I didn’t have time for regrets. I had to survive.
The front of the house was lined with cars. The moment we opened the front door, the blasting music reverberated through my body. Despite the cold outside, the crush of bodies inside the house made the air hot, the smell of marijuana and alcohol in every breath I took, the constant murmur of loud conversation making it impossible to hear what Inaya said as she turned to me with a smile and motioned somewhere deeper in the house. I followed her into the crowd, but we’d only made it a few steps when I heard my name called out with a shriek.
“Rae! Oh my God, I’m so glad you made it!” Arms wrapped around me from behind, and the familiar scent of Victoria’s vanilla body spray wafted around me. She planted a big kiss on my cheek before she similarly greeted Inaya. She was wearing a tight black bodysuit, red heels, and a leather rabbit mask over her eyes, her long brown hair pulled back into a high ponytail. She looped her arm through mine, and then through Inaya’s, weaving with us through the crowd. “Let’s get you some drinks, ladies! Love the thigh-highs, Rae, so cute!”
Her words were slurring, and Inaya and I exchanged a quick amused look. She led us through the massive living room, where the music was playing from a large sound system against the far wall. A long white bar, lit from beneath with pale blue LEDs separated the living room from the kitchen, and was lined with numerous bottles of liquor, mixers, garnishes…and Jeremiah.
He was standing on the counter, pouring tequila straight from the bottle into the open mouths of two women crowded against the counter. They sputtered on the alcohol, seizing lime wedges to bury the taste as Jeremiah laughed.
“Who’s next?” he yelled, laughing as he turned around on the bar. He caught sight of us entering, and called, “Hey! Raelynn! Your turn!”
“Noooo, thank you!” I said quickly as Victoria began to pluck various bottles from the bar, like a witch selecting her potions and poisons.
Poisons…my stomach turned a little. But she wouldn’t…would she?
Wondering if my friend was going to kill me was a truly bizarre experience. As if one part of my mind hadn’t yet caught up with the other, there was still that little voice in my head waving her hand dismissively, saying, Victoria isn’t going to kill you, silly.
Inaya shook her head as Jeremiah hopped down from the bar and sauntered over between us, leaning against the counter and giving me a mischievous smile. He was shirtless, wearing white trousers and suspenders with a bowler hat, his face painted to look like a mime. I’d never seen him with his shirt off; soccer kept him slim, but he was muscular, his abs rigidly defined and his biceps tightening as he raised the bottle of tequila toward me.
“Come ooonnn,” he teased. “One little shot.”
“As if you even know the definition of a little shot.” Inaya scoffed.
My eyes must have drifted a little too much, because Jeremiah’s smile widened, and he said softly, “See something else you like?”
For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. Phantom fingers tightened around my throat, gave one tight, possessive squeeze, and were gone. I gasped softly, my eyes darting around the room, surveying the crowd –
And fucking Jeremiah thought I’d gasped for him.
“Relax, Rae.” He pushed away from the counter, and the way his eyes slid over me made me feel slimy. “Tonight is gonna get crazy. Let yourself lower your inhibitions a little.” He winked, and luckily turned away before I scowled. He had no idea just how low my inhibitions could get; but it wasn’t him I was looking to lower them for.
The pressure that remained on the back of my neck disappeared as Jeremiah left the room, but my heart was still pounding. I knew that feeling, those bizarre phantom sensations.
But what was Leon doing here?
“To the fucking wildest night of the year!” Victoria cheered as she pressed a red Solo cup into my hands, and another into Inaya’s, before she tipped her cup back and chugged whatever concoction she’d whipped up for us. Despite the anxiety shooting off alarm bells in my head, I gulped down a mouthful: sweet, refreshingly cold, a little bitter, only barely betraying just how much alcohol was in it. Warmth spread as it went down and settled in my stomach. If Victoria was going to be pouring drinks this heavy, I’d really have to be careful.
I needed to find an opportunity to sneak off and explore, but I couldn’t do that with Victoria clinging around us. The party was raging, but people weren’t nearly drunk enough. I’d give it an hour, maybe two, before I figured it would be safe enough to sneak away.