Page 1 of Quarantine Crush
1
Embry
The shot glass wobbles in my hand as I lift it to my lips. Hadley grins at me, her white-toothed smile practically glowing in the black light illuminating her living room. It’s girls’ night. Except, Nina and Taylor bailed. I’m starting to think Hadley planned it this way, however with the alcohol kicking in, I can’t remember why that should worry me. In the background, some old school Britney song is playing. Hadley always chooses the throwbacks when she’s in charge of the music.
“Come on, bitch. Take it all,” Hadley coaxes when I hesitate too long with the shot.
I snort then tip the shot back and swallow, scrunching my face against the burn of the salted caramel whiskey sliding down my throat.
“Okay, no more dares,” I say, the buzz of the last two shots finally beginning to tingle beneath my skin.
Her lips curve. “So you choose truth this time?” Hadley asks, and I realize too late that this is what she wanted all along.
“Ugh. Fine.”
“Is it true you have a secret crush on your bestie?” she asks.
I flip my long, blonde hair over my shoulder and huff. Hadley’s been trying to make me admit my feelings for Knox out loud ever since she “accidentally” found out I carry a torch for him. Only now, he’s coming to visit for the first time in years, which means she’s stepped up her game.
“Hadley, are you trying to get me to fall for you?” I bat my lashes, and she smirks, eyes narrowed.
“Very funny, Em. I only swing one way except for that one time freshman year. Besides, I’m secure enough to admit I’m not youronlybestie. A lesser woman might succumb to jealousy, except out of the two of us, I have better tits, so I’ll let it slide.” She winks. “And don’t dodge the question. You know I mean that delicious man-candy, Knox Jacobs.”
I roll my eyes. Hadley and I became friends during our freshman year at NYU. She’s never actually met Knox in person since she and I met after Knox had moved to London for college, but she’s seen pictures and screamed innuendos at him in the background of my calls. And she never passes up a chance to point out how hot my childhood friend is now that he’s all grown up.
“You should have seen him with acne,” I joke. Still, Hadley will not be deterred.
“Look, all joking aside, I think you should finally go for it, Em. This is your chance, and who knows when you’ll see him again. It’s not like he visits often.”
“He’s just finishing laying the groundwork for Hess-Jacobs Enterprise’s first international store.Chip Off The Old Blockhas done better than the dads could have ever imagined in London,” I argue, and I can’t help the swell of pride I feel for the furniture company my dad built from scratch alongside Knox’s dad. From best friends to business partners, they’ve taught me it’s possible to be successful doing what you love. “He’ll be home for good this summer.”
“Yeah, okay. Whatever you have to tell yourself to sleep at night.”
I punch her in the shoulder.
“That hurt,” she says, rubbing the spot I hit.
I glare ominously. “Next one’s in your tit.”
“Worth it.”
I lift a brow. “Seriously?”
“Hell yeah. If it means you finally put yourself out there–go after your happiness. I’ll take a tit punch for that.”
I sigh. Hadley’s being way too serious now, and the nausea in my belly tells me that my own brain is actually considering her idea.
I toy with the empty shot glass where it’s balanced on the coffee table. In the background, I listen as Britney steps aside for Kesha.
“What would I even say?”
Hadley’s icy blue eyes twinkle as she grins, the bitch. She knows she’s finally worn me down. “You don’t even have to use words. I have a plan. Check this out.”
She grabs her phone and, in milliseconds, has a video playing. I glare at her because it’s clear she’s had this clip queued up all night, ready and waiting for the moment she’d plied me with enough alcohol to get me to agree to her nagging.
“You’re a manipulative–”
“Just watch it,” she insists, hitting play and handing me the phone. Then she pauses the music so I can hear everything.
