Page 19 of Between Love and War
I don’t know if I will, actually.
Richard claps a hand on my shoulder. “So, drinks?”
I hesitate, scanning the surroundings. This is already more social interaction than I’d planned for today. But weirdly, I don’t hate it. There’s no awkward small talk, no invasive questions. They treat me like a regular guy instead of some new specimen to analyze. It’s… nice.
My gaze drifts to the laptop sitting open on the center table, and on the screen are two people who look like they just steppedout of a magazine spread. The woman has long brown hair and sharp eyes. The guy next to her is just as striking—short black hair, a well-defined jawline, and tattoos trailing down one arm. They’re both smiling and waving at me, and for some reason, that makes them even more intimidating.
I offer a hesitant wave back.
Before I can ask, Bon gestures toward the screen like it’s obvious. “Oh, that’s Emily and my brother Joshua. They live in New York.”
“Which means,” Emily says, rubbing her eyes, “that it’s five in the morning over here.”
Richard is still waiting for my agreement on the drinks, but Haley says, “Richard, don’t just throw him into the deep end like that. He’s new. We should ease him in.” She pauses, then adds, “Start him off with something light. Maybe just a single shot of something dangerous.”
“Ooooh, yes,” Bon says.
Ryan sighs. “Bon.”
“What?” She gestures vaguely. “It’s called hospitality.”
Richard, looking way too enthusiastic, nods in agreement. “Yeah, I like that. Initiation shot.”
I narrow my eyes. “You guys do this to everyone who moves here?”
Bon shrugs. “Only the ones we like.” And then she adds, “Also, no one really moves here, so this is like a national holiday for us.”
Laughter ripples through the group as Richard sets a shot glass in front of me. I don’t ask what it is—I already know I’m going to regret it.
Bon claps her hands together. “I wish Kate were here!”
“Kate would probably stop us from doing this to Michael,” Richard says.
“Yeah, no doubt.” Bon nods. “She’d hit us with a whole lecture on why kindness matters.”
“Kindness?” I repeat, skeptical.
“Yeah, my sister is the nicest person in the world. Too nice for her own good,” Haley says, like it’s an indisputable fact.
I blink. “Kate? Curly-haired, floral-dress Kate?”
Haley frowns. “Uh… yeah? Why?”
I could tell them what I’m thinking–that Kate isnotkind. That she’s the most terrifying person I’ve ever met, a mastermind of psychological warfare wrapped in florals and a deceptive smile. But I don’t tell them.
Instead, I just shake my head and mutter, “Nothing.”
I grab the shot glass, eyeing it warily. “Okay, what is this?”
Richard smirks, leaning in like he’s about to reveal some ancient, forbidden secret. “If I tell you, it ruins the fun.”
I exhale sharply and decide to get this over with. Lifting the glass, I knock the shot back in one go.
Big mistake. The liquid scorches my throat, burning all the way down like I just swallowed gasoline lit on fire. I choke, my entire body seizing up in protest.
Joshua smirks at the screen. “Welcome to the club.”
I cough, wheezing. “What the hell was that?”
