Page 143 of A Little Complicated

His eyes fall to her drink. “Are you drinking alcohol?”

Tilting her head, Finley replies, “What do you think?”

“I think you’re underage.”

“And I think we both know I’m not stupid enough to drink, but even if Iwas,this is the best place for me to mess with alcohol, don't you think? Where I’m safe, and you can keep an eye on me?” She bats her lashes at him innocently and pats his chest.

Clearly, he doesn’t buy her bullshit, but he shoves her softly toward the back patio anyway. “Come on, smart-ass.”

With another light squeal of excitement, Finley sticks her tongue out at him over her shoulder and heads outside while the rest of us follow them.

“I see you’re in the mood to play nice,” I quip.

“Hardly,” Everett mutters as his hand finds my waist and he guides me outside. “I’m too buzzed to deal with her right now. Besides, Never Have I Ever is pretty harmless compared to the other games we play, so I’m gonna let it slide.”

“Until they start asking sexual questions, and you see what your little sister’s done while you’ve been away,” Dylan points out. “It’ll be a real hoot, am I right?”

“At least I won’t have to worry about you on that front. Right, Dylan?” he returns.

She glares back at him but doesn’t deny it as she steps over the threshold into the backyard, the warm summer breeze ruffling her long blonde hair. Chairs are set up in a large circle, and another table is by the back door, littered with liquor. Most of the seats are already taken, but there’s a small cluster still available. Dylan and Finley take the first seats, leaving an open spot sandwiched between Dylan and an unsuspecting Maverick, who’s already talking to Everett on his opposite side.

Seriously?

Pressing my lips together, I square my shoulders, walk to the empty spot, sit down, and clutch my can of seltzer in my lap. When Maverick’s conversation continues, and he doesn’t slip his arm around my shoulders, I slowly relax. Pinning my drink between my thighs, I pull my phone out and check my texts.

Archer still hasn’t replied, so I send him another message.

Me

Where are you? I don’t want you to feel like you can’t be at your own party just because I’m here. Do you want me to leave?

I hit send, waiting for the three little dots notifying me he’s responding. I don’t receive anything but silence.

Tension hits the side of my face a moment later. My cheeks burn, and I peek up at Maverick, finding him staring at me. His expression is almost unreadable.

Except I know him.

And I know exactly what he’s thinking.

He’s worried about his brother too.

“He’s in his room,” Mav mutters. “Maybe he’ll come out once the game starts.”

“Maybe,” I whisper, not exactly convinced.

His eyes darken as they drop to my lips. “Do you have any idea how much it’s killing me not to kiss you right now?”

“Mav…”

“Yeah, I know. One fucked-up relationship at a time.” He shakes his head and stands. “All right. Rules are simple. Never Have I Ever. We go in a circle. If you’ve done the thing someone expresses, you take a drink. If you haven’t done it, you don't drink. Last one standing wins. Any questions?” He barely waits a beat, adding, “Good. Everett will go first.”

Everett says, “Never have I ever had a period.”

A round of amusement hits. Every girl lifts their drink and takes a sip.

Reeves lifts his untouched glass into the air and adds, “Never have I ever kissed a guy.”

The girl next to him smacks his arm. “You trying to get me drunk, Reeves?”

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