Chapter 1At our college reunion, someone suggested Truth or Dare. My husband Cade Brennan went first. Drew Truth.
[Biggest regret in your love life?]
He didn't even blink—just stared straight at his ex, Sloane Hartley, three seats down.
"Not ending up with the woman I loved. Married my backup instead. Been settling ever since."
Room went dead quiet.
Everyone thought I'd flip my shit and bail. But I just smiled, waved my hand like whatever, keep going.
Soon, my turn came. Different question.
[Ever hide anything from your partner?]
"Yeah." I took a sip of my drink. "Been raising a seven-year-old. On the side."
---
Nobody said a word.
Cade—who was wasted two seconds ago—suddenly looked stone-cold sober, staring at me like I just told him I was from Mars.
Brad, our class president, jumped in real quick. "Whoa Reese, you're drunk. You can't just—"
"Come on, Cade was just joking around! Don't be like that!"
Some chick smacked my shoulder—way too hard—fake-laughing like this was all some big joke.
I threw back my drink. Kicked back in my chair. Didn't even blink.
"I'm not joking."
"Seven years married to this guy. Every time he's wasted? Moans her name. Sloane. In bed? Same shit. Even his damn WiFi password? 'SloaneBaby123.'"
"We've been playing house for years. So yeah—me raising some kid on the side? That's the crazy part?"
I'd just unloaded way too much. Everyone sat there frozen.
Sloane and Cade looked at each other. Faces going dark.
But Cade's always cared more about looking good than anything else. No way he's letting me trash him in front of everyone.
He slammed his hand down on the table. "Reese, you're drunk. Get the hell out. Stop making a scene."
"I call you out on ONE thing and now you're gonna play victim?"
Play victim?
I've been eating this shit for seven years.
He's still obsessed with Sloane after all this? Cool. She's all yours.
I stared at that stupidly perfect face. The longer I looked, the more I wanted to throw up.
"Play victim? Name one thing I said that wasn't true."
"Your Sloane obsession? What I said doesn't even scratch the surface. Wanna air out all your dirty laundry? Right here, right now?"
Room got tense again.
Sloane, seeing things about to blow up, grabbed a drink and came over to me.
"Reese, c'mon. We're all old friends. This is just for fun. Why you so mad?"
"Plus, Cade and I are ancient history. I've been overseas forever—he was just trying to be nice. Let me say sorry, yeah? Don't let me screw things up between you guys."
She held out her glass.
I smacked it out of her hand.
Cade jumped up. Wiped the booze off his face. Eyes on fire.
"You say I'm obsessed with Sloane? Alright. Yeah. I am."
"But what about you? You think you're some kinda saint? You cheated too. And you've got a kid."
"You say I don't have the balls to confess everything? Fine. Let's do a full confession session. Right here."
"Whoever breaks first and leaves—that person gets nothing in the divorce. You in?"
I smirked. "Let's go."
Even though I'd known forever Cade and Sloane were still tangled up. Even though I'd already decided I was divorcing him next year.
I still wanted to hear him say it. All of it. Out loud.
Not for revenge or anything.
Just so I could finally be done with seven years of wasting my time on this guy.
This confession game with a bet?
I'm seeing it through.
Chapter 2
Game kept rolling.
Cade went straight for the throat.
"Night I proposed? I was at the Hilton with Sloane."
"All night. No condom."
Dead silence. Everyone just... froze.
Staring at me like I was some kicked puppy.
"Dude, that's harsh."
"You're really starting with that? She gonna make it through this?"
Sloane grabbed his arm, pretending to scold him, but you could hear her trying not to smile.
Cade brushed her off. "Make it through what? That's barely anything."
"Better to rip the band-aid off now. Don't want her freaking out halfway."
I pulled out a cigarette. Took my time lighting it.
"Yeah, I know."
"Seven years ago, when you two were screwing in that room? I was right next door."
"With some other guy."
Night he proposed, I got a call from Sloane's boyfriend, Jordan Pierce.
We stood pressed against the wall, listening to them go at it all damn night.
Jordan tried to kick the door down like five times. I stopped him every single time.
Because I was so stupidly in love with Cade back then.
