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He barks a laugh, pulling the attention of those nearby, including the couple we won’t speak about. “Don’t tell Bailey. She’ll have a coronary, after she spent all morning dusting.”
I chuckle, grateful he’s playing along with my lie. “She’s too drunk to care.”
“And why are you not?”
I shrug. “Not in the party mood, I guess.”
“Well, let’s change that, shall we?” He stands and rushes out of the room. I stare wide-eyed at his exit, unsure if I’m supposed to follow or not, but the question is quickly answered when he comes back in, holding a bottle of vodka in one hand and a bottle of sambuca in the other. “Pick your poison, RyRy.” I grimace, flicking my gaze between the two. “Come on. It’s Bailey’s birthday, and she’ll never forgive me if I don’t make sure you have a good time.”
“It’s amusing how afraid you are of that girl.”
“She’s really scary,” he whispers dramatically, pulling a choked laugh from me. “Now pick.”
I sigh, rolling my eyes playfully as I reach for the sambuca. Kai’s grin is broad when he plops back down on the couch, uncaps the vodka, and tips a generous shot down his throat before gesturing for me to do the same.
Well, you know what they say. If you can’t beat them…
“Bottoms up,” I say, pulling the bottle to my lips.
I wince as the bitter aniseed flavour explodes on my tongue before burning a trail down my throat. My chest heats, and I force back a gag as it settles in my stomach.
“Attagirl,” Kai says proudly, tapping the rim of his bottle to mine. “Now, do you really want to have some fun?”
I raise a brow, searching the mischievous glint in his eyes. “What do you mean?”
“Unlike you, one person in this room isnotdoing a good job of denying their feelings.” He tilts his head inconspicuously, and I follow the direction, my heart racing at the sight of Chase.
The girl at his side is still going, chattering away aimlessly, but he’s only looking at me. His expression is blank, devoid of any emotion, but the moment my eyes lock on his, a shiver runs through me.
His pupils are blown with heat, and there’s something else lingering beneath the surface … something I can’t read, but it sends a horde of emotions surging through me either way.
I force my gaze away, refusing to acknowledge the stare I still feel burning holes in me. “I’m far too old to be playing those kinds of games,” I say, quickly figuring out Kai’s meaning. He raises a bushy brow. “Nope. We’re not doing it.”
“Boo. You’re boring, RyRy.”
“Find your own entertainment; don’t drag me down with you,” I tell him, smiling as his eyes dart over the room. Having known Kai for as long as the Brooks family, I can read his tells quite well—even if we aren’t as close as I am with the others—and he’s up for causing some mischief tonight.
“Fine. I shall.” He stands and jumps up onto the coffee table in the middle of the room. “Oi. Everyone,” he hollers, flicking his gaze around. “Where’s the birthday girl?”
“Here,” Bailey shouts, dragging Daisy behind her. Bailey spots me instantly, sending me a bright smile as she saunters towards me in too-high heels. Dropping onto the arm of the couch, she leans to throw her arms around my shoulders. “Where’ve you been,Ry-ann?”
I shake my head at her slurring, tug the glass of wine from her hand, and take a generous swallow to wash away the lingering taste of sambuca. “I didn’t feel like watching to see if you chucked chunks, and the kitchen was rammed, so I snuck away while you were on shot six, I think. How many did you get through?”
“Eight,” she tells me proudly, snatching the wine back. “And then I had a tactical chunder, so I’m feeling right as rain. Basically sober again.”
I chuckle. “Amazing.” It might have been believable if she wasn’t swaying on the arm, humming along to a different song than what’s playing.
“Basically sober,” Daisy mouths, her eyes alight with amusement as she stands in front of me. I bob my head, watching Bailey from the corner of my eye.
She hops up excitedly, clapping her hands at whatever Kai just said. “Yes, let’s do that.”
“Do what?” I ask, glancing between the pair.
“We’re playing Never Have I Ever. And since it’s my birthday party, I get to go first,” Bailey says, sitting back down and pursing her lips in thought. The rest of the room follows her lead, plonking their asses on available surfaces or the floor.
I definitely don’t watch Chase as the girlstilltalking to him gestures at the nearby armchair, then props her pert little ass on the arm as he drops into the cushion. I scowl, averting my gaze and tipping more sambuca down my throat.
“Never have I ever visited Scotland,” Bailey says, grinning to herself as the room groans collectively, everyone lifting their drinks to their mouth.
