Page 58 of A Little Secret

“I think you meanwe’lllose,” Griffin interjects.

“Suck it up, buttercup,” Ophelia calls from the top of the stairs. “It’s time for a New Year’s Eve Game Night.”

“Can I at least take off my jacket?” I ask.

Ophelia shrugs. “You can, but the last obstacle is outside, so…”

“So I get to sweat my ass offandget bombed,” Griffin grumbles. He shrugs his coat back on while the freshman offers me a set of cuffs.

I take them from him and turn to Griff. We’ve been partners many times. We’ve played almost every game in the books together. We’ve joked and teased and flirted more times than I can count, but after last night? I don’t know…it feels different, and I can’t help but notice the kaleidoscope of butterflies in my stomach as I force myself to hold his gaze while attempting to act like I don’t know what it feels like to kiss him without the guise of a bet or a game.

“What game do you think they picked?” I ask as I twirlthe cuffs around my forefinger in an attempt to look like I’m not replaying last night’s events.

Stepping closer, he drops his voice low. “I heard someone ask where they should put the Santa hats and tape, so...”

“That sounds promising.”

He nods. “Wanna cuff your right hand and my left so I can have the dominant hand in case we do something like darts or a snowball fight?”

“Yeah, but then I can’t throw,” I remind him.

He smirks. “I mean…”

With a gasp, I smack his chest. “Rude.”

“True,” he tosses back at me as Raine appears from the kitchen. A gold medallion hangs from her neck. It’s the same one the boys have had since their freshman year at LAU. I can only imagine the games it’s overseen and how many people have worn it proudly while picking their own game…with the guys’ approval, of course. Everett offers his hand, and Raine takes it, stepping onto the coffee table in the center of the family room.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” she announces. “Tonight, we’ll be playing a super fun game with several rounds leading up to midnight. But first, everyone, find your partner.”

Giving Griffin the side-eye, I sidle up next to him and fold my arms.

“Don’t look so excited, Finley.” The words are hushed and raspy. They leave goosebumps along my skin, and I press my thighs together, ignoring my body’s response. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not dead. The guy’s turned me on more times than I can count over the years—I literally masturbated to the idea of him earlier this week—but usually, I have a better handle on it.

Seriously, am I blushing?

I fight the urge to touch my cheeks and squeeze my hands into fists instead.

Come on, Fin. You’re better than this,I remind myself.

“The first round is pretty straightforward,” Raine announces. “All you have to do is wrap a present…blindfolded. Well, one person is blindfolded,” she clarifies with a grin. “You get to choose if you want to be the eyes or the hands. The person with the blindfold has to wrap, and the person without the blindfold has to tell the other person what to do.”

Everett chuckles and faces the crowd. “Each team will be given a freshman to help judge and keep your team in line. Freshmen, if you’re caught cheating for your team, you’ll be banned from Game Night for the rest of the year. Let’s keep it honest, people.”

Raine bumps her shoulder with his, adding, “Shots will be passed out at the beginning of every round, as well as anytime a team finishes wrapping their present. The quicker you pass the round, the less shots you have to take. As a reminder, if you’re the one who is not blindfolded, you cannot touch anything, including the shot glasses. Your partner has to feed you the shot and take their own. Oh, and if you spill any of the liquid, you have to take a second shot until your present is officially wrapped. Once a freshman announces your completion,”—I snort, and Griffin elbows me, shaking his head—“you can remove the blindfold and move to the second game.”

“On the kitchen table are antlers and Santa hats,” Everett explains. “Each of you will grab one. Then, you’ll each take a shot, and the person with the Santa hat will jump on the back of their reindeer, who has to run outside and find some mistletoe. It can be hanging from the trees, the house, or…anywhere, really.”

“There are a limited number of mistletoe bunchesoutside,” Raine continues, “and each team must find their own and claim it by standing underneath it. If you fall during your search, you have to take another shot and start over in the kitchen. Oh, and make sure you’re standing under the mistletoe by the time the red clock next to the hot tub outside counts down to midnight. Once the timer goes off, you kiss your partner on a body part you both agree on?—”

Reeves' laugh cuts Raine off, and Dylan elbows him in the ribs.

“Keep it clean, people.” Everett’s gaze thins as he stares out at the crowd, making Reeves laugh even harder. Biting the inside of my cheek, I try to keep from joining him, but seriously? It’s like Everett’s forgotten who his core audience is.

“Aaaand ring in the new year,” Raine finishes. “Any questions?”

“I’m gonna get shitfaced, aren’t I?” Griffin mutters low enough for only me to hear.

I smirk up at him. “Probably.”

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