Page 52 of Off The Rush
The four of us exchange glances, our minds racing for something to ease the tension in the room. It’s up to us to make this situation work, and it all starts with finding a way to be comfortable together.
JD’s warm brown eyes light up as an idea comes to him. “How about a drinking game? To celebrate our win tonight and help us relax?”
“Sounds fun,” I say, intrigued. “What kind of game did you have in mind?”
Before JD can answer, Luka jumps up from his seat, a spark of excitement in his intense gray eyes.
“I’ve got just the thing!” He disappears into the closet and emerges moments later with a brand new game of Twister.
“Twister?” Alec asks skeptically, raising an eyebrow.
“Yep!” Luka grins. “But not just any Twister – I saw a drinking version online and I’ve been dying to try it out. What do you guys think?”
“Drinking Twister?” I can’t help but laugh at the thought, my previous unease momentarily forgotten. “That sounds like a recipe for disaster… and also a lot of fun.”
Luka’s face lights up even more if that’s possible. “So you’re in, Emma?”
“Sure, why not?” I shrug, feeling oddly adventurous. “How about you guys?” I look over at Alec and JD, who both seem hesitant but eventually nod in agreement.
“Alright, let’s do this!” Luka exclaims, spreading out the plastic mat on the living room floor.
As he sets up the game, I can’t help but wonder how this will work with all of us dating each other. Will there be jealousy? Awkwardness? Or will we find a way to make it work?
“Emma, are you okay with this?” JD asks me gently, noticing my apprehension.
“Yeah,” I smile, trying to sound more confident than I feel. “I’m just overthinking things, as usual. Let’s have some fun.”
“Good attitude,” Luka says, finishing the setup. “Now, let’s get twisted!”
“Twisted? That’s so dorky,” JD says and we all laugh.
“Alright, so here’s how it works,” Luka explains as he positions the Twister spinner on a nearby table. “You keep a drink in your right hand at all times. If you can’t make it to the color that was spun, you have to take a drink. Got it?”
“Sounds simple enough,” I say, my excitement growing as I take a sip of my drink. Alec and JD nod in agreement, and we all find our spots around the mat. The room fills with anticipation, making me feel more alive than ever.
“Let’s get started!” Luka grins, giving the spinner a flick. It lands on red, and he calls out, “Right foot, red!”
We each awkwardly stretch our legs to reach the nearest red circle, trying not to spill our drinks. My body brushes up against JD’s, and I catch a whiff of his cologne, making my heart race.
“Okay, next!” Luka spins again. “Left hand, green!”
Alec and I both reach for the same green spot, momentarily locking eyes before bursting into laughter. There’s a playful energy in the air, and my previous worries start to fade.
“Left foot, blue!” Luka announces after another spin. This time, I end up twisted under JD, feeling the warmth of his body above me. My face flushes, but I can’t help but enjoy the sensation.
“Left foot, yellow!” Luka continues, and now all four of us are entangled in a mess of limbs. Alec’s chest presses against my back, while Luka is somehow draped over both me and JD.
As we continue playing, I become more aware of every touch, every breath shared between us. The heat from our bodies combines with the alcohol, leaving me feeling hot and bothered. The game goes on, and I’m caught up in the thrill of it all, the uncertainty and exhilaration of this new dynamic we’re exploring.
“Emma,” Luka whispers in my ear as he reaches for a distant yellow circle with his left foot. “You doing okay?”
“Never better,” I reply breathlessly, trying to focus on the game instead of how close we all are. And in this moment, tangled together and laughing, it feels like maybe, just maybe, we can make this work.
As we continue playing, the alcohol loosens us up, and I notice everyone becoming more relaxed. JD and Luka are bantering back and forth while Alec laughs at their antics. It’s infectious, and I can’t help but join in on the laughter. The warmth of our bodies combined with the alcohol makes me feel lightheaded but in a good way. This night is turning out to be way more fun than I had anticipated.
“Right foot, green!” Luka calls out, and I shift my position, trying to keep my balance.
Alec moves as well, and suddenly, our faces are only inches apart. My breath catches, and I’m hyper-aware of the closeness between us. Our eyes lock, and for a moment, it feels like time stops. I want to lean in and kiss him, but I hesitate, worried about how the others will react.
