Everyone picked up their stem, holding it in front of them.
"You're soooo going down," Ivy teased, winking at Joon.
I opened my mouth, but Tara saved me the embarrassment of whatever feeble mean-girl dig I was going to make by saying, “Ready? Go!”
Shoving the stem into my mouth, it took me a couple of tries to even get it flipped around the right way. I'd totally forgotten how hard this was, and with my stupid, half-numb, drunk-ass tongue, it was more difficult than usual.
I’d had a bit of practice when I was younger, so I knew that I could do it, which bolstered my confidence a little.
After a few seconds, I'd managed to get it crossed over, creating the loop, but was struggling to get the end through said loop.
“Done,” Tara said, way too fast as she spat the stem into her hand, Ivy close after.
It wasn’t surprising to me that Tara won, but she wasn’t my real competition.
And neither was Ivy, though it did annoy me that she got it so fast too.
Joon’s mouth was still wiggling, determination in his eyes.
After a few more attempts, I finally felt the end of the stem slip through the loop. My eyes widened. I’d done it. I reached my hand up to pull it out of my mouth just as I saw Joon's fingers twitch to do the same.
I heldthe stem between my fingers, its pretzeled perfection sealing my victory. “Third place isn’t so bad,” I taunted Eva with a smirk, taking her hand in mine to place the damp knot into her palm. “Better luck next time, princess.”
Was she always so warm? Or was that just the bodies pressing almost too close around us, the alcohol thrumming through our veins?
“What do you mean, second place?” she asked indignantly, her pink pigtails bouncing as she scowled up at me. “I finished first!”
"I wouldn't call either of youfirst," Tara said, making Ivy laugh beside her.
“No, you didn’t,” I pressed, ignoring them as I made no move to let go of Eva's hand. “I clearly did.”
“Didnot,” she huffed, leaning into my space.
The air between us shifted, charging with something that had nothing to do with friendly competition as her earthy, sun-ripened berry scent reached my nose.
Usually, other omegas did absolutely nothing for me. But Eva? I hadn't stopped thinking about her for weeks.
I raised an eyebrow, giving my best impression of Cameo’s haughtiest voice. “Really, that’s your best argument. ‘Did not?’”
“Aw, come on, guys…” Tara said, though Eva paid her no mind.
I didn’t either, too focused on the way that her fingers tightened around mine, thumb brushing along the back of my hand in slow strokes that had my muscles tightening, coiling like I was preparing to pounce.
“Well, youdidn’t!”
“I think it was a tie,” Jesse said, obviously trying to calm the tension. They pulled an untied stem from their mouth. “I couldn’t get it. I thought this was just something they only did on TV shows.”
“Nope,” Tara said. “I used to practice all the time.”
The beta sighed, anguish-stricken. “I guess my kissing skills need work.”
Tara gasped comically loud, making Ivy laugh. “That’s not true! Your kisses are perfect.”
As if to prove it, she wrapped her hands around their waist and pulled them in for a steamy kiss.
My face reddened, and I couldn’t help but glance back at Eva, our eyes meeting before she pulled her hand away.
Was that…rejection?
