Page 71 of All Along

My friends and I play drunk poker once a month at Sophia’s parents’ house. Lily, Sophia’s mom, tried to get everyone to come over for Sunday dinner once a month but people would bail on her. No one bails on drunk poker.

“You want to go home? We’re out of here in a flash.”

“A flash? Do you have an outfit for the Flash as well?”

My cheeks warm. I may have shown him my Little Red Riding Hood costume last night. It was not a child’s costume.

“You’ll never find out if you continue to tease me.”

“Oh, Bunny, I will tease you and you’re going to love it.”

I shiver as heat shoots from my belly straight to my core where my panties dampen.

Caleb’s blue eyes sparkle. “Maybe I want to go home now and tease you.”

The door to the house flies open and Sophia steps outside. “Get your butts in here.”

Chloe elbows her. “No fair. I bet they wouldn’t come inside.”

I glance up at Caleb. “Are you sure you want to spend an evening with my friends?”

“Of course, I do. They’re your family.”

My family? I study my girlfriends who are now all waiting on the porch. Is Caleb correct? Are Paisley, Nova, Chloe, and Sophia my family?

“I’d run if I were you,” Weston says as he comes up behind us with his girlfriend, Scarlett, on his arm.

Scarlett slaps him. “Don’t listen to him.” She addresses Caleb. “He bet you wouldn’t stay.”

“I’m done with this.” I stomp to the front door. “None of you will make bets about whether Caleb stays anymore. Do you hear me?”

My friends stare at me with their eyes wide.

“I said. Do you hear me?”

“Thank the smugglers, Maya found her voice,” Sophia mutters.

“She always had a voice. She just doesn’t choose to use it often,” Paisley adds.

My nostrils flare and my heart pounds. They aren’t listening to me. They don’t understand. Caleb has a hard enough time coming out in public and being in crowds. They’re jerks for making bets about it.

Caleb wraps an arm around my shoulders. “It’s okay, Maya. There’s no need to be angry.”

I whirl around to face him. “Yes, there is! Someone needs to protect you and I’ve accepted the position.”

He chuckles as he brushes the hair off of my forehead to kiss me. “Thanks, but I’m good.”

I study his face. He’s not sweating, there are no tremors, and he’s breathing normally.

“Okay.” I nod. “But if anything changes, let me know.”

“You got it, Flash.”

Lily makes her way to the front of the group. “What’s going on? Why is everyone standing outside?”

Weston motions to Sophia. “My sister is blocking the way.”

“I’m not blocking the way. Unless you’re too scared to go past me.”

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