“It is!” Rebel said with indignation. “And how doyouknow what a normal basement looks like?”
“Wehave a basement, too.” Mattie rolled her eyes. “It’s filled with boxes and pipes and regular stuff.”
Shoving his hands in his pockets, Kayce rocked on his heels. “So, uh, what’s in Rebel’s basement?”
Rebel waved her hand and laughed. “Don’t worry about it.” She pointed to the bottle. “Back to the champagne. We need to empty it and use it for the game.”
Mattie snapped her brows together. “What game?”
“Spin the bottle,” Rebel announced happily.
“You want to play spin the bottle?” Mattie glanced from Kaia to Kayce, then back at Rebel. “With these two?”
“Yeah,” she said offhandedly, pointing at the bottle and then Kaia. “Open it.”
“But–”
“Please, Mattie?” Rebel said, interrupting her cousin. “I thought it would be more fun with the four of us than just me and Kaia.”
Yeah, no. Kaia wouldn’t have been able to withstand the game with only him and Reb. He’d been dreaming of tasting her lips from the moment he saw her on the pedestrian deck at Turn Creek Bridge in her cute little school uniform, trying to light her cigarette.
Mattie glanced at Kayce and her shoulders slumped. “F-fine,” she said morosely and shuffled to the bed, grabbing delicate crystal glasses with long stems out of the basket.
Rebel’s obliviousness disappointed Kaia. Obviously, Mattie liked Kayce, but Rebel saw no issue with drawing him into a game where there was a fifty percent chance she’d have to kiss him. And what aboutKaia? He didn’t want to watch Rebel kiss his brother or anyone else.
Silent, Kaia popped the cork and smiled at Rebel’s squeal.
“I love that sound,” she gushed, snatching the bottle from him and drinking deeply.
Hiccupping and giggling, she licked her lips as Mattie dragged herself back to the sitting area with the four beautiful glasses.
“A toast,” Rebel called once Kaia poured the champagne.
“I’m not in the mood.” Mattie took a sip and lowered her lashes. “Let’s just play the stupid game.”
Rebel indicated the spot beside her, her bright blue gaze unreadable. Mattie sat on the floor across from Rebel and Kayce took the spot next to her across from Kaia.
“Do we do a coin toss or something to see who goes first?” Rebel asked.
“It’s your game,” Mattie grouched. “You go first.”
Draining her glass, Rebel nodded. “We should’ve stolen more than one bottle,” she said, setting the crystal next to her feet.
Kaia gulped. “Stole from who?”
“Diesel,” Rebel said offhandedly, ignoring Kaia’s sudden horror. She set the bottle to spinning.
Round and round it went until it slowed and crept to a stop, landing on Kayce.
Of course it fucking would.
Everyone except Rebel froze. She glared between Mattie and Kaia, then smirked at Kayce and cocked her head to the side. “Do you want to kiss me, Kayce?”
“Does it matter what I want?” he asked evenly. “You wanted to play the game when clearlywedidn’t.”
“Right,” she said with biting sarcasm. “Because you have zero free will.” She made a face at Kaia. “Which is whatyoutake away from me by lying. Tell me the fucking truth and let me exercise my free will. Diesel’s a liar, so you’re one by association. I’m giving you one last chance to tell me the real story.”
Fuck. Instead of manipulating Rebel and backing her into an emotional corner, he’d just pissed her off more.
