Page 87 of Just One Bite
I glance behind me to see who she’s talking to. Barrett and Aster are there towering over me.
“Why the hostility, Love Bug?” Aster lands on the couch next to me, nearly falling with his head in Barrett's lap when he sits too.
I raise a brow, silently locking eyes with Octavia and mocking her nickname.
She shrugs sheepishly.
“We could get you a stronger drink,” Barrett booms from next to me.
“I’ve had plenty. Thanks.”
Aster and Barrett share a look.
“I’m serious. Leave Olivia alone. I know that’s why you’re here. I won’t tolerate you pestering her.”
“We would never.” Aster laughs a loose, throaty laugh like he must be on his second or third drink himself.
“Let’s have a drink together,” Barrett says.
“We’re about to go to the studio,” Octavia says.
“Come on. Just one.” Aster places two fingers into his mouth and whistles.
A few seconds pass, the end table in front of us has a platter filled with glasses filled to the brim.
“I’m not drinking with you,” I say.
“What if I can offer fun?”
I scoff, turning to Octavia and motioning for the door.
“For your little sister, Etta.” Aster’s words catch my attention.
“Emma,” I correct.
“Right. I hear she’s devastated about not getting into the culinary club. I could help with that. Me and Dacre are quite close. There’s a trip to the city coming up, and while I can’t get her into the club, I can get her on the roster for that trip.”
Emma would flip. She’s been in a spiral for weeks. Plus, she deserves to go on that trip.
“What makes you think I’d trust you to keep that kind of promise?”
“That got her attention,” Barrett says, leaning back after plucking a drink from the table.
“Octavia can vouch for me. Right, Love Bug?” Aster says.
She rolls her eyes. “Yeah. I could make sure they keep their promise.”
“Fine. One drink.”
I take a drink from the platter. They’re all the same. A milky blue adorned with fruit on a toothpick. It’s surprisingly good and tastes nothing like the alcohol Emma would sneak us into our old room—Dad despises alcohol.
“Should we all share a truth? Make things fun like the girls do?” Astersnickers, his eyes shifting from Octavia to me. “Come on, no dares.”
“I’m too old for old games,” I say, taking another drink.
“Then no game. We each say a truth, get to know each other.”
Asterisdrunk. His cheeks are flushed, and Barrett is visually annoyed with his antics. I do have one card to play, and I’d love to see their reaction.
