My feet rooted to the ground as Mack squealed. The bartender poured rum on her stomach, and Callum’s mouth was on her. I fisted my hands, absolutely unclear why I hated him. Years of being teammates flew out the faded red bar door as he kept a hand on her thigh, holding her down. Everyone yelled louder, and how the fuck were there this many people here tonight? It was summer.
“Idiot.” Luca scoffed. “Wait, what is happening? Is…Lo, get the fuck down.”
My best friend pushed through the crowd as my sister lay on the bar. This oughta be good. Luca was possessive, and mysister was wild. Faithful, loyal, all that shit for sure. But if Callum or Mack dared her to do something, she’d do it. She had to. It was in her blood. We used to get each other in trouble because neither of us could back down from a dare. Win or die trying was our unhealthy motto growing up. WODT. Not a great acronym.
I followed.
“Lo, no.” Luca was already at the bar. There was a reason he was the best tight end in the game. Large and fast and quiet. He gripped her hip and covered her stomach with his other hand. “Not happening.”
“I guess you better do it then, huh?”
He growled. “Only if its whiskey. Then I’m taking your ass home.”
“God, he’s such a simp for her,” a girl next to me said, a dreamy look on her face. “I want a Luca Monroe.”
I rolled my eyes.
Luca took a shot off my sister while I focused on anything but the scene. Mainly, I tried not to punch Callum in the face as he ripped his shirt off before laying on the bar. This couldn’t be clean. Why was this allowed? I should talk to the manager.
“Mack, where do you want the shot? My stomach? Mouth?” Callum pushed up onto his elbows, eyeing her with a dumb smirk. He met my gaze, winking, before focusing on her.
I wanted to shove that wink up his ass.
“Do the tequila one! Lime in the mouth, salt on the stomach, shot in the belly button!” Heidi had somehow joined and stood right next to Mack. “Do it, do it, do it!”
Mack’s hands shook, but she nodded. “That’s what I want.”
“You got this girl. It’s harmless. Lick the salt. Do the shot. Then take this lime out of my mouth like a good girl,” Callum goaded.
I needed a new roommate. Plain and simple.
Mack laughed and flicked his nipple. “You’re the worst. I’m not one of your playthings, remember that.”
I hate this. I fucking hate this.I should’ve volunteered.
“I’ll never forget, Mallinson. Now stop stalling. This will knock off another item!”
It happened slowly, each second of time punching my eyelids. Mack ran her tongue along Callum’s too-tanned stomach. Then she sucked up the tequila. Then she grabbed the lime from his mouth, their lips almost touching.
You would think the football team won a playoff game with how deafening the cheers were. Screams and high fives and hollers surrounded me, but all I thought about was the fact Mack had licked Callum’s stomach, and he’d licked hers.
I want to be the one to do that.
Unreasonable. Unlikely. Unfair to think it.
But willing something out of my mind had never worked before, and this was no different. I ground my teeth together, my heart pounding against my ribcage as the urge to punch something grew. Did I think I could be the one to do that, and Lo and everyone would think it was normal? No. Callum and Mack were closer friends than me and her. He was also a flirt and did this all the time.
Plus, Lo would murder me if I touched her best friend. Maybe not death, but a few stabs, and those would definitely hurt. She was one to kill by a million small cuts rather than a fatal blow. That was why she was terrifying. I ran a hand over my hair, digging my fingers into my scalp to ground myself. Luca and Lo waved a quick goodbye to everyone, stealing my move. I wanted to sneak out of here, but they left first.Annoying.
Mack’s cheeks glowed, and her eyes were wide and filled with joy. She hugged her teammates, then Callum, gave high fives to everyone before her gaze sought mine. It was astrange, unfamiliar feeling to watch the moment she saw me. Her already large eyes grew bigger, and her already curved lips smiled even more. She weaved through the few people between us, ignoring most of them before she arrived in front of me.
Curiosity got the best of me. What was she going to say? What did Iwanther to say?
“Dean Romano,” she said, a little tipsy. She grabbed the collar of my shirt, her gaze on my mouth. My core tightened as her breath hit my face. She smelled like tequila.
If she kissed me, I’d lose my mind.
“Yes, Mallinson?” I said, my voice scratchy as hell. If it was any other girl, I’d say she’d know exactly how she affected me. But Mack had no idea.
