We passed a sofa with a handful of people playing some sort of drinking game with shot glasses in front of them. One room had a full DJ set up with dozens of bodies grinding against each other to the music, just like at that club.
"Pick your poison," Nathan said as we walked into the vast, chrome-plated kitchen. Bottles of every size and color were lined up on the countertops, along with red cups for mixing drinks.
"Can you recreate that Rocket thing I had at the club?" I asked.
"Pomegranate seeds might be a stretch," Nathan said as he pulled out his phone, looking up the recipe. "But Cameron's got to have all the other ingredients here somewhere."
He used a couple different types of alcohol to make my drink, and when he handed it over, I paused with the cup halfway to my lips.
"Just how good are you at mixing drinks?" I asked. "This won't make me go blind, will it?"
"It's a good thing my drummer isn't here," Nathan said. "He'd take that as a dare."
"Your drummer is Seth, right?" I asked.
Nathan nodded. "He likes to concoct the worst combinations as punishments during drinking games."
"I'll stick with my Popsicle flavors, thanks." I took a sip and made a pleased noise, nodding at Nathan. "You did good. Tastes just like the real thing."
Nathan grabbed a beer and we went back into the fray. I was about to ask where the swimming pool was — not for skinny dipping, since I'd worn my swimsuit under my clothes — when a grinning young man popped up in front of us.
"Nate, my man! We're starting up a game, you gotta join." The guy paused, taking notice of me. He gave me the once over before a familiar knowing look crossed his face, similar to the one Gael had given me. "Your lady friend can join, too," the guy offered.
"Becca, this is Seth," Nathan introduced.
"The one who makes awful drinks?" I asked.
Seth made a face. "Aw, you warned her ahead of time? No fun."
Nathan's arm tightened around my waist and he nudged me with his hip. "What do you think? Want to pop your drinking game cherry?"
"You've never played a drinking game?" Seth asked, sounding aghast. He grabbed my hand and pulled me over to a heavy sofa. "You're playing. I won't take no for an answer."
Jessie and Gael, along with a dark haired man, were already sitting around a coffee table. Gael held an ice pack to the back of his head. The drummer practically bounced with excitement as we took our places. He was more excited than seemed reasonable, which worried me. Exactly what was I getting myself into?
Nathan sat beside on me the sofa, close enough for our thighs to press together and for our ankles to cross. It was an almost possessive gesture. A tingle went through me, making my toes curl in my shoes. I suppressed a silly smile.
"This is Julian," Nathan said, introducing the dark haired man. "He plays the keyboard in my band, along with a few other instruments."
Julian nodded at me in a silent greeting. His longish black hair fell over his cheeks, nearly obscuring his equally dark eyes. His all black clothing and dispassionate expression made him look like the stereotypical artiste. All he needed was a French beret on his head.
But there was something about the way his eyes glinted, resting on each of us in turn with a slow, careful sweep, that told me he wasn't as impassive as he wanted us to believe. He was watching us, sizing us up, assessing us for weaknesses.
"So which game are we playing this time?" Gael asked.
"Never Have I Ever," Seth announced. He looked to me. "You know the rules?"
"Uhh—" I said, panicked. Would it be weird if I said no?
"It's simple enough," Nathan said. "We each take turns saying something we've never done, and if anyone else has, they have to take a shot."
Great. I was going to stay stone-cold sober, then.
But I nodded, not showing my disappointment. I'd always wanted to play a drinking game with friends. I wasn't going to bow out now.
Seth pushed shot glasses filled with an odd, sludgy brown liquid.
"What kind of drink is this?" I asked.
