Truth or Dare

by ReShonda Tate Billingsley

  “I don’t care! No cameras!” this basketball player named Jock said after he bounced up next to Sheridan. “I’m ’bout to get into some mayhem and mischief up in Mexico. I don’t need any documented proof. Matter of fact”—he took off his baseball hat and held it out toward us—“all of y’all, give me your iPhones and your Droids.”

  Of course, nobody paid him any attention, so he ended up putting his hat back on his head.

  Evian stepped forward. She had her arms folded across her chest and was giving major attitude. She looked like she should be in some beach commercial with her butt-length hair pulled up into a loose ponytail and her Diane Von Furstenberg peach wrap dress. Evian’s dad was a Persian billionaire, and so she always carried herself like some princess (although we’d heard lately that her family had some ties to the mafia).

  “Mm-mm, Maya, this is so not cool,” Evian said.

  “For real,” Shay said as she stepped up next to Evian. Shay should’ve been the poster child for ghetto royalty. Her thug-turned-NBA father was Jalen Turner, one of the hottest players in the NBA. Somebody should’ve told her that bleach-blond hair was so not a good look for black girls. Even now, she had on some Daisy Dukes shorts, a Run-D.M.C. tank top, and some high-top Converse. Just ghetto. Shay had been the saltiest about me getting my own show, but whatever.

  “You’re not about to blast our business all up over the world,” Shay continued. “We all agreed that what happens in Cancun stays in Cancun.”

  “Yeah,” Zenobia added. “And it can’t stay in Mexico if you’re catching it all on tape.”

  “It’s not like you guys aren’t going to be recording and posting stuff on Instagram anyway,” I snapped back.

  Quincy just stood there like he was enjoying the show.

  “Look, you guys,” I said, trying a different approach to calm everyone down. “I would’ve preferred that they didn’t come either, but they’re here and I didn’t have a say-so in it, but what I did get them to agree to is a cut-off time. So anything that’s scandalous in Cancun will stay here. I promise.”

  I didn’t know how good I would make on that promise, but at this point, I needed to do my job and I didn’t need the drama.

  “And besides,” I continued, “I did get them to agree to give me final say on whatever they air.” I didn’t really, but I needed to make them feel at ease.

  “Oh yeah, because we know your judgment is on point,” Shay said, rolling her eyes.

  I gave her the hand and turned back to Sheridan and Kennedi. “All I’m saying is this is our chance to show the world how we party, diva style.”

  “I don’t need anyone seeing me toasted,” some girl from the back yelled.

  I wanted to tell her she had nothing to worry about because the camera would not be pointed in her direction at all with her busted-looking self. But I ignored her.

  “Doesn’t matter to me,” Kennedi finally said from the bus. Of course she’d be cool with it. Kennedi had my back all of the time, no matter what.

  “I don’t know, Maya. I’m not feeling this at all,” Sheridan said, shaking her head. I didn’t know why she was trippin’ anyway. It’s not like she’d be doing anything TV worthy anyway with her boring self. Sheridan was making me mad, though, because considering we were BFFs, she could be so shady sometimes.

  “Just trust me,” I said.

  “Yeah, like that would ever happen,” Shay mumbled as she turned and walked away.

  Kennedi slid her sunglasses on. “Whatever. Just can we roll? I’m ready to get my party on.”

  I looked at Sheridan, waiting for a sign from her that she was cool with everything. Finally, she smiled and said, “Fine.”

  I nodded toward Quincy. “All right. I’ll catch up with you later.”

  “Cool. Later.” Quincy didn’t say anything else as he made his way over to their waiting taxi.

  “You foul,” Jock said, wagging a finger at me. “But since you got this bus”—he broke out in a huge grin—“I forgive you.” He jumped on the bus. “Let’s get this party started!”

  His silliness was just enough to get everybody back in party mode as they pushed any reservations aside. I just hoped that it stayed that way.

  Chapter 3

  The InterContinental Presidente penthouse was off the chain. I had already upgraded to a suite for me and my girls before I found out that Tamara wanted Rumor Central to film, but nothing could compare to this.

