Protector - Laurel Dewey [177]
“We’re keeping that door closed and locked, Heather.”
“I’m just thinking of Mary’s asthma,” Heather replied, putting on a very good act as the concerned friend.
“Yeah, Mom,” Emily chimed in, “we have to think of our guests!”
Jane shook her head at Heather’s obvious manipulation. “I’ll blow it out an open window.” She turned to walk into the kitchen.
“Or, you could just go outside and smoke,” Heather proclaimed.
“Mom?” Emily cautiously suggested, knowing she was pushing Jane’s buttons. “Maybe you should go outside to smoke. I don’t want anyone to get sick.”
Jane let out a deep sigh and walked into the kitchen.
Heather waited until Jane was out of eyesight and heard the kitchen sink faucet turn on before launching into her devious plan. “Are we gonna play ‘Truth or Dare’?”
“Let’s do it!” Mary exclaimed.
“Heather,” Emily said. “Turn off that corner lamp. Flip the switch on the wall by the door.” Heather fumbled in the near darkness and flicked up two light switches—one that illuminated the front porch light and the other that turned on the bright beam over the garage. “Try the other switch to your right,” Emily instructed.
Heather slapped that switch and the lamp clicked off. She looked around the room. “Hmmm. The room needs something more. Something different. If we only had one of those Starlight Starbrights, we could—”
“I’ve got one!” Emily said, jumping to her feet.
“No way!” Heather said.
“I’ll get it!” Emily raced into her bedroom and returned with only the projector.
“Where’s the case?” Heather said pointedly.
“I left it in the bedroom,” Emily replied, plugging in the projector and adjusting the knobs. She propped the projector onto a pillow, casting a starry carpet of pinpoint lights across the living room ceiling. Turning another knob, the soft, melodic tones of Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma,” interwoven with the sounds of crashing waves and a gentle wind, drifted into the air. The girls sat in awe as the constellation of stars floated above their heads. For a moment, Emily was drawn into the familiar sound.
“Okay!” Heather announced, plopping her body onto her sleeping bag that was in direct line with the kitchen. She glanced toward the kitchen and noticed that Jane was still standing at the sink, running the water. “I’ll go first. Mary! Truth or dare?”
Chapter 26
Mary was surprised to be called first. “I’m first? I’m never first.”
“Well, you are now!” Heather said in an aggravated tone. “Truth or dare?”
Mary looked a tad nervous. “Truth,” she said haltingly. “No! Dare!”
“Alright,” Heather said, the wheels turning in her head. “I dare you to kiss your arm in a real sexy way . . . the very same way you’ll kiss your first boyfriend.”
Mary looked shocked. “Heather. I can’t—”
“Do it!” Heather ordered. Mary reluctantly brought her arm to her lips. “Wait!” Heather interrupted. “Instead of using your own arm, you have to use Patty’s.” The girls, save for Emily and Mary, nervously giggled. Emily looked over at Mary, not quite knowing what to think. The whole thing seemed odd to Emily and yet she tried her best to block out the feeling. She held out her arm to Mary who reluctantly held it between her hands. Pausing briefly, Mary leaned down and kissed Emily’s arm as best she could. After a few seconds, she quickly let go of Emily’s arm. The girls let out a cacophony of laughter. Heather shook her head in dissatisfaction. “Gosh, Mary. I feel sorry for your first boyfriend!” Mary shrunk down in embarrassment as the other girls laughed even louder. “You know, Mary,” Heather said, “if you now agree to a double dare, you can sit out the next round and give out two truth or dares.”
“Do it, Mary,” one of the girls urged.
Mary looked helplessly around the room. Emily was drawn toward the ceiling as the lilting melody of “Nessun Dorma” from the Starlight Starbright pulled her away from the group. Mary tugged on Emily’s pajama sleeve, bringing Emily back into the moment.
“What should I do?” Mary whispered to Emily.
“Um, it sounds like a good deal, I guess” Emily said, not quite sure.
Mary hesitated.