I bite my lower lip. “Never have I ever gone a day without listening to music.”
Only Harrison drinks. After he slams his glass down, he says, “Never have I ever gone skinny-dipping.”
All the cups are drained except his. I can’t help but begin to relax as heat threads through my veins and into my arms, legs, and head.
“There’s a pool right there, dude.” Brad points to the shimmery turquoise water beyond the glass.
Harrison glances at Rae, who grins and says, “Be my guest.”
“Not alone,” he replies sultrily into her ear but loud enough for me to pick up.
Never have I ever felt like more of a fifth wheel,I think but don’t say out loud, because one, it’s not my turn, and two, I always feel like a fifth wheel.
I wish Ten were here.Ugh.Why am I so hung up on him?
“Never have I ever had sex,” Mel says.
Everyone drinks except her and me.
Jasper raises an eyebrow at Mel. “Never?”
She blushes but laughs it off.
Has Ten ever had sex? The thought dampens the lilt in my mood. Why must my brain conjure him up? Why can’t I just stop thinking about him altogether?
“Never have I ever driven a car,” I say, even though it’s not my turn.
Everyone drinks except me.
“Never have I ever lied to Principal Larue,” Rae says.
We all drink except her and Laney.
“Never have I ever played volleyball,” Laney says.
We all drink but her.
“Never have I ever enjoyed volleyball,” Harrison ventures.
I drink. I don’t like volleyball. It hurts my wrists. Wait, was I supposed to drink? The rules are blurry.
“Never have I ever painted my nails,” Jasper says.
The girls drink.
I’ve had six, seven, maybe ten shots.
Ten.
Ugh.
I tap on my phone and bring up my last conversation with him and type,Are you a virgin?and clickSEND. Then I stare at the words, the horror of what I’ve just done registering. I want to erase my message but since I can’t, I add,Rae asked,and send it. I silently apologize to my friend but doubt she’ll care considering how little physical space remains between Harrison and her. They’re definitely well on their way to hooking up. Come to think of it, she didn’t mention Ten once this week. Not that we’ve spent an extensive amount of time together what with her spearheading the homecoming committee.
I drink the next shot without listening to the question. Three little dots light up on my screen.
Ten is writing back.
I’m not sure whether to feel glad or nervous, so I feel both. I gnaw on my fingernail, chipping the green polish Laney brushed on before the game.
