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“What game?” Cole asked, taking my exceptionally poor distraction bait immediately.

I taught everyone to playHoarse, a drinking game that involved a single pack of cards and enough screaming for it to earn its name. The premise was simple: the four aces were “horses” that needed to reach a finish line twelve cards away. The horses moved based on the cards drawn by the dealer that matched the horse’s suit. But that wasn’t what made the game fun—it was the stupid names everyone gave their horses and how much they shouted while the cards were being flipped over.

I failed miserably the first few rounds, my horse barely making it out of the gate while Dana and Elsie’s continued to win over and over. By the fourth round, the pitcher was empty, and Kaylee and I were more than a little worse for wear.

“Another round?” I asked, standing on wobbly legs.

“Yes!” Elsie and Kaylee chimed in at the same time Dana shook her head.

“I’m not much of a drinker,” she said. “I’d love some water, though.”

“Sure. Cole?”

“Down for whatever,” he said, leaning against Kaylee heavily. “Maybe water too.”

“Wanna help me carry everything?” I asked Dana as I collected the pitcher and headed for the fridge.

She leapt up from the sofa, trailing after me into the kitchen. I pulled out the juice from the fridge, setting it on the counter while I turned to hunt down my measuring cups.

Howls of laughter exploded in the living room, excited voices drifting over to us as they gossiped about some of the dancers.

“Are you having fun?” I asked Dana, giving up on the measuring cups to free pour equal measures of vodka and coconut rum into the pitcher.

“Very much.” Her eyes caught on the snatch of bare skin at my midriff as I lifted my arms to pour the schnapps. “Thank you for the invitation.”

“I’m glad you could come. We, uh… Haven’t had much time to talk.”

She leaned against the counter, her hands curled against the edge of the stone as she grinned, showing a hint of fang. “We should go on another date soon.”

“The arcade again?” I asked excitedly, setting the bottle aside. “I was really starting to get that shooting thingy.”

“If you’d like. Or I could take you to a nice restaurant or something, if that's what you’d?—”

“I loved the arcade,” I interrupted, the buzz of alcohol in my system making me bold. I got the sudden urge to kiss her, and before I could overthink it, I leaned forward, pressing my lips to hers in a slightly clumsy kiss.

Dana blinked in surprise, a slow smile transforming her features with nearly girlish glee.

“Ah, ah, ah! Come back here.” Her hand snapped out to catch my waist, tugging me flush against her. “Darling, I’ve been waiting for days to kiss you properly. I will need a little more than that.”

I pulled away, sticking my tongue out at her. “I have to play hostess, handsy.”

“I can show you handsy,” she said as she moved behind me.

“Dana,” I said with a giggle, continuing my task, if only to see what she’d do.

“Well, as yourguest,” She stressed the word, her hands roaming over me as I poured the juice. “I’d love a moment of your time.”

I laughed, smacking a kiss against her lips. “That so?”

“Yeah.” She cupped my face to kiss me again, slower, sweeter than the last few we’d traded.

My stomach was doing all kinds of flips when I pulled away, my eyes flicking between hers.

“Come on! My horse is about to kick your horse’s ass this time. I can feel it.”

“Fat chance,” Dana snarked, taking the pitcher with her.

I reclaimed my seat on the floor and Elsie hopped off the sofa, coming to settle herself into my lap.