  “Now this is how a diva is supposed to rock it,” Sheridan said, tossing her purse onto the Italian leather sofa. She sure seemed okay with things now. She’d already claimed her bedroom. I pushed aside my thoughts. Sheridan was just being Sheridan. There was no sense in me tripping.

  “Oh, it’s about to be on!” Kennedi said, doing a slow twirl around the room just as Jock stuck his head in the door.

  “Man,” he said. “Sweet!” He invited himself in and started looking around. “I know where the party’s going to be tonight.”

  “If you’re lucky, you’ll get invited,” I said, joking. I really hadn’t planned on having a full-fledged party, but the way this suite was set up, that seemed like a no-brainer.

  “Oh, I’m inviting myself.” Jock was the class clown so he kept everyone in stitches. He could be too silly sometimes, but he was always fun to be around. Jock plopped down on the sofa. “I hope the minibar is stocked ’cause your boy is ready to party.”

  I heard several other people coming down the hall and I looked up to see several more of my classmates, who all began piling in like I had a PARTY OVER HERE sign hanging on the door.

  “Dang, can we get settled in first?” Sheridan said.

  “Hey, we heard you guys were rocking the penthouse, so we came to see! Sweet,” someone said as they walked in.

  “Dang, can I be like you when I grow up?” Zenobia said, running her finger over the porcelain lamp sitting on the end table.

  “How did you get this?” Evian said. I knew she would be on the phone to her daddy right away, trying to get him to buy the hotel or something so she could get a suite like this.

  I wanted to tell Evian that green (with envy) wasn’t her color. Instead, I just flashed a huge smile. “Top of the line, baby! Only top of the line for Maya Morgan. And you know we’re gonna be throwing down.” I walked over to the door, held it open, and said, “But for now we need to get changed and hit the beach, so can you guys exit to the left?” I motioned out into the hallway.

  People started groaning and grumbling as they filed out. I was just about to say something to Jock, who hadn’t moved off the sofa, when I saw my ex, Bryce, and his skanky new girlfriend, Callie, walking down the hall in front of my suite, holding hands.

  Bryce was my first true love, a rich athlete with the swag of Chris Brown, the looks of Drake, and the fun-loving personality of Nick Cannon. I used to think that Bryce was the love of my life—until he played me for crazy and turned his back on me when he thought I did him wrong. I didn’t have two words for Bryce now. He and his D-list girlfriend could have each other.

  “What are you guys doing in there?” Bryce said to Zenobia as she exited.

  “Whatever it is, you won’t be doing it,” I replied.

  Callie turned her nose up when she noticed me. As if I really cared. “Nobody was talking to you,” she said.

  “I’m not trying to be around you, Maya,” Bryce said, leaning in to peek in the suite.

  “Good, then you’ll get your nose out of my room,” I snapped as I put my hand on his chest to push him back.

  “Oh, this is your room?” Bryce said.

  “It’s my suite, because that’s how I roll,” I said with major attitude. Bryce made me so sick. He was the first guy I’d truly loved and the way he’d done me was just foul. Although I would never let him know, I still wasn’t over it.

  Just then, Jock approached the door. “Guess I’m out,” he said. “For now.”

  “Okay, Jock,” I said, squeezing his arm, trying my best to make Bry
ce jealous. “I’m going to see you back for the party tonight, though, right?”

  “You can see me for the party right now. We can make our own party,” Jock said, wiggling his hips in my direction.

  I saw the veins in Bryce’s neck stand up and I knew right away that Bryce was jealous as all get out. And even though we were no longer a couple, and it seemed like he had moved on, I could tell he couldn’t stand to see me flirt with other guys. But then again, I was Maya Morgan, so that was understandable.

  “Well, I need to get changed first,” I said. “Maybe we’ll have a private party later on.”

  “That’s what I’m talking ’bout, baby, baby!” He walked out the door. “Who’s the man?” he told his boys as they followed behind him. They all laughed.

