Page 26 of Dare (Fighting Fate)

As I walked away, I heard Noah chuckle. “Famous last words, Brother.”

Chapter 17

Jess

“Tell me again why we’ve decided here was the best place to come?”

I didn’t bother watching for Amber’s response to my question as we navigated the curbs and parked cars. The answer was one I already knew, but I was in a mood and wanted someone to placate me.

Clutching the pre-mix bottle of vodka in my hand, I stepped over the storm water drain, awkwardly holding my arms out to keep my balance. It was way harder than it should’ve been, but I assumed that had everything to do with the number of bottles I’d already consumed.

Beside me, I heard Amber sigh. “Dude, just do it. Get it out of the way. Rip that shit off like a Band-Aid. Trust me, you’ll feel way better for it.”

I glanced up at her long enough to scowl before returning my gaze back to the ground again. “Exactly what is it that you think I should do?”

“Whatever floats your boat,” she said, an obvious smirk in the tone of her voice. “Tongue fuck his mouth, take him out the back for a BJ, or go for gold and just take him to bed. Isaac will be lucky if I don’t jump him tonight too.”

I rolled my eyes before taking a swig of my drink. “I think you’ve got that backward, hon. I’m sure Isaac would consider himself the exact opposite of lucky if you didn’t jump him tonight.”

Catching my gaze, she waggled one perfectly sculptured eyebrow. “Well, maybe he’ll consider himself damn lucky by the end of tonight. I never say never.”

Oh, he’d be lucky all right. I glanced over the rockabilly chick look Amber was rocking these days. With her perfect red lips, winged eyeliner, and pastel pink hair, she was absolutely stunning, but put that with high pumps, a pencil skirt, and spectacular cleavage, she had every eye on her wherever she went. Girls included.

Pausing my steps, I waited for Amber to face me before I placed a hand on my hip and cocked my head to the side. “I dare you to do it. Tonight.”

Amber raised her eyebrows with amusement. “Are we back at high school, girlfriend?” I held my drink up and shrugged, making her roll her eyes. “I’ll accept your dare on the terms of a return dare. You and Eli.”

Crap. I was such an amateur. As much as I knew there was no way I’d have the guts to proposition Eli, I couldn’t back down. “Fine. I accept.”

She gave me a knowing look. “You know that means if I hook up with Isaac, you have to do the same with Eli, right?”

Scowling, I took a drink and started walking up the steps to the front door. “Yeah, I get it.” Nodding for her to go through the door first, I wiggled my now-empty bottle. “I’m going to need more drink.”

Amber stepped forward and placed her hand on the doorknob, mischief in her eyes and amusement on her lips. “Get your shit together, Princess. It’s too late to back out now. We’re here, and so is Eli. It’s time to bitch up.”

Before I had a chance to comprehend her words, she was throwing the door open and striding on through with a flourish. Shaking my head, I let out a slight laugh under my breath and followed her in. As much as her advice was crude and unforgiving, she was right. Dare or no dare, now was a good time to do something about this attraction to Eli. The choices might not have been easy, but they were limited. I either took Amber’s dare and hoped whatever happened satisfied the intrigue that damned dream had brought me, or I could ignore it and hope it would go away on its own. I was leaning more toward the latter. It spelled less of disaster.

But as I made my way inside, all thoughts of Eli were suddenly replaced by shock and confusion, because I honestly thought I’d walked into the wrong house. There were bodies crowded in every possible space. I’d seriously never seen this many people in one house at a time.

Catching a glimpse of the back of Amber’s dress disappearing through the crowd, I darted after her, ducking and weaving and pushing through the bodies. It was insane. Grabbing a hold of Amber’s hand, I squeezed it hard. “Have we entered another freaking dimension? What the hell is going on? Why are there so many people here, Amber?”

She turned to her side so I could hear

her over the loud, thumping music. “I guess this is what happens when every member of your family is allowed to invite whoever they want.”

I gawked at the vast number of people around us, my head slowly shaking with horror. This wasn’t good. I honestly thought it was just going to be family and friends. I’d been good with that. Now I was slightly stressing. The last time I’d been in a party environment, I’d been drugged. Even though nothing bad had happened, it still scared the absolute crap out of me to experience firsthand just how easy it could happen.

Amber tugged on my arm. “Come on. Let’s grab a drink and find the others. They can’t be too far away.”

Drawing in a steadying breath, I nodded. I could deal with this. I just needed to be careful with my drinks. Moving toward the back of the house, we found Kaeli and Noah in the kitchen with Mia and Jace, and Aiden and Emmy. As Mia and Kaeli rushed forward to give me and Amber a hug, I sighed with relief. It calmed me to know I was going to be able to surround myself with my closest friends. I had no doubt they’d all look out for me.

“Hey, Jess,” Noah said, catching my gaze. “How’re you doing?” His look told me he could tell I was already under the influence, and for some reason, it amused me.

“I’m still trying to wrap my head around how many people are here,” I said, letting my gaze drift around the room.

He frowned and took a quick look around as well. “Yeah, I can’t say I’m too happy about it. Parties this size don’t usually end well.”

Kaeli squeezed herself closer to him. “Stop stressing. It’ll be fine. Let’s go out back and sit down by the fire.”

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