I’m not sure if it's the two shots sloshing around in my stomach or watching them touch so intimately that has my face heating up, but either way I pull out my phone to distract myself. Only one new notification, and it’s from my mother.How exciting.
Mom: Hey SuperNova! The Diaz’s invited your dad and I over for a night cap. We’ll be home late.
“Why don’t we make this fun!” Luke gestures, crossing his arms behind his head and leaning back onto the oak headboard. His muscular arms pull tightly against the sleeves on the button up, and compared to the warmth of the room, his blackwork tattoos look even more harsh than they did downstairs.
“What do you have in mind?” Jackson asks, pulling his legs up from the ground to sit cross legged. The cut off sleeve holes dip down, his toned abdomen peaking through ever so slightly.
“Truth or dare?” Luke questions, raising an eyebrow in a mischievous manner. Abby bites onto her bottom lip, letting out a small giggle in excitement. Jackson nods his head, holding back a smirk of his own. I, on the other hand, feel my nerves intensify. With their reactions, I can tell this is so much more to them than some child’s game.
Saint seems to be the only one who doesn’t agree. “No. Not with her.” He states blandly, nodding his head towards where I’m sitting.
His constant aggression finally gets the best of me as I down the rest of the beer that Jackson had snagged for me before we had headed upstairs. “What?” I start off, glowering down at him. “Are you fucking scared, Saint?”
“Ooooo.” Abby lets out in a playful tone, reaching up to gently pat her palm against Saint’s cheek. I can practically see the anger in him. It rises off like steam on an overheated engine. I subconsciously pat myself on the shoulder for finally standing up for myself. He has no idea what I’ve gone through. He has no idea who “Nova” is anymore, and he doesn’t get to treat me as if he does.
“Fuck it,” he curses out, raising his second beer to his lips before downing its contents.
“Now we’re talking!” Luke lets out an enthusiastic laugh as he rubs his hands together. “So rules for the new girl, if you won’t answer a truth, you do a line. You fail to complete a dare, youtake a shot of this.” He reaches over the side of his bed, pulling a bottle of Jager into my line of sight. My stomach instantly gets queasy as I take in the musty green glass.You should’ve just taken Saint’s side, even if he was being a dick,I think to myself as I attempt to hold back a gag. Jager was one of dad’s favorites before I had left. The smell alone can bring vomit up from my stomach if I’m not careful. Nonetheless, I nod my head in agreement, turning to look at Abby. Her joy is so evident, splayed across her tipsy smile. I just want to be a good friend.
As if she can sense me, she turns to look at me, stretching out her pinky to take mine in hers. “I still pinky promise, bestie.” She winks at me as the last word rolls off her tongue. My heart swells as I take her in. Her kindness is rare, one I’m grateful to be able to experience. While I might be terrified, at least I have someone here I can trust.
“So who’s up first?” Jackson asks, practically bouncing on the bed with a cheeky grin. He looks between all of us as if he’s waiting for someone to raise their hand.
“Let’s let the new girl be lucky number one,” Saint spits out. “An initiation of sorts.” All eight eyes turn to stare at me. I internally curse Saint, now having more anger at his existence than curiosity as to what had changed in him.
“Fine.” The tip of my thumb swirls against the rim of the empty bottle still in my lap. The cool glass keeps me grounded as I try to stay calm. “Luke, truth or dare?”
He turns to look at me and I swear his darker eye turns into a black hole. One that could suck me in if I’m not careful. Luke grins his wicked smile at me before responding. “Dare.”
Taking a look around the polished room I barely think before responding with, “mess this place up. It’stoo clean.
Luke feigns hurt, pulling his lips down to a frown and placing a hand over his heart. “You wound me.” I can’t help but cracka smile as I watch him chuck the pillows from the bed onto the floor, purposefully hitting Saint with the last one.
Over the next hour truths, dares, and shots circle around the room. Thankfully the group seems to be taking it easy on me, and I haven’t had to consume or snort anything. Even Saint seems to be enjoying his time now, laughing alone at the more ridiculous dares, like when Luke had dared him to moon the people in the front from the bedroom window. He hadn’t done it, but his laugh was buttery smooth as he poured his shot.
“Novaaaaaaaa,” Abby sings out, clearly wasted. “Truth or dare, babe?”
Laughter bellows out of me as I watch her with contentment. Maybe we really can be close.
“Dare.”
“I dare you,” she starts up, pointing a finger at me, “to kiss Jackson.” Abruptly her finger swings over to him. A rose color fills up his cheeks as he stares wide eyed at Abigail. She softly wiggles her eyebrows at him before looking back over to me. “Or you can take a shot, up to you.”
I glance over at Jackson, who looks like he’s about to burst from nervousness. “Can I kiss you?” I ask, thanking the party gods for getting me intoxicated enough to have some courage.
He gives me a soft nod before scrambling out of the bed and over to the couch, taking a seat next to me. When his warm irises land on mine, butterflies swirl around in my stomach. With both of us blushing so hard, I’m sure to the others we look like elementary kids. Our nervousness over a simple kiss carries such a childlike softness to it.
He reaches up, but before he touches me he pauses. “May I?” Now it’s my turn to give out a sheepish nod.
His gentle touch grazes softly over my cheek bone before he pulls me in. Instantly my senses are overloaded by the smell of mint and cigarettes. His soft lips caress mine before he applies more pressure into the kiss. I melt into a damn puddle in this man’s hands. Opening my mouth, I allow his pleading tongue access inside. Together our muscles dance around each other, taking their time exploring. My hands find their way wrapped around his neck, pushing it lightly to make him tilt his head. When he does, our kiss deepens and I can feel the arousal begin to build up inside me. I haven’t kissed anyone in years. Not since- No.
I bite down on Jackson’s lip, making him groan out with pleasure. It’s just enough to bring me back into the moment. Before I can get too hot and bothered I pull away, leaving his lips swollen and both of us flushed. Luke lets out a whistle, “that was hot!” He claps his hands together, followed by a chuckle. “How was that, Jackson?”
Jackson’s eyes continue to linger on me as he responds to Luke, “fucking perfect.”
His words have pride blooming in my chest. I half expect him to get up and return to his spot on the bed, but when he doesn’t leave my side I’m left pleasantly surprised. Jackson’s body heat radiates off of him, leaving me feeling oddly comfortable. I work myself up and make the first move, sliding on the couch untilI’m pushed up against his shoulder. The corner of his lips tip up before he wraps an arm around me, pulling me in closer.
“Alright, my turn,” Saint bites out. The tone in his voice unsettles me as he stares directly at me.
