“Okay, fine,” Jamal says, breaking the silence with a mischievous grin. “Let’s play a game.”
Maya groans immediately. “No. The last time you said that, I ended up drinking soy sauce mixed with ice cream. I’m not playing any games with you.”
He raises a hand solemnly. “I have matured since then.”
“Liar,” Maya and I chorus.
He laughs, slumping against the booth. “Come on, I’m serious this time. Truth or Dare.”
Maya deadpans. “Classic.”
“Boring,” I add, sipping my smoothie.
“Wrong,” Jamal corrects. “It will be fun”
I roll my eyes. “You just like chaos.”
“Exactly,” he says proudly. “Now, I’ll start. Maya, truth or dare?”
She leans back with a lazy grin. “Dare.”
He smirks. “I dare you to say something nice about me.”
Her face goes blank. “Pass.”
“You can’t pass!”
“Then I choose truth.”
“That’s not how it works.”
She crosses her arms. “It is now.”
He groans, dragging a hand through his hair. “Fine. Truth then. Is it true that you secretly think I’m cute?”
Maya snorts so loudly that the girl at the next booth turns to stare. “Oh please. The only cute thing here is these smoothies.”
“Lol” I say with a small laugh.
“Cruel, cruel world,” Jamal mutters, clutching his smoothie dramatically.
Maya smirks. “You’re just mad because the answer’s no.”
He glares playfully. “Fine. Aria’s turn. Truth or dare.”
I choke on my smoothie. “What?”
He leans forward, eyes glinting. “You heard me.”
“Do fictional characters count?” I stall.
Maya laughs. “She means, yes.”
I shoot her a glare. “I do not.”
“You totally do,” she says, pointing her straw at me. “I just can’t prove it yet.”
“I’m fifteen, Maya. I’ve got no time for romance.”
Jamal raises an eyebrow. “Are you sure about that?.”
I narrow my eyes. “What does that even mean?”
“Nothing.” He shrugged
“Ok” I mumble. “And you?” I ask him
Maya laughs. “No chance, babe. Not with you around.”
“Shut up,” I sighed, setting my cup down. “My`turn. Jamal, truth or dare?”
“Dare,” he says immediately.
“I dare you to go to the counter and order something using only song lyrics.”
His eyes widen. “You’re joking right?.”
“Nope.” 1 reply smugly
Maya bursts out laughing. “Oh, this I have to see.”
Jarnal glares at us but stands up. “You’re both going to regret this.”
He walks up in the counter confidently. Aunt Rose’s assistant looks confused as Jamal clears his thewat dramatically.
“Hello,” he begins. Tin feeling like a plastic bag drifting through the wind, saming to start aim”
Chapter 76
The cashier blinks. “Um… what would you like to order?”
“I got that sunshine in my pocket, got that good soul in my feet,” he continues.
The cashier’s lips twitch with a small smile. “Smoothie?”
“Yes,” Jamal says earnestly. “Baby, you’re a firework.”
Maya doubled over as she laughed, tears in her eyes. “He’s insane!”
“I can’t–Maya, look at his face!” I laugh, gasping for air, clutching my stomach.
Jamal turns back toward us with his cup triumphantly raised. “Mission accomplished!”
“Security should’ve escorted you out,” Maya says between giggles.
“You’re welcome,” he says, sitting back down.
I shake my head. “You’re going to end up banned from half the city at this rate.”
“Then I’ll move to the other half.”
ชร
5 $5 vouch
We burst into another round of laughter. A few minutes later, Maya leans forward, her eyes sparkling. “Okay new game.”
“Oh no,” Jamal groans.
“It’s fun, I promise. It’s called ‘Who Would You Be?‘ You pick someone in school and describe who you’d be i you weren’t you.”
I blink. “That’s kind of a weird game”
“I read it on TikTok.” She shrugs.
“Of course you did.” Jamal snickers.
“Fine,” she says. “I’ll start. If I weren’t me, I’d be… Mr. Halden.”
We both stare at her.
“The chemistry teacher?” I ask, my brows furrowed.
She nods. “Man is unbothered, sarcastic, and just lives life. Goals.”
Jamal whistles. “Respect.”
I grin. “Okay, your turn, Jamal.”
He smirks. “I’d be the Principal. The power, mystery, and zero accountability.”
I roll my eyes. “You’d be a smooth criminal.”
:
Chapter 76
“Exactly,” he says proudly.
Maya nudges me. “Your turn, Aria.”
I think for a moment. “Honestly? Maybe… the librarian.”
Maya rolled her eyes. “I thought as much.”
65 vouch
“What? She’s quiet but she sees everything,” I defend. “she knows all the stories before anyone else.”
Maya squints suspiciously. “Are you sure it’s not because of that cute senior who volunteers there?”
“Maya!” I nearly choke. “There’s no-”
“A senior?” Jamal asks. “Who is that?”
I slap my hand over my face. “You two are insufferable.”
I grab my phone as it buzzes. It’s a message from Mom.
Heading to an event with Robert. Where are you?
I smile faintly. Typical Mom.
“You good?” Maya asks.
“Yeah. Just my mom.”
I’m hanging out with Maya at Bloom smoothies and bites. It’s her aunt’s.
I type back.
Okay love, have fun. Be home before 7.
I sent a love emoji to her reply.
Jamal leans back. “I swear your mom is the most stylish and coolest person. She could walk into Vogue and they’d just give her a chair.”
“She already has one,” I joke.
“Of course she does,” he says, laughing.
We finish our smoothies, and Maya drags us to the corner where there’s a small photo wall. “Tradition!” she says, shoving Jamal’s camera at him. “Take one, photographer boy. It’s your moment.”
He groans. “Do I have to?”
“Yes,” we say together.
“Fine,” he sighs, setting the timer and standing between us. “Smile!”
14:45 Mon, Jan 12
Chapter 76
แคต
The flash goes off, and the photo prints out seconds later from the café’s instant camera. Maya grabs it, grinning.
“Oh my god, look! We actually look cute.”
Jamal snatches it. “No you don’t.”
“You’re hopeless.” I laugh, shaking my head.
Maya loops her arm through mine as we walk out. “That was perfect.
“I’m posting this with the caption; royalty and chaos.” Jamal muttered, still staring at the picture.
“That actually slaps,” Maya admits.
“I hate that you’re both agreeing to that,” I mumble with a smile.
Eric opens the door as we approach. “Did you have a pleasant time, Miss?”
“Yes,” I say softly. “I really did.”
Maya hugs me tight before hopping into Jamal’s car. “Take care darling.”
“Yeah,” I laugh. “Go home before your aunt bans you from free smoothies.”
“She’d never!” Maya gasps
“Also get ready to spill whatever is good on between you and Myles” I smirked then waves. “Bye, MayaTMTM
Jamal honks playfully as he drives off, music blasting out.
I slide into the backseat with a smile. “I’m so tired.” I yawned.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
