Page 46 of Puck You
“No one wants to see that,” muttered Lydia.
I surveyed the room, cataloging everyone pulled into the “truth circle.”Bryce was sitting on my right with Sam on the other side of him.Landon had squeezed in beside Grace, who scooted closer to her best friend the moment he sat down, leaving Kent, Caroline, Lydia, and Nina to complete the circle.I could have sworn Bishop and RT had fled the room with severalother partygoers the moment Caroline had announced her idea.
“There’s only one rule in the truth circle—you must tell the truth.You don’t get to know the question beforehand, but the questioner must have your approval before they ask.”
“You have to ask someone if they’re willing to answer your question before they know what it is?”Sam questioned.
I snuck a glance at Grace.I’d spent the first few hours of the evening watching her from afar, imagining what it would be like to drag my hand along her lower back so I could feel the heat of her skin against my palm.
While everyone else was clearly intoxicated, some to the point of slurring their words, Grace’s eyes were alert.She was still clutching the same can of beer that Bryce had handed her at the beginning of the night.I knew it was the same because I’d barely let her out of my sight since she got here.So far I’d managed to keep my distance, but as the evening progressed, I grew more restless in my desire to talkto her.
“Yes,” Caroline said in answer to Sam’s question.“The game is more about if you trust the person asking the question than the question itself.I can go first, if that makes things easier.”
She took her time assessing the circle, looking each person in the eyes as she tried to determine who she wanted to pick.Eventually, her attention shifted to Grace.
“Grace, will you answer my question?”
Grace looked like a deer caught in headlights as everyone turned toward her.She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as she considered.Grace was nervous.Her fingers tightened around the can as she glanced at Sam for either comfort or reassurance.If I had to guess, they’d known each other for most of their lives.I could tell by the way they interacted with eachother.And right now, Grace was leaning on her comfort-person for support.I’d never witnessed such apprehension in her before this moment.She always seemed so sure of herself.
“If I say yes, I’ll have to answer you?No matter how personal the question?”
Oh, she was definitely nervous.Seemed like Grace wasn’t much for sharing, at least not when it came to personal matters.
“Yes, but I promise to go easy on you this first time,” Caroline assured.
“Then yes, I accept.”Sam’s eyes widened in response to Grace’s words.
“Tell me the truth—are you having fun tonight, celebrating Sebastian’s birthday?”
Grace visibly relaxed as several people in the group booed.
“That’s too easy,” Landon shouted.“Make it harder than that!”
“I’m having fun,” Grace admitted, her eyes meeting mine from across the circle.“Thank you for having me, Sebastian.And for letting Sam tag along.”
There was no suggestion of sarcasm in her response, as I would have expected, and I tried not to let it go to my head.I was sure it was only a matter of time before she went back to loathing my existence.Though, if I were being honest with myself, I didn’t mind our bickering.Fighting with Grace was like the thrill of a breakaway.Riling her up, seeing that spark of fire in her eyes, felt like flying across the rink at full speed, nothing but ice and open space before me.
As the game went on, the questions grew dirtier.Sam was eager to answer just about any question thrown her way, while Grace nearly always declined.The only person who was visiblyannoyed by her lack of participation was Landon.Each time she turned him down, I could see his frustration rise.After the third time, he shifted his attention to me.
“Birrrday boy Seb,” he slurred, taking a long sip of his beer.“Will you answer my question?”
If it got him to stop pestering Grace, I was happy to oblige.“Yes.”
Landon threw his fists up in celebration.In the process, drops of beer rained down over Grace.I opened my mouth to scold him, but he barreled forward with his question before I could speak.
“Did you and Kate break up over another girl?”
The circle went silent.I could see the triumphant gleam in his blurry, unfocused eyes.What the hell was he playing at?I’d never even mentioned the breakup to Landon, which should have been warning enough that it wasn’t on the table for discussion.
“All right, all right,” Bryce said.“Maybe it’s time we move on to another drinking game.”
“Good idea,” Caroline said as she pushed to her feet.“Should we go to the basement?I think they have beer pong set up down there.”
“No, come on.It’s the rules, Sebby.Yagotta answer the—”
“No more truth circle,” I snapped as I got up and stepped away.“And I’d advise you to stop while you’re ahead.You’re clearly wasted.”
The group immediately dispersed, Kent leading the charge to the basement with Lydia and Nina following in his wake.Meanwhile, Landon held out a hand to help Grace up from the floor.Though she looked as if she’d rather touch dog shit, Grace politely accepted his help.He tugged at her arm with fartoo much force, the momentum launching her straight into his chest.Warning bells blared in the back of my head as his slimy hands dropped to her waist, his fingers pressed to the exposed skin along her lower back.Grace froze on the spot.Her entire body seemed to tense with Landon’s newfound proximity.And just like that, my control flew right out the door.In less than a second, I was across the room, and in another I was yanking Landon away from her.
