Page 21 of The Christmas Exchange

“My pleasure,” he said with a smirk. “Never have I ever gone skydiving.”

Julian scowled, but he didn’t make any remarks. He lifted his Styrofoam cup and took a sip while Miles and I sat there without drinking.

It was Julian’s turn. “Never have I ever wrecked my car in the snow.”

Miles took a drink with a scowl on his face. It was like they were going back and forth, picking things they knew the other had done. Like they were forcing each other to be the one to drink. It felt like a pissing contest in a way.

It was my turn.

I looked back and forth between them. “Am I missing something here?”

Julian was silent, watching me carefully as Miles tilted his head to the side. “What do you mean?”

“The two of you are purposely saying stupid shit to get the other to drink. Why?”

Julian shrugged with a look of indifference. Miles rolled his eyes. “I don’t know. Because we can.”

“Well, if we’re playing the game, then I want to play too.”

“Go ahead, sweetheart,” Julian said softly. “It is your turn, after all.”

I let out a breath, knowing I was about to be playing with fire. “Never have I ever kissed my best friend.”

Miles chuckled. “So, you want to play it like that then?”

I smiled sheepishly and winked as the three of us all took sips of the vodka. The liquid burned my throat as it slid down. It warmed my stomach and my face scrunched up in mild disgust. I hated drinking liquor straight. I wished I had something to chase it with but the only thing we had was water.

“We might as well all drink if we’re playing the game.”

It was Miles' turn. “Never have I ever had a threesome.”

The air suddenly shifted between us all. It was electric. My spine straightened, my breath catching in my throat. I wanted to take a drink just because my mouth had suddenly gone bone dry. Not a single one of us took a drink.

“Interesting,” Miles mused out loud with mischief dancing in his eyes.

“Never have I ever said I wouldn’t have a threesome,” Julian spoke, his voice low and husky.

His eyes moved to Miles who simply stared back at him. Julian’s gaze slid to mine and I felt the intensity of Miles' stare on the side of my face as my eyes were trained on Julian’s. Neither of them were drinking and they were waiting for me to make a move.

Waiting for me to take a drink, yet the fire burning in Julian’s eyes told me he was hoping I wouldn’t.

And I didn’t.

My palm was sweating as I held my Styrofoam cup in my hand, but I didn’t dare bring it to my lips. I never once said I wouldn’t have a threesome and the electricity in the air between us all was only becoming more intense.

“I propose a different game,” Julian said, speaking slowly as he broke through the tension. “Let’s make things interesting. Are you both up for some truth or dare, or are you too afraid?”

Shit.

Truth or dare was a slippery slope. We were already headed in that direction and Julian was the one who just decided to take it a step further.

“How is that a drinking game?” I asked them.

“Anything can be a drinking game if you want it to be,” Miles said simply.

Julian was still staring directly at me. He raised an eyebrow as a devious grin played on his lips. “Are you afraid to play, Raegan?”

My brows furrowed and I shook my head at him. “I didn’t say that.”

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