Page 28 of Electric Wounds
I drop my voice, laying it on thick. "What, are you scared?"
Her eyes flash. That determination I like so much showing up. "I’m not scared."
"Prove it," I challenge, grabbing an empty water bottle and placing it in the middle of the floor. "Come on, let’s play."
She sighs, rolling her eyes, but finally gives in. "Fine. One game."
I shoot her a triumphant grin. Deciding now is not the time to determine what constitutesone game. We all gather around in a loose circle. The bottle sits in the center, like a loaded gun, ready to fire off a whole lot of trouble.
“Alright, who’s first?" I ask, looking around. It would be too obvious if we only had Lily spin, right?
Dylan, of course, takes the lead. He spins the bottle, and it whirls around before landing directly on Jax. Without missing a beat, Dylan leans in and plants a quick, dramatic kiss on Jax’s lips with a loud smack. "There, happy?"
Jax wipes his mouth in mock disgust, laughing. "You’re a real piece of work, Dylan."
Next up is Marcus. He spins the bottle, and it lands on Lily. He leans in, and there’s a gentleness to the kiss—soft and lingering for just a second too long. "For good luck," he whispers.
Sappy fucker.
Lily blushes but smiles. "Thanks, Marcus."
She likes that shit? Gag.
Lily spins the bottle, and it lands on Dylan. He wags his eyebrows, and she giggles as he meets her halfway, kissing her in the center of the bottle. He chases after her as she retreats, causing her to laugh again, and I feel my irritation rising.
“Okay, my turn,” I grumble, spinning the bottle with more force than was probably necessary. We all were quiet as we watch it spin for almost a solid minute before landing on the space between Marcus and Lily. “I choose Lily,” I state.
“I don’t think it works like that,” she protests lightly.
“Of course it does.” I lean across the circle without giving her more time to protest, sealing my lips to hers. Her mouth falls open lightly, like the speed of my kiss was unexpected and I take advantage, slipping my tongue into her mouth, warring for dominance. As usual, she matches me, her tongue sliding against mine in an almost aggressive kiss. I break away when one of the guys coughs.
Lily’s cheeks are flushed, and her lips are swollen. I want to dive back into that kiss immediately, but force myself to sit back down. “Who’s next?”
The game picks up pace, with Jax spinning next and kissing Marcus’ forehead. Lily seems to forget her demand for only one game as the kisses get more ridiculous. Cheeks, hands, foreheads, even a knee—everything’s fair game, and somehow it makes it easier. Less serious, more fun.
Then it’s Lily’s turn again, and the bottle lands on Jax. She hesitates just for a second before leaning in and pressing a soft kiss to his lips. It’s quick, but the air in the bus shifts—like we’re all expecting a disaster to happen. This was either the worst or best idea I have ever had. I try to play it cool, but there’s no denying I’m paying as much attention as Marcus and Dylan.
Lily leans back and offers a hesitant smile to Jax, which he returns. It’s like the bus releases its collective breath.
"Alright, my turn again," Marcus says, giving me a look. Somehow, this game fixed the issue between Lily and Jax. Well, maybe. We all need to play it cool, though. Marcus’ bottle lands on an empty space between Jax and Dylan. “Pass.”
“It doesn’t work like that!” Lily exclaims, repeating her protest from earlier.
“Yes, it does,” Marcus and I say at the same time.
“Fine,” she says with a pout.
I spin the bottle, and when it lands on Jax, I lean in with exaggerated affection, kissing his left elbow. "There you go, big guy."
Jax rolls his eyes but cracks a smile. "You’re a pain in the ass, Enzo."
Lily bursts out laughing, the sound of it infectious, making the whole bus feel lighter. "This is so silly," she says, wiping away tears from the corners of her eyes.
“That’s the point," Marcus says, giving her a wink. "Just let go and have fun."
Jax spins the bottle, and when it lands on Marcus, he kisses Marcus’s hand with enough dramatic flair to get all of us laughing again. The game goes on, but then things take a turn.
It’s Marcus’s turn to spin, and it lands on Lily again. This time, the kiss between them is slower, deeper. It lasts longer, and when they pull apart, both of them look a little breathless. I feel a knot of jealousy twist in my gut, but I push it down. It’s just a game. Right?
