“It’s way too cold for that,” Ellie protests, shooting me a look, but if Sara doesn’t care, then what does it matter?
It’s hard to think of anything better when all I can think about is Alondra.
“Nope, I’m not a chicken like Dylan,” Sara says, throwing a jab at Dylan who scoffs.
“Jumping in the snow is very different from licking the inside of a toilet, and I stand by my decision.”
Nate stands, walking toward the kitchen. “She’s crazy. I’d just take a sock off,” he says, chuckling, but Sara doesn’t even hear him because she’s already stepped outside.
She runs back in a moment later, her teeth chattering. “Not a chicken, but it’s really fucking cold outside,” she says, plopping on the couch next to Ellie, grabbing her blanket to wrap up in. “Al, truth or dare?”
“Dare?” Al answers, sounding uncertain, and I can’t blame her after the last dare she got.
“I dare you to kiss . . .” Sara grins, and her gaze jumps around the room, landing on Coop, who is staring at his phone. “Coop. Ten seconds, and with tongue.”
Did I hear her right?
“Really, Sara?” Coop asks, looking up, but I’m too busy trying to let it sink in.
The last thing I want to happen tonight is to see my girl kiss one of my roommates, and Sara fucking knows it.
Ellie groans, and I’m glad I’m not the only one against this. “Maybe don’t dare my roommate to kiss my brother?”
Nate chooses this moment to step back in the room, taking his seat again.
“Fine. I dare you to kiss Nate then—same rules,”Sara says, and I clamp my jaw shut.
“Who am I kissing?” he asks, taking a drink of his beer.
I know she’s not really mine, but I hate this. I’ve denied that anything is happening between us, and if I protest, it’ll only make them ask why.
Al still hasn’t said anything, and it makes me hopeful she’ll take off the sweatshirt she borrowed from me instead, but she shrugs, sliding out from next to me as the voice of reason in my head begs me to say literally anything.
“Fine,” Alondra says, and I have never hated a word more than I do right now.
I’ve been doing my best not to act like things are different between us since Halloween, but I can’t get her out of my fucking head. It’s bad enough she walked in on me fucking my hand thinking about her grinding against my thigh, but I’ve just gotten her to stop running from me.
Sara has no idea what she’s just set into motion.
Nate looks at me, but I’m caught between the lie of friendship and the fear of Alondra meaning more to me, making it impossible for me to say anything.
Alondra pulls her braid over her shoulder and lands in his lap. I think I’m going to be sick, but I can’t look away, hating every second she’s not next to me.
Al rests her hands on the back of Nate’s neck, leaning forward to kiss him, and I’ve never felt blinding jealousy like this before. He reaches to cup her cheek, kissing her back whileI clench the blanket in my fists. Dylan actually looks a little worried when he glances at me, and I need a fucking break.
She pulls away first, standing up, but everything feels wrong right now.
“Nine seconds, but it looked like you were swallowing each other, so I’ll let it slide,” Sara teases, and Al’s cheeks are a rosy color as she walks toward the other end of the couch without looking at me.
“Ellie, truth or dare?” Alondra asks, tucking her arms around her knees pulled up to her chest, and I’m not sure I can sit here and wait for someone else to try using Al against me.
I’m aware my views of love are fucked up, but if I could be different, don’t they think I would be?
“Truth,” Ellie replies, and I can feel the weight of her stare on me. The energy in the room has shifted, and Sara has the damn nerve to look apologetic now that the dare is complete.
“I’m tired. I’ll see y’all in the morning,” I blurt out, standing up to walk away. I need to get my shit together before I say or do something I’ll regret.
Nate is one of my best friends, but I’m not going to high five him for kissing Alondra when it should have been me.
