“Aaron, shut up,” Graham warned.
“Grayson, no one’s making fun of you,” Finn assured his brother.
“You’re so touchy,” Spencer added.
“Connor had a pet rock; he named it Bert,” Finn explained. “His cousin on his mom’s side threw it in Lake Erie, and hecomplained to Aaron. And well, we’re going to plead the Fifth on what happened to the cousin. But it wasn’t pretty.”
“Your rock habitat is way nicer than mine ever was,” Connor told Grayson, trying to hide his concern. “I should get another pet rock.”
Grayson relaxed imperceptibly. I let out a breath I hadn’t been holding.
“You know what? I have party games too,” I said, voice sounding decidedly Mouseketeer-like.
Spencer’s eyes flicked to me, looking all too much like a dog noticing a squeaky toy.
“Are we playing charades?” Finn asked.
“I think I’d rather play Twister,” Spencer said, still looking at me. “Or maybe hide-and-seek.”
“I have a series of icebreaker activities,” I said, “so that you all can get to know each other.”
Grayson was giving me a horrified look.
“We’re playing Never Have I Ever. It’s a drinking game.”
“Because just what this shit show needs is more alcohol,” Graham muttered.
“Let her host her game,” Grayson snapped at Graham.
“You’re lucky,” I told Graham tartly. “I was going to host a pottery decorating class but decided to spare you. Here are the shot glasses.” I pulled out a prepared tray with six wooden boards, each holding five shots.
“I’m going to ask a question, and if you’ve done that before, you take a shot. Here we go. Never have I ever run a red light.”
None of the brothers took a shot.
“Wow! Look at that. You all have something in common!” I clapped my hands. “Next question.” I pulled it out of the hat. “Never have I ever gotten a tattoo.”
Graham, Spencer, Connor, and Finn all took a shot.
“You have a tattoo?” Aaron said to Connor in horror.
“You’re going to get hepatitis C,” Grayson scolded him. “I thought you said you were looking out for them.” Grayson turned on Aaron.
“I did more than you ever had!” Aaron yelled at him.
“I highly doubt that,” Grayson scoffed.
Finn tipped back another of the shots.
“I didn’t ask a question,” I protested.
“You look like you need this.” Spencer handed me one of the green Lost Boy cocktails. “Cheers for trying to change the beast. No good deed goes unpunished. Did anyone tell you how nice your hair looks tonight?” Spencer continued smoothly, “I feel like you don’t get enough compliments. A compliment is verbal sunshine, you know.”
Suddenly Grayson was there.
I shrieked as my drink spilled.
Grayson grabbed Spencer and shoved him against the rented bookshelf filled with expensive rented knickknacks. The scotch splashed on the floor.
