

"I wasn't fangirling," I said, feeling my cheeks heat up.

"Nah, that's groupie behavior," Rucker said. "She probably would've rode him if he was here."

Khan chuckled. "I kind of expected her to answer like that after watching her cut up a body."

"I'm never going to live that down, am I?" I asked, shaking my head.

"No," they all said in unison. "Never."

"Last but not least, Yaz," Rucker said. "Who'd you do? Jason?"

"Nah, he got mommy issues."

"Myers?"

"Sister issues."

"Chucky?"

"You see Chucky four? That little fucker ain't satisfying me," she said.

"Norman Bates," Sebastian said.

"We're back to mommy issues again," she said.

"Freddy?" I asked.

"Yeah, I'd really date a motherfucker who if I dumped his ass could kill me while I sleep."

"Then who?" Rucker asked. "Who's good enough for the almighty powerful Yazzums?"

"Simple, Hannibal Lector."

"The cannibal?" Sebastian asked, squinting his eyes.

"Hey, he knows how to eat so I'm down," Yaz said. "And the doctor from human centipede."

Rucker narrowed his eyes. "He sewed people's lips to asses."

"Are you really judging, doll fucker?' Yaz asked.

"Hey? You're just jealous of my beautiful ginger queen okay?" Rucker said. "Her face maybe raggedy and her makeup cracked but that bitch is magical."

We all cracked up again as Yaz bopped him in the head.

"How you guys feeling?" I asked once everyone settled down. "You okay?"

Khan shrugged. "I still feel it, but I don't think it was poisoned. Just drugged." He touched his head. "I'll be a little hungover tomorrow, but I'll be fine."

"I don't think I was affected at all," Rucker said. "Cocaine ain't shit."

"Says the guy who screamed like a bitch earlier," Yaz said laughing.

"So hurtful," Rucker said, touching his chest.

Yaz rolled her up eyes and got up. "I'm fucking starving," she said. "Did you guys get dessert?"

"Yeah, we got some cakes under the table and some ice cream in the cooler," Khan said, getting up to help her with Duke chasing behind him.

"I feel like some chocolate cake," Sebastian said, getting up and looking down at me. "Want something?"

"Yeah, surprise me," I said.

He smiled and left.

"You alright?" Rucker came over, sitting next to me. He looked a bit sweaty but normal.

I touched his head. "You alright?"

"Yeah," he said but something in this tone told me he was lying.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Rucker," I said. "I know you're lying."

Letting out a breath, he paused for a few minutes before palming his forehead. "I don't like this shit. I sell it. I never use."

"It's one time," I said.

"My mom was addicted to this shit," he said, closing his eyes and letting out a bitter laugh. "Addiction is in my blood."

I put a hand on his arm. "Doesn't mean you're an addict." I shook my head. "You should've said something before. I would've eaten that cake for you."

He looked at me for a long while as Yaz, Sebastian and Khan laughed over the desserts. Rucker really gazed into my eyes, a small smile hanging from his lips.

"I know you would that's why I became your partner," he said before nudging me. "I don't use that word lightly. I don't trust nobody but when you stood up for me before, without even knowing me, I knew you had heart."

"I don't trust either." I glanced at my teammates by the table. "I spent years only letting two people close to me. That's how I survived. And I thought doing the same here would work, and it didn't." I laughed. "I was completely out of my element here, but I dug through the depths of myself and realized I needed to let people in." I stared at my laughing team by the table and back at Rucker before smiling. "And I don't regret it. It's been sort of fun."

I didn't let them see all of me yet. Shit, I didn't even know if I could. Tini felt gone and if she did come back, would they accept me?

Rucker pulled an arm around me, grinning. "It has been fun. I'm still a little wary of feathers..."

I laughed.

"But I'm beginning to think about trusting them," he said. "I trust you though. A hundred percent.

"I trust you too." I did. I trusted him more than anyone here in the game. I didn't know why, but something just told me that he had my back.

He blew out a breath and shivered.

I moved back and patted my leg. "Lie down for a while. You probably need to rest for a bit."

He laid his head on my knee, and I brushed his hair. It was silky soft and a bit wet from the pool.

"He okay?" Yaz asked, coming over with an extra-large mixing bowl and five spoons. Khan carried the toppings and Sebastian held the cake.

"He's just a little tired," I said, stroking his hair. "I told him to get some rest."

Yaz kneeled beside me and placed the bowl on the ground and spoons.