It wasn’t at all awkward like Kieran imagined.
When Ilya’s ears began to turn pink from the sun, they dipped back into the air-conditioning of the beach house. Stuffed into a small kitchen nook was a dining table with a bench seat and chairs.
Natalia disappeared to the tiny guest bedroom and returned with a Jenga box.
“It’s time for Drinking Jenga, bitches!” She waved the box over her head as she sashayed over. “I hope you’re ready to be impressed by the amazing feats of engineering designed by yours truly.”
Lily inched around the small table, aiming for the space on the padded bench beside him. “Don’t let her fool you. Nat always topples the tower first.”
After sharing Lily with her friends all afternoon, it felt good having her back in his embrace. She curled up against him on the seat, her legs folded under her, and he tucked her in with his arm around her back and his hand resting on her hip. He turned his head and placed his lips near her ear where he could inhale the coconutty scent of her sunblock. “What’s the point of playing if we know she’s going to lose?”
She turned her head, so her cheek brushed his. Her lashes feathered over his cheekbone. “Because no one loses in Drinking Jenga,” she whispered back.
Who needed alcohol when he had Lily? “What the hell is Drinking Jenga?”
Lily jerked her head back and stared like he’d just admitted he wanted to give up coaching MMA to become a coffee shop owner. “You’ve never played?” She straightened in her seat and smoothed back her baby hairs as if she needed to look professional for teaching him this very important lesson. Even when tipsy, she tried to be the best version of herself.
He hadn’t expected that. He liked it.
“It’s the same as regular Jenga.” Lily pointed at the tower, all seriousness now. “You try to remove a piece and place it on the top without knocking it over. You knock it over, you finish your drink. The fun part is every piece has a rule written under it. You do what it says or take a shot. Whoever loses each round takes a drink. So, like, Floor means touch the floor. Heaven means point to the ceiling, and the last person to do those things has to drink.”
Everyone grabbed their respective drinks and crowded around the table.
The game began with Alex drawing Categories, and everyone had to name a Liam Neeson movie or drink; Natalia lost. Ilya got Mate. He picked Alex to take a drink each timehe did. Jack pulled Waterfall, and everyone had to chug their drink and couldn’t stop until Jack did.
The turn fell to Natalia. Her lips turned up in a wild grin, and she triumphantly raised five fingers.
Lily shrank against his side. “Nooo,” she whined.
He inched up the white crochet hem of Lily’s bikini cover-up until her upper thigh was bare under the sweep of his thumb. “What’s that mean?”
Lily leaned into him more with a little sigh. “Never Have I Ever. Commence the roasting.”
Everyone lifted one hand, so he did, too.
Nat’s lips pursed, and she looked up, as if searching the ceiling for answers. She coiled a strand of hair around her finger while tapping her chin. Finally, she locked eyes with Lily. “Never have I ever gotten off to the thought of a coworker.”
Wow, that was very specific. Kieran blinked down at Lily. That knockout rose flush climbed her chest and bloomed on her cheeks. Apparently everyone in the room except Lily, Jack and Natalia were guilty. Except he knew better. Judging by the looks on her friends’ faces, they knew, too.
“Congratulations on being the only couple to meet pre-college,” Lily grumbled and put down a finger.
Alex rolled his eyes. “Never have I ever purposefully embarrassed a friend during a drinking game.”
Good man.
Nat shrugged and lowered a finger. “It was worth it for the look on her face.” She nodded at Kieran, still smiling. “Your turn, GG.”
GG?That was a new one. Short for Gym Guy, maybe? Kieran scanned the group, and a small smirk tugged at his lips. “Never have I ever gone to college.”
They all swore and dropped a finger. He whispered against her temple. “You’re up, Princess.”
Lily shivered against him, goose bumps rising under his thumb, but he doubted it was from being cold. She pinned Natalia with a vicious grin. “Never have I ever participated in an Eiffel Tower.”
“Oh, come on,” groaned Natalia as she dropped a finger. “It was one time!”
“We could make it two,” Alex purred, and Natalia swatted his leg.
Everyone started ganging up on Natalia, even Jack. They picked easy traits as their Nevers, and the brunette lost the round. The Jenga game recommenced. When Lily drew the Casanova block and had to kiss the prettiest person in the room, she grinned at him before telling him to scooch and giving Alex a kiss on the cheek. Alex squealed like a blushing bride, sending them all into another round of laughter.
