Page 78 of The Cupcake Standard

A hint of his usual teasing spark flared in his eyes as he nodded.

“Good. First order of business, everyone figure out what they want from the Chinese restaurant because dammit, I’m starving.” We all piled around the island, jotting down an absurd amount of food. Once we were satisfied with our list, I shoved Liam out of the door. “Item number two is comfy clothes. Don’t come back without them!”

I whirled on Gina. “Arguing is off the table tonight. I don’t care if he mansplains or gives you dirty looks or whatever. Just pretend that you don’t have any beef with him. Better yet, pretend he’s one of the girls whose boyfriend just dumped her, got it?”

Gina nodded, eyes wide at my fierce tone. She was usually the ferocious one, but Liam was hurting. I didn’t need Gina kicking him while he was down. “Good. Let’s pick out the movies while he’s gone.”

We settled on the Pitch Perfect trilogy, lighthearted enough to fit all our moods with comedic relief and, of course, awesome music. Liam returned in a pair of faded blue straight-legged pajama pants that were the softest things I’d ever felt. His hoodie’s sleeves frayed around the edges, one side of the pocket hanging down. And he actually had bunny slippers, which made me laugh.

“My little sister got ’em for me. I never wear them, but I figured this was the perfect occasion.” His grin was sheepish.

So I went to my closet and dug out some tie-dyed hairy slippers for me and a pair with unicorn horns for Gina. I even made us stick our feet in a circle to take a picture, for posterity’s sake. And maybe Derek’s.

When the Chinese food came minutes later, we all loaded up our plates and slumped in our respective places as the movie started. I, of course, claimed the chair, though it felt way too big without Derek. Five minutes into the movie, I couldn’t stand it anymore, so I marched into the bedroom to grab a couple pillows off his bed. I stuffed them next to me in the chair. That’s a little better. It helped that they smelled like him, his inviting citrus and clove scent. I nestled into their embrace, wishing he were here.

Liam hadn’t seen any of the Pitch Perfects before. And he ended up loving the first one, laughing his way through. Alcohol might have helped a bit.

As the end credits rolled, Gina turned to me, a look in her eyes I knew meant trouble. “Let’s play Never Have I Ever.”

Oh boy.

Liam latched right on to it. “Yes!” They grabbed their drinks, moving to the table without waiting for my response.

The game was simple. Each person started with the phrase ‘Never have I ever’ then named something they hadn’t done, like broken a bone. Everyone in the group who had broken a bone took a drink. Then the next person said something they’d never done.

Gina started. “Never have I ever had a kid.”

No one drank.

She looked relieved. “Phew, no skeletons in the closet there.”

I rolled my eyes. “Never have I ever been skinny dipping.”

Both of them drank. Gina shook her head as she arched an eyebrow at me. “If it wasn’t so cold out, I’d drag you out right now.”

“Never have I ever watched Pitch Perfect 2.” Liam grinned like he was so clever as we both drank.

Gina drummed her fingers on the table. “I’ve never kissed a member of the same sex.”

I ducked my head and took a sip. So did Liam.

“Really? Both of you?” Gina looked impressed. “Now I’m feeling left out.” The look she gave me had me shifting in my seat.

“I’m not drunk enough for that.”

“Yet,” she added, with a teasing grin.

Liam looked back and forth between us. “If this goes down, I’m taking pictures. Derek and Josh will be so jealous.”

“Moving on.” I swirled the amber liquid in my glass. “I’ve never said ‘I love you’ to a significant other.” The words tumbled out, maybe because of the whiskey, maybe because Derek was gone. Either way, I couldn’t take them back now.

Both of my friends paused, then took a drink. Liam was the first to respond. “Really? Not to Derek?”

I shrugged, trying to stay nonchalant. “Not yet.”

Liam took his time before he spoke. “Hmm. Never have I ever had sex in a car.” Gina opened her mouth, and he pointed a finger at her. “Vehicle. So bus, truck, van, whatever. They all count.”

Almost had it in the limo today. I bit back a morose chuckle as I watched Gina take a drink.

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