  Bryce had the nerve to lean in to me and whisper, “Desperation is so not becoming on you.”

  I stepped back and said, “Callie, can you get your man? Tell him don’t worry about who I’m dating.”

  Callie swung her fake twenty-six-inch hair over her shoulder, crossed her arms, and glared at him. “Yeah, Bryce, why you all worried about what she’s doing?”

  “I’m not,” Bryce said.

  “Whatever,” she huffed. “Let’s go.” She turned and stomped away without waiting for a reply.

  I smiled because I could tell that both of them now had attitudes. I didn’t care. That just made this trip that much better. I was going to have the time of my life—and piss Bryce off in the process. It didn’t get any better than that.

  Thirty minutes later, we had all changed into our bathing suits and were now heading to the hotel’s pool. I spotted the lounge chair where Bryce and Callie were. I wanted to make sure to sashay past them, flaunting my Christian Dior teeny bikini. I knew my body was banging and there was no way I’d be able to pass by Bryce without him salivating like a hungry dog.

  “Are you guys ready to party?” Kennedi said.

  “I was ready the minute I stepped off the plane,” I said. We laughed as we headed over to the pool.

  “This way,” I said, pointing in the opposite direction that we were heading. “There are some seats right there.”

  Sheridan frowned, and then she noticed Bryce and smiled. “My girl! I know that’s right!” Sheridan said.

  We walked past him and as expected, Bryce stopped talking mid-sentence and watched me. All I heard was Callie say, “No, you didn’t!”

  Me and my girls busted out laughing, but before we could get to some seats, the most gorgeous guy I’d ever seen in my life approached us.

  “Today has got to be my lucky day,” he said, looking me dead in my face. He had the lightest gray eyes I’d ever seen. His wavy hair was cut just short enough and he had a body that was out of this world, which he had on full display since he was wearing only a pair of sagging swim trunks.

  “You can’t come up with a better line than that?” Kennedi said, raising an eyebrow.

  “I’m not trying to come up with a line,” he said, not taking his eyes off me. He took my hand and slowly kissed it. “Because when you see something this fine, you’re literally speechless.”

  “Oh, give me a break,” Kennedi said. She was always the skeptical one of the group, but I actually found this guy’s flirting kind of cute.

  “I’m Carson,” he said extending his hand only at me. “Carson Wells.”

  Sheridan stepped in front of me before I could shake his hand. “Carson, is she the only one that you see?

  “No disrespect,” he said, still not taking his eyes off of me. “But she’s the only one that matters.”

  “Pow,” I said, laughing as I pushed Sheridan aside. I liked Carson already. “You have good taste, Carson.”

  “Tell me something I don’t know,” he said.

  “Oh, and he’s cocky,” Kennedi said.

  Carson didn’t seem fazed as he kept talking. “What’s your name, baby?” he asked me.

  “It’s not baby,” I replied.

  He smiled. His teeth could use a good whitening, but it was still one of the most beautiful smiles I’d ever seen. “My bad.”

  “The name is Maya,” I said, deciding to hold off giving him my whole name. I was known worldwide now, after all.

  “Umph, you here on Spring Break?” Kennedi asked, quizzing him.

  “Yeah, I’m here with my school from Fulton County in Atlanta.”

  Kennedi gave him the once-over like she wasn’t sure if she should believe him.

  “So, what are you ladies about to get into?” he asked.

  “You tell us,” I said.

  He took my hand again. “Why don’t you come up to our cabana?” He pointed to a cabana in the corner of the pool area, overlooking the beach.

  “I think I’d like that, but I don’t know you like that, so my girls have to come with me,” I replied.

  “Oh, trust and believe, I have plenty of friends who’d love to entertain your girls while I get to know you better,” he replied.

  We giggled. This trip was definitely off to a good start, and when I saw the way Bryce was fuming, I knew it was only about to get better.

