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There is absolutely nothing wrong with me."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
He leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. For a second, he looked exactly like Daniel: cynical, bored, and liable to bite. "Well,that's funny," he drawled. "I think you're lying through your teeth."
My stomach clenched. "Why?"
"Because," he said calmly, "in all the time I've known you,you have never once said those words."
"What words?"
"'There is nothing wrong with me.'"
"Oh,don't-"
"Never. You are a walking litany of imaginary flaws.So." Frankie unfolded himself and rested his elbows on the table. It wobbled. He didn't. He studied me over his tented fingers. "Truth or Dare?"
"It's Sadie's turn to ask."
"She passed," he snapped.
"Hey," I protested.
"Hey." Sadie actually waved a hand between us. "Maybe we can talk about this tomorrow."
"We could," Frankie replied with suspicious agreeability. "Except I want to do it now. So,here's the question, Marino. What-"
"Dare."
"Sorry?" he said.
"Dare. I'll take a dare/"
"Really?" he demanded.
"As long as it takes ten minutes or less. I have to go." All I wanted, really, was to leave.
Frankie didn't say anything-or move-for the longest time. He just stared at me. Then, finally, he blinked, lowered his hands, and shrugged. "Sing."
"Oh,come on-"
"Sing," he repeated. "You know how. Or concede."
That, I thought, would be so easy. It would also break something precious. In all out time together, none of us had ever conceded a dare. "Sadie. Sing with me?"
She nodded,but Frankie shook a finger at her. "You will not. Marino, you're on your own here."
I pretty much stomped way may to the stage. Stavros's son Nic was manning the karaoke machine. His brows shot up when he saw me. "A first.
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