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“Well, there are five of us,” Alex’s voice repeats itself in my head, making a shiver ripple down my spine and pool into a pit of warmth at my core.
A jacuzzi sits in the corner of the room, littered with rose petals and with a bottle of champagne sitting in the bucket. Seth is already rifling through the small refrigerator, stocked with beer, wine, and liquor. He takes out several tiny bottles of vodka and holds them up to me.
“Ready to get lit?” Seth asks excitedly, making me chuckle and shake my head.
Hunter groans as he faceplants into the bed. He kicks off his shoes and crawls further onto the bed, nuzzling his face into a pillow. “You guys go ahead,” he says, his voice slightly muffled. “I’m just going to sleep here for the next hour or so.”
“Rachel?” Seth asks while waggling his eyebrows.
I glance at Hunter. We really shouldn’t be drinking around him, given his issues with alcohol and addiction. He is sleeping, though, a naughty voice whispers in my mind. He won’t feel like he’s missing out on anything.
I sigh and hold out my hand, taking one of the mini vodka bottles. Seth moves to the floor, sitting cross legged between the jacuzzi and the bed. I sit across from him, quickly opening the bottle and clinking it against Seth’s.
“To us,” says Seth.
“To Hunter not killing you,” I add, making Seth toss back his head and laugh.
We down our shots quickly, my face scrunching at the burn tickling the back of my throat. I gasp and pound a fist against my chest as I feel the liquid go through me, flushing my face and heating my insides. Seth coughs, taking a moment to clear his throat while shaking his head.
“That was a bit harder than I expected it to be,” he rasps.
“You don’t say?”
Seth looks around, reaching for the bottle of champagne and plopping it in the middle of us. “I wonder if Alex will be upset if we start without him?” Seth waggles his eyebrows and I narrow my eyes, shaking my head.
“Stop,” I say, grabbing the bottle and resting it next to me. “Be nice.”
Seth gasps, touching his chest lightly and having the audacity to look appalled. “I am nice.”
“Tell me about your vacation,” I say while pushing the bottle behind me. “What did you do? What did you get? Anything nice?”
Seth’s gaze goes to his lap, his fingers fidgeting with themselves while he sighs. “Not really. My family can’t really afford much, but it’s not all that bad.” He shrugs and his eyes meet mine, making my face heat with the warmth I see in his gaze. “All the family came over. There was a bunch of food. It would have been nice to have you there.” He chuckles while pushing back his hair. “They’re always asking about my girlfriend.”
I take his hands, lacing my fingers with his. “Maybe next time I can join you.”
Seth’s smile widens. There’s a shyness in his gaze, something I’ve never seen before in him. Seth is many things, but shy is not one of them. “That would be nice,” he murmurs as he leans toward me.
My eyes lower to his lips, watching them close the distance between us, as I anticipate the feel of them against me. It’s been so long. It’s not like I’ve had the chance to be with Lucas and Alex, due to my parents always being home and the tension running high in our apartment. My breath shudders as I await Seth’s kiss.
The door slams open, thudding against the wall and making me and Seth jump back. My gaze flies to the entrance, expecting to see a thug, or Batman, or anyone other than the two blockheads standing before us carrying several boxes of pizzas.
“Jesus Christ!” Seth shouts while scrambling to stand. “You scared the fuck out of us.”
“Pizza-man has returned,” says Alex in a deep voice, puffing out his chest while balancing the boxes in one hand as if he’s some sort of superhero.
Lucas rolls his eyes, before snatching the boxes and shoving himself inside. “Hunter, wake up!” he shouts. “We have food.”
“Food?” Hunter groans, his head perking up.
“And several Monsters,” adds Alex while taking the cans out of his coat pockets.
Hunter stumbles out of the bed, taking one can and quickly opening it. He chugs the contents before seizing a slice of pepperoni pizza. Alex smiles at me as he hands me a slice of pineapple while Seth stuffs two slices of pepperoni into his mouth. Lucas is the first to sit on the floor, resting the pizza boxes in the middle. Hunter takes a seat next to him, and I sit next to Hunter, bumping my shoulder playfully against his. Seth goes to sit next to me, but before he can, Alex steals his spot, earning an angry growl. I give Seth a knowing look and he huffs, taking a seat between Alex and Lucas.
“So how was everyone’s holiday?” Alex asks, licking his fingers. “Good, I hope?”
“Fine,” Seth grumbles between mouthfuls.
“Exhausting,” Hunter groans while taking his Monster, downing the rest of the contents. “My family is all excited about graduation and playing in the NFL. I called the scout a few days ago and told them I will be accepting their offer. My aunt won’t stop going on and on and on about it.”