  Chapter 4

  Day one of Cancun fun was just kicking off and I was already having an awesome time. We’d hung out at Carson’s cabana with him and his friends all day. Carson was a jokester and had kept us laughing all afternoon. Now, we were getting ready to go to a party.

  I surveyed myself in the full-length mirror in the suite, admiring the Versace mini dress that stopped in the middle of my thighs. Not too high to be trashy and sexy enough to be classy. I had just fluffed out my curls when the phone in my hotel room rang. It was probably Carson telling me to hurry up. He’d called me a few hours ago to invite me and my girls down to the party. I was supposed to meet him thirty minutes ago, but he needed to understand that beauty took time.

  I smiled as I answered, ready to get my flirt on. “Hello?”

  “Maya.”

  I groaned at the sound of my boss’s voice. “Hey, Tamara.”

  “Don’t sound so happy to hear from me,” she said.

  “No, I should’ve known. I thought you’d at least give me one day here before you were calling to check in.” I leaned into the mirror and applied some more lip gloss.

  “Now you know me better than that,” Tamara replied. I could just picture her at her desk, looking all clean in her designer suit as she sifted through papers. Tamara was the queen of multitasking. “So, how’s it going?”

  “We just got here, Tamara,” I said.

  “Well, what do you have lined up for us? We’re looking forward to seeing what you come back with.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Well, I’m just going to see how things play out.” I knew that I needed to start digging, but dang, could I enjoy myself for just a little while?

  I could hear the frustration in Tamara’s voice. “Maya, I need to stress to you how important this is. This is our first time taking this show on the road. The next trip they’re talking about is to Aruba. Wouldn’t you love to take Rumor Central to Aruba?”

  Oh yes, I thought. That would definitely be the business.

  “But the only way that’s going to work,” Tamara continued, “is if you prove that this whole ‘on the road with Rumor Central’ trip is worth it. And the way to prove that is by coming back with something worth covering, some sizzling stories.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah, I got it.”

  Her tone changed, obviously trying to lighten the mood. “So, where are you guys going tonight?” Tamara asked.

  “Well, Diddy’s son Justin is here and he’s having a party at a hotel, so we’re going over there.”

  “Oooh,” she said. I could just see her eyes dancing all excitedly. “That should be good. I’m sure that’s going to be a star-studded event, so you should be able to get something. Okay, I’ll let you go because you probably need to get rolling. Marcus is your undercover guy. He arrived this morning. So you should be all set.”

  I couldn’t help it
. I had to appeal to her one last time. “Tamara, you know I’m going to try and get you some dirt, but just so you know, my friends are so not going to be feeling this. They are not going to give Quincy anything worth filming.”

  “That’s why we sent two cameramen and the spy cam. Quincy can get the regular stuff on the air and then Marcus can use the little spy cam to get all the good stuff later on. You just tell everyone Marcus is an old friend or something if they ask why he’s hanging around.”

  I really didn’t like going behind my friends’ backs and taping them like that, but I knew that was my job. I just made a mental note that I would cut out anything that would get any of my closest friends in trouble. Everyone else was fair game.

  “Cool, I’m all over it,” I said.

  “I sure hope so, Maya. We’re counting on you.”

  We said our good-byes, and I took one last look in the mirror before getting Sheridan and Kennedi and heading downstairs.

  We made our way across the street to where the party was.

  “About time,” Carson said, smiling as he greeted us.

  “Beauty takes time,” I replied.

  He looked me up and down, his eyes giving his approval. “And you are beautiful.” He took my hand. “Come on.”

  Inside the hotel’s club, the party was in full effect. There were hot-bodied young people of every race and nationality. It was like a freakin’ United Nations party.

  Justin definitely knew how to party. The music was pumping and everyone was having a blast. And of course, I was enjoying the VIP section along with my friends.

  Around eleven o’clock, the policia, what they called the cops in Cancun, came in and shut the party down. It was just too many people, and hotel guests were complaining. It looked like our party was over.

  As we made our way outside with all of the other disgruntled party people, Carson said, “You know it’s too early to go back the hotel. Let’s take this party to the beach.”