The Girlfriend Who Dared – Part 1: Day One

The jar was an old pickle jar, washed and labelled in red marker: THIRTY DARES. Tia set it on the kitchen counter of their Silver Lake flat and watched Jesse squint at it over his coffee.

"What is that," he said.

"A plan," said Tia.

"That's a jar full of paper."

"Each piece of paper has a dare on it," said Tia, very seriously. "One a day, for thirty days. You pick one from the jar, every morning, and you do it, unless you say no. And if you say no, you have to tell me why."

"What kind of dares?"

"Small ones," said Tia. "Safe ones. Nothing that hurts, nothing public, nothing you wouldn't want to do. Things like: Cook dinner in silence and only communicate through interpretive dance. Or: Ask me one question you've never dared to ask."

Jesse put down his coffee. "That's very specific."

"I've been planning it since March."

He laughed, and then looked at her more closely, the way he did when he suspected she was up to something. "Can I see the list?"

"No. That's the fun part. You don't know what's coming."

"That sounds like a terrible game."

"It's a wonderful game," said Tia. "You just don't know it yet."

He reached into the jar, slowly, and drew out the first card. Tia watched him unfold it, her heart thumping absurdly.

Tell me one thing you've always wanted to try in bed, and then say yes or no to me trying it.

Jesse read it twice. The kitchen went very quiet.

"Okay," he said, slowly. "That's not a small one."

"You can say no."

"I'm not saying no," said Jesse. He set the card on the counter, face up, and looked at her steadily. "I'm just trying to work out how honest I can be before breakfast."

"Be as honest as you like," said Tia. "I'll be honest too."

He took a deep breath. "I've wanted to try being tied up," he said. "Gently. With scarves. And I'd like you to be the one who decides when to stop."

Tia felt her face go hot and her chest go warm.

"Yes," she said. "I'd like that. And I'd like to have a safe word, and you'll use it if you need to."

"Green?" he asked, half teasing, half serious.

"Green," said Tia. "Very green. Pick the next card."

He laughed, and reached back into the jar.