Gregory takes his drink and coughs, taking a deep breath. “Each time feels easier and easier. It doesn’t even burn my throat anymore.”
“That’s because you’re already drunk,” I say, patting him on the back.
I look at the deep end of the pool and see the stupid Greek god talking to Marco and Luis. They look very serious. Embarrassment comes over me when I remember how I danced. Are they talking about me? Oh God!
I splash my face and the warm water feels good against my cold skin. Small waves form as we swim and they move and crash against the back of my arms.
“We should play a game.” Gregory offers, shaking his hair, spraying us all with droplets.
Apolo considers for a moment. “Something like hide-and-seek?”
Samy laughs. “No, something more fun! Like truth or dare, or never have I ever.”
I frown in confusion. “Never have I ever?”
“Yeah. I’ll explain the rules,” she pauses, going into full explanation mode. “For example, I start and say, ‘Never have I ever been drunk.’ Then anyone who has been drunk before has to drink.”
“What if you haven’t?”
“You don’t drink. It’s fun because you’ll learn what others have or haven’t done when you see them drinking or not. The suspense is great.”
“Okay, okay,” says Gregory. “But do we need more people or not?”
It’s just us, and Ares’s group over on the other side of the pool. The others left a little while ago. I have no idea what time it is. Gregory calls out, and the three boys swim toward us. We get out of the pool and my dress sticks to my body as I put it back on, but I’ve had so much to drink that I don’t care anymore. We sit on the wet floor in a circle. Apolo and Gregory sit on either side of me, Samy sits next to Apolo, then Marco, Ares, and Luis fill the circle. Ares is across from me. The bottle of tequila is in the middle of the circle. Samy explains the rules again to the newcomers. We all listen to her attentively, especially Marco.
“You know, if you’ve done it, you have to take a drink from your glass.” Samy takes some glasses and fills them full of tequila. “Take a drink if you’ve done it, but if you haven’t, then don’t drink.”
Ares lets out a derisive laugh. “What kind of game is this?”
Samy gives him a dirty look. “I’ve already explained the rules, so just play. Any brave ones?” No one. Samy sighs. “Cowards, I’ll begin,” she says, taking her glass. “Never have I ever snuck out of the house.”
She drinks and everyone else drinks, too, but not me. They look at me in surprise.
“What?” I say in defense. “I’m a good girl.”
Apolo gives me a look. “Even I, who is younger than you, have snuck out.”
Gregory pats my head. “Aw! You are a well-behaved little angel.”
Ares doesn’t pay attention to me; he’s too busy lighting a cigarette. The smoke is coming out of his mouth while he waits for Marco to take his turn.
“Never have I ever broken someone’s heart.”
“Ohhh!” Luis exclaims, amused. “I think we’ll all drink.”
My eyes fall on Ares, and I watch sadly as he brings his glass to his lips and drinks. I know he has broken many hearts, but somehow, I feel that he’s thinking of me as he drinks. Again, everyone drinks but me.
Luis grunts. “Really, Raquel? You’ve never broken a heart?”
Samy groans in annoyance. “At this rate we’ll all end up drunk while Raquel is still sober.”
“I’m being honest. I swear.”
Ares fixes his eyes on me and his perfect lips form into an arrogant smile. “Don’t worry, it’s my turn. I’ll make her drink.”
Gregory gives him a high-five. “Come on, let’s see, surprise us.”
Ares picks up his glass and raises it to me. “Never have I ever stalked anyone.”
Low blow.
Everyone looks at me, waiting for my reaction. I clench my hands at my sides and bite my bottom lip. Feeling like the odd one out in the group, I raise my glass and take a drink. Everyone watches me in silence. Angrily, my eyes meet Ares’s and I see him smile. But then he does something that brings me up short. He drinks, surprising us all.
Apolo shakes his head. “We have two stalkers here. I can’t believe it.”
Luis pats Ares on the back. “I never thought you would be one to stalk someone. I always thought you would be the one being stalked.”