Page 100 of Stealing for Keeps
He takes a drink while he thinks, then a slow smile spreads across his face. “Never have I ever tried out for the chess team.”
My mouth falls open. I didn’t think he was going tocome at me of all people. I drink, and everyone laughs and asks for an explanation, to which I just shrug and say, “I was trying some new things to see if it clicked. It didn’t.”
“Your turn, Claire,” Rowan prompts me to go next when the laughter has died down.
“Never have I ever read the Jude Collins biography,” I say, tossing one right back at Austin.
Austin narrows his gaze on me before putting the cup to his lips. Rowan drinks too.
“You’re the other person who checked it out of the library?” Austin asks Rowan. Then, we all burst into giggles.
More people are gathering around. The soccer game has finally stopped, and people are ready to sit and chill. Eddie and Vaughn build a bonfire, and we move so we’re sitting around it. Austin and I get farther apart as the circle expands, but he’s across from me, and we sneak glances.
The guys use the game to air out one another’s secrets. Like Barrett got caught in a compromising position with his therapist’s daughter, and one of the guys on the football team waxed his butt for fifty bucks.
I’m enjoying the night and being out of Frost Lake and hanging out and even learning things about Austin that we haven’t chatted about yet. He’s not a virgin, but I hadn’t assumed he was.
Vaughn and I came close, but we never went all the way.
Lacey’s party drink has taken the edge off my worries, and I’ve forgotten the purpose of the game and what it feels like to be in the hot seat until Barrett takes his turn. He grins right at Austin and then me. “Never have I ever kissed anyone for a dare.”
Austin flips him off as we both take a drink. But so doseveral other guys around the circle, which leads to people wanting to know who and when.
I find Vaughn in the circle. He looks relaxed, beer in his hand, resting on one knee. He isn’t shooting me or Austin daggers at the reminder we kissed, which makes me feel like maybe it’s all going to be okay.
When it gets to his turn, I can tell he’s more than a few beers in. One side of his mouth lifts as he says, “Pass. I can’t think of anything.”
“I got one,” Eli says. “Never have I ever felt up anyone sitting in this circle.”
I have a little rush of panic, because I know when Austin drinks, people are going to be very interested to know who he felt up, but then Lacey drinks, and everyone’s gaze goes to her instead.
“Lacey, babe.” Barrett’s brows rise. “Tell me everything.”
“I feel myself up all the time,” she says, then cups herself over her shirt. “That counts, right?”
Some of the guys boo, and I pull her hands away from her breasts. “No, Lace…just no.”
She grins at me, and I realize this wasn’t Lacey having a ditzy moment. It was Best Friend of the Year in action.
“I knew it!” Hunter points to Austin. “Disco, you stud. Was it…” He trails off, then tips his head not so subtly toward Jenn sitting next to him.
Jenn shoves at his shoulder. “It’s none of your business who feels me up.”
“It’s literally the game,” Hunter says.
Austin just laughs it off, totally at ease except for the slight tightening of his jaw when he thinks everyone has stopped paying attention to him.
Eventually, we run out of questions, and people getbored of playing. Most everyone has headed inside to warm up or to the hot tub on the deck.
It’s cold, even with the heat from the bonfire, but I’m not quite ready to go in yet, and the hot tub is crammed full of couples making out.
I pull the sleeves of my sweatshirt down over my hands and hug my knees. Lacey is doing cheers with Jenn and some of the other cheerleaders from both squads. I’m watching and applauding after each one.
“Here.” Austin drops a blanket down onto the ground in front of me and then takes a seat next to me.
“Thanks.” I drape it over my legs and then hold up the side to offer it to him.
He moves closer until our legs and shoulders touch. We don’t say anything as we stare out toward the lake. The cheerleaders are attempting a pyramid. As Lacey tries to climb up to the top, Jenn shifts, and they all tumble to the ground.
