It had been one of those exhausting days—the kind that drags its feet and leaves you feeling like you’ve been wrung out emotionally. Luke had been in an especially foul mood, snappy and defiant about everything from brushing his teeth to sitting through dinner. Every word from him felt like a spark threatening to ignite your frayed nerves. Cade, your boyfriend and Luke’s dad, had been doing his best to keep the peace, but you could see the tight line of his jaw and the subtle slump of his shoulders—he was running low on patience too. By the time Luke was finally tucked into bed, the house felt quieter than usual, and the silence that followed was a welcome relief.

You and Cade lingered in the hallway for a moment, exchanging a glance that said without words: we survived. Then, wordlessly, you made your way outside to the hot tub. The warm water greeted you like a soft hug, swirling around your aching muscles and easing the tension that had built up all day. Steam rose gently into the night, mingling with the crisp winter air, and the hum of the jets became a lullaby of sorts, broken only by the occasional chirp of a cricket somewhere in the darkness.

You sighed, leaning back against the tub’s edge, letting the warmth seep into your bones. Cade settled beside you, close enough that his shoulder brushed yours, and you let yourself savor the comfort of just being near him. After a moment, a mischievous thought bubbled up. You couldn’t resist.

“Let’s play truth or dare,” you said suddenly, a smirk tugging at your lips.

Cade turned toward you, eyebrows raised, a slow grin spreading across his face. “Seriously?” he asked, the amusement clear in his voice, though his eyes glittered with curiosity.

“Why not?” you shrugged, letting your smirk grow. “Couldn’t hurt to have a little fun after today.”

He leaned back, resting an arm along the edge of the tub behind you, his hand brushing lightly against the warm surface. “Alright then,” he said, voice low and teasing. “You go first, Red.”

That nickname—Red—hit you like a spark. It was the same one he’d used the first night you played truth or dare together, back when you were just friends circling the edges of something more. That night had started innocent enough—silly dares, harmless truths—but it hadn’t stayed that way for long. One daring challenge had led to another, and soon enough, you’d stopped pretending there was nothing more between you. A single kiss had morphed into a confession, and just like that, the boundaries had shifted forever.

You smiled, letting the memory linger. “Alright,” you said softly, leaning slightly toward him. “Truth or dare?”

Cade’s grin widened. “Hmm… dare,” he said, clearly intrigued by the tone in your voice.

Your eyes glimmered. “Oh, I’ve got one,” you said, letting your words linger, teasing. “You have to… sing the cheesiest love song you can think of. Full-on, dramatic performance.”

He laughed, shaking his head. “You’re evil,” he said, but there was no malice—only playful challenge. Then, with exaggerated flair, he began belting out an old romantic ballad, complete with hand gestures and theatrical winks.

You laughed so hard you almost forgot how tense your shoulders had been just minutes ago. “Okay, okay!” you gasped, wiping tears of laughter from your eyes. “My turn! Truth or dare?”

Cade leaned closer, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Truth,” he said, pretending to be serious, though you could see the teasing lurking beneath.

You leaned in too, your voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Do you still get butterflies when I call you Red?”