Page 2 of Deception

“You promised me alcohol, not causing myself bodily harm.” Nelle glowers back at me, sending me back into hysterics.

“I’m about to go run off with Alejandro and leave your ass behind. Like, bye bitch, see you never.” Her words have the opposite effect, making me laugh even harder. Kali finally loses her last shred of willpower, joining me in my fit of laughter.

“Oh, great, there’s two of you now, fabulous.” Nelle crosses her arms, impatiently tapping her foot until we finish.

“Okay, okay, I’m done.” I gasp, attempting to compose myself.

“Good, because you owe me now. I demand payment in the form of booze and babes.” She declares, lifting her head to look down her nose at me. “Gimme.” She extends her hand, grabbing at the air in front of her, shutting her lids firmly. As though I’m about to drop a bottle and a boy right into her lap. I roll my eyes, glad she hasn’t seen the movement, sparing me from her retort.

I scan the beach once more, searching for anyone to fill her demands. A smirk pulls across my lips. A group of four guys around our age are playing volleyball just to the right of us. I tap my chin in thought, observing their forms, their muscular chests on full display. Sure they’re attractive, but they couldn’t compare to my gods. I shake the thought from my head, scolding myself for the slip. They aren’t my gods—they aren’t my anything. Maximus made that perfectly clear. I fight off the pain that thought brings, slicing through my chest like a blade.

I take a deep breath pulling on the old Liv, the one that would stride over there and invite the group of guys to come over in a heartbeat. I glance over at Kali, who’s biting the corner of her lip, brows creased in concern. I avert my eyes, not wanting her to dissuade me. They say the best way to get over someone is to get under someone new, right? Maybe that’s precisely what I need. Let go of the hurt and betrayal the guys made me feel, and have a meaningless fling with one of these guys.

I pull in a deep breath, centering myself and strengthening my resolve. I don’t let myself glance back at the girls, my feet moving before my brain even realizes what I’m doing.

“I wasn’t serious. I’ll come with you.” Nelle giggles, bouncing up from the sunbed to join me.

I add a bit of sway to my steps, smiling to myself as the four men stop playing their game. Their gazes glued on me and Nelle. Two guys step forward, the first is the tallest of the group, with short cropped black hair, and dark brown eyes, he has the most muscular form of the bunch and he carries the volleyball at his side. The man beside him has a more slender build, and he shakes his shaggy brown hair out of his blue eyes. The other two men stand behind them, one with medium black hair and the other with short blond hair.

“Hey guys.” I come to a stop at the edge of the makeshift court. The four guys make their way over, smiling back at me. I run my fingers through my hair, pushing it out of my face, my other hand holding my margarita.

“Sorry to interrupt your game, but my friends and I were looking for something fun to do—” Nelle pauses, giving them an appraising look “—and we were hoping you may have a few ideas.” She lets the words trail off, allowing their minds to fill in the blanks of the meaning behind my words.

“That’s if we’re not interrupting.” Nelle smirks. I see the tallest of the group give me a wry grin before stepping closer, his eyes roving up and down my form.

“I was just saying we should wrap this game up,” he declares, looking back at his friends. They all nod in agreement.

The four men follow behind us, as we make our way back to Kali, and I suppress the shudder that runs through my body at the feel of their leering eyes. My stomach turns at the thought, but I push it aside, urging my mind to forget.

“So, what do you girls like to do for fun?” the tall man asks, sidling up to me. His mischievous smirk resurfaces those memories of Adrian, causing my heart to pang in my chest. I silently scold my traitorous heart, telling that bitch to calm the fuck down. I never have and never will be the type of girl to obsess over some guy. So I force a smile onto my face, grinning back up at him.

“I can think of a few things,” I offer vaguely, my grin masking the hollow feeling creeping into my stomach. I would almost believe my words to be genuine if it wasn’t for the sour taste they left in my mouth. I take a sip of my margarita, saving myself from having to respond further.

“We got the boys, now we need the booze.” Nelle cheers as we meet up with Kali. Kali’s eyes assess me, apparently seeing through the facade.

“To the bar,” I announce, waving the others after me, not wasting any time. I don’t dare meet Kali’s gaze again, knowing I might just crack at her appraisal.

* * *

The ping-pong ballleaves my hand, arcing over the table and sinking perfectly into the plastic cup on the other side. The plop of the water confirming the perfect shot.

“For fuck’s sake,” Nelle grumbles, plucking a shot from the tray beside her and tipping her head back.

“That was actually mine,” her partner Grant murmurs, patting her on the shoulder in consolation, his shaggy brown hair almost covering his blue eyes.

“Ssshh, let me drown my sorrows.” She pushes his hand away and stalks over to me.

“Nice shot,” tall boy, otherwise known as Jeremy, compliments, raising his hand for a high five. I oblige, just for the fact of rubbing it in Nelle’s face.

“I am the beer pong champion.” I cheer, my hands rising in triumph. “Oops, I mean we.” I correct, glancing back at him.

“No, that’s okay. You did most of the work.” He chuckles, “All hail the beer pong queen.” Raising his hands above his head, he gives me a small, devout bow.

“Ya, ya beer pong queen. Now you need to catch up.” Nelle scowls, shoving a shot glass in my face. I gladly take it, tipping it back to swallow the sugary-tart liquid. My lips pucker at the sweet and sour flavor.

“I know a game where we can all catch up,” Jeremy interjects, swiping a shot from the tray and pounding it back, his face twisting at the sweet and sour taste. He coughs, not expecting the tart after-taste.

“What the hell is that?” he asks, washing away the taste with a swig of his beer.

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