Page 57 of Unbidden

“Vodka with cranberry.”

She pulls out a bottle of Diva vodka and starts mixing me a drink. When she’s done, she hands it to me before putting the other bottles away and locking the cabinet.

“Come on. I’m making you bitches play ‘suck or blow’ with me.” Tinsley grabs us both by the hands and leads us into a large area that I would guess is a living room, but who knows with all these rooms. The couches and tables are all pushed to the side as people sit in a circle.

“Come. You can sit here,” Tinsley continues before going to sit across from me.

I look to one side and find a grinning Keaton. I roll my eyes. “Are you stalking me now?”

He holds his hands up. “I was sitting here first. I should be wondering if you’re stalking me.”

Before I can respond, Tinsley’s voice interrupts me. “Reed, you can sit next to Sage. We need an even number of guys and girls.”

I whip my head to the other side of me and find him already taking a seat. He doesn’t look at me and instead focuses on Tinsley.

“Here’s how it works. We have this piece of paper here.” She shakes the paper for emphasis. “I’ll start. You hold it up to your mouth. One person sucks, then turns to the person to their left. Once the person on the left starts sucking, you blow so they can take it from you. If you drop it, the paper gets torn in half and the two responsible have to drink. We go until the paper is gone. Happy sucking… or blowing!”

She sits down with extra flair, and I can’t help but chuckle at her dramatics. I glance to my right toward Victoria, who’s sitting next to Keaton. She winks at me, but I just shake my head.

What did I get myself into?

“Tinsley, this game is not appropriate,” Reed warns.

“Loosen up, Reed. It’s an innocent game. No babies will be made tonight.”

“Damn right,” he growls and stares down the guy on each side of her. They each scoot a little farther away from her.

“Reed!” Tinsley yells.

“Fine.”

Tinsley picks up the paper and holds it to her mouth, sucking. Then she places her mouth against the boy on the left of her, him sucking the paper to his lips. I glance over and find Reed clenching his fists.

“I don’t know who invitedherto play. No one asked for herpes.” Ingram’s grating voice comes from my left.

I roll my eyes at Victoria, which makes Keaton laugh.

“Reed, bro, want me to change spots with you?” a male voice calls to him.

I glance over to a blond-haired boy a couple people down. I recognize him, but I don’t care to remember his name.

“Shut up and play the game,” he grumbles.

There are a couple of chuckles, but no one else says a word.

Once the paper gets to Victoria, she expertly sucks it, then transfers it to Keaton. Keaton turns to me, but I hesitate. He reaches up and pulls my head to his. At the last minute, he stops sucking and allows the paper to fall, pressing his lips to mine. They meet for a brief second before I jerk back. He lets go immediately.

A growl comes from the other side of me, and Keaton chuckles.

“Seriously, Keaton?” I glare at him.

“You took too long, S. I couldn’t suck any longer.”

“You need to get a tetanus shot, Keaton. Who knows what she has,” some boy yells.

“Speaking from experience, Chet? I know about that nasty illness you contracted on your last ski trip. Wasn’t Tara there with you?” He winks at me before taking a long pull of his drink as the female next to Chet starts smacking him.

“Drink up, S. Then tear the paper in half and keep going,” Tinsley calls to me.

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