Told myself it was their last goodbye. After this, they'd be done.
Turns out I was just lying to myself for seven years straight.
"You think that's gonna piss me off?"
Cade laughed, looking at me like I was pathetic.
"Wanna know what happened after that night?"
"Sloane got knocked up."
"And I told her to keep it."
Room exploded.
People sat there, jaws on the floor, whispering like crazy.
"Holy shit, this isn't truth or dare anymore—it's a bloodbath."
"Poor Reese. Seven years and she just found out her husband knocked up his ex."
"Poor? She knew seven years ago and still stayed. Girl's a doormat."
"Right? And she cheated too. They're both trash."
I ignored them. Just took another drag.
Smoke curled up as I said, "Yeah. Knew that too."
"Her pregnancy papers were tucked in that coat she gave you. St. Luke's in Phoenix. Three appointments."
Cade and Sloane's faces went real dark real quick.
He thought dropping that bomb would break me. That I'd scream, flip the table, storm out.
Didn't expect me to rob him of that satisfaction.
Seeing him just sit there silent, I twisted the knife.
"But I've got one question."
"Where's the kid?"
Chapter 3
Cade froze for a second. Then his voice shot up.
"None of your damn business. She's not your kid—you don't get to ask."
Course I knew he wouldn't answer.
Or more like—he didn't dare answer.
Back then, to stay with Sloane while she had the baby, he made up some bullshit about his company sending him to Denver for six months of training.
Because of that lie, I pushed back our wedding a whole year.
After we got married? Didn't catch a single thing.
If I hadn't found those pregnancy papers while cleaning out his coat pocket, I'd probably still be clueless.
I crushed out my cigarette. Let out a laugh.
"Fair enough. Not my business."
"Just hope you didn't toss her in a dumpster to cover your tracks."
"She's a human being. If you—"
"Reese, are you DONE?!"
Cade's face went red. Pure rage in his eyes.
"You're doing this to humiliate me in front of everyone, aren't you?"
"You wanna tear me down? Fine. Let's make this interesting."
"Truth's boring as hell. Let's do Dare. You got the guts or not?"
I crossed my legs. Propped my chin on my hand. Looked at him like he was a joke.
"Sure. Whatever you wanna throw at me tonight, bring it."
He didn't waste time. Pointed at Brad to draw a challenge.
Brad hesitated but reached into the box.
Second later, a slip of paper hit the table.
[Make out with the person you love most. Three minutes.]
Cade smirked. Pulled Sloane onto his lap. Grabbed the back of her head.
"Reese, I gotta say—can't believe you actually stayed this long after finding out."
"You like being the pathetic wife that much? Fine. I'll give everyone a show. How's that sound?"
Before anyone could react, Brad shot up out of his seat.
"Cade, c'mon man. This is a reunion, not some trashy reality show."
Other people started jumping in, trying to talk him down.
"Yeah, okay, Reese called you out, but you can't do this shit in front of her. That's low."
"Cade, just cool it. You two are still married—don't nuke everything over a stupid game."
But Cade wasn't having it.
"Cool it? You're kidding me right now."
"Let's get one thing straight—Reese cheated too. She's got some seven-year-old kid stashed somewhere. We're both dirty here."
"Still married? Yeah, not for much longer."
And just like that, he kissed Sloane.
They went at it right next to me. Messy and gross. Eyes locked on me the whole time—waiting for me to lose it.
But I just sat there. Didn't even blink.
I know Cade. He always gets revenge.
I called him out, embarrassed him in front of everyone, made him look like an idiot. No way he's letting that slide.
And in his head, I'm just a cheating slut anyway.
We're both dirty? Why would he hold back?
Three minutes later, they finally came up for air.
Cade wiped the lipstick off Sloane's mouth. Looked at me all smug.
"So? You breaking yet?"
"You can leave if you can't handle it. But just so you know—you walk, you lose everything."
I smiled. Waved my hand for the game to keep going.
Brad thought for a second, then reached into the box again.
[First person of the opposite sex next to you picks your dare.]
First guy next to me?
Cade.
He grinned at me.
"Bring that kid you've been hiding."
"I wanna meet her."
