“I think we should be allowed to DJ and dance later to some of our favorites. I was thinking some Taylor, Sia, Billie, and maybe even some Harry,” she said, her grin turning downright evil. Her and Ethan were meant for each other.
I looked to Ethan. “I like that. If I win, Isabelle and I get to play DJ later.”
Ethan held a cocky smirk that I was going to enjoy removing from his face. “Deal.” He lifted the shot glass filled with Jim Beam and held it up.
I picked up my Jim Beam shot glass and clanked it with his. Without losing eye contact, we threw back our shots at the same time. I didn’t so much as blink as it scorched everything it touched on its way down my throat.
Ethan also was unfazed. “Impressive for someone who’s never been to a party.”
I scooped up my next shot glass, filled with Jose. “This is indeed my first party. However, this isn’t my first time doing shots.”
Colt and Creed chuckled next to me and Isabelle giggled. Ethan’s cocky smirk dropped just a smidge, but it was still satisfying to see.
Ethan clanked his shot glass with mine and we downed the Jose. I wasn’t a fan of tequila and it took effort to keep it from showing. Ethan hadn’t reacted to the shot, either. Colt, Creed, and Isabelle cheered, drawing the attention of others.
By the time we both set our empty shot glasses down, Ethan wasn’t smirking any longer.
Isabelle pulled out her phone from her back pocket. “I’m going to make a playlist for our DJ session.”
That made us laugh and Ethan pouted a little. “You’re supposed to be on my side,” he said to her.
“I’ll make it up to you later,” she said before putting her mouth to his ear and whispering something to him.
Ethan’s smile grew bigger and bigger as he listened to whatever she was telling him. I couldn’t help but watch them—their intimacy and how comfortable they were with each other. I couldn’t stop myself from comparing my relationship with Colt and Creed to theirs. Mine was so different. Not bad. Just different. But I wanted that intimacy and connection with Colt and Creed. Was it sex that brought Isabelle and Ethan that close? Was I ready to take that step with Colt and Creed? I think I am.
A hand touched my back. “You alright?” Colt whispered in my ear.
I nodded. “Yeah, I was just thinking,” I whispered back.
“About?” he asked.
I smiled. “I’ll tell you later.”
“Okay,” Ethan said, picking up the Fireball shot. “You ready?”
I scooped up my shot. We clanked our glasses and threw them back. Fireball was whiskey, so it wasn’t that bad. Ethan’s eyes watered a little, but other than that he had no reaction. We both looked down at the last shot. Bacardi 151. Cheese and rice. I had to give myself a mental pep talk before picking up the shot. I’d endured worse. I’d tasted worse. I will not react. I will not react.
Everyone was quiet as they watched us tap our glasses together and take the shots. My eyes burned and the alcohol tasted foul as it rolled over my tongue, but I held my composure.
Ethan coughed and his face scrunched up. Isabelle, Colt, and Creed cheered, claiming me as the winner. I let out a breath and gagged. “That was terrible. I need something to get rid of the taste in my mouth,” I begged the guys.
“Want a beer or a soda?” Colt asked.
“Beer, please,” I said.
Smiling, Colt put a hand on Ethan’s slumped shoulder. “You were bound to lose at something one of these days. Come on, let's go get a beer.”
Ethan threw an arm over Isabelle’s shoulders and the three of them headed out onto the back patio.
Creed’s arm wrapped around me and his hand flattened on my lower stomach, pulling me against him. I leaned back against his chest and tilted my head so I could look up at him. He was frowning toward the living room. I looked in that direction and saw Gabe standing with some of his teammates from the baseball team. He was smirking at Creed. As if feeling me staring at him, Gabe’s gaze shifted to me and his eyes turned predatory as they slid down my body. I knew it wasn’t because he found me attractive. It was to taunt Creed.
I caught sight of Cassy sitting with Amber on the couch a few feet away from her cousin, Gabe. She was watching Creed’s unease with disturbing smugness.
The need to slap that smugness off her face bubbled inside me. I spun to face Creed. “Will you indulge my need to be petty?”
He stared down at me with an unsure look. “What?”
My cheeks warmed, but I could blame it on the alcohol. “Will you kiss me?”