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Ellie eyed it, concerned that it would be as alcohol heavy as the other two, but when she sipped this one, she gasped with delight.

“Oh my god,” she squealed before going in for another sip.

Odie let her get that one in, then stole it away. “That’s enough of that. Satisfied?”

“Is there a virgin version of that?” Ellie looked at me with hope.

Maybe if there’s peach juice? That plus 7-Up.

We both looked at Cy who shook her head. “Not this time. I will look into it when we go grocery shopping. I’m sure there’s something we can find.”

“This is actually really good, Mine.” Odie passed the drink over to Cy who nodded in agreement before handing it to me.

“Super sweet but very tasty. I’d probably add some darker rum and soda if I was going to drink an entire glass.”

I tasted it and agreed completely. This was definitely a drink for a seventeen year old who wasn’t accustomed to the taste of alcohol. I nailed it and really wanted to try the virgin version. Some days, I didn’t want to drink, and that would be an awesome mocktail to add to the list.

With that, Odie got back to business. “Drink up. It’s time for shot number four.” I grimaced, and Cy laughed maniacally, seeing her win on the horizon. I had no chance.

Hit me. No chance didn’t mean I was giving up.

We each downed our drinks and took another shot before getting refills on said drinks. I was dying on the inside and didn’t know how long everything would stay on the inside.

Delicious. Another.

At least I think that’s what I said, but given the looks they were all giving me, I don’t think I quite got it.

Another, I tried again.

“I think it’s passing out in the bathroom time. Admit defeat, Mine.” Cy stood in front of me, pulling my glass from my hands and setting it on the counter.

Never.

“You’re signing gibberish.” Her teeth ground together. “Accept defeat before I chuck you into a cold shower and we keep going.”

So bossy.

The room spun as the alcohol fully hit, and I realized how much I had actually consumed. I wasn’t a lightweight, but that much alcohol in an hour was not very smart on my part.

“Are you just now getting that?” Odie snickered.

“Very funny, Odie.” Cy pulled me out of my stool and stood me up. “Admit it. Say ‘I lose,’ and you can go to bed with a large glass of water and some toast on your nightstand.”

Toast got my attention, and without telling my hands to say anything, they signed, I lose.

“Good girl.” Cy scooped me up, and that’s the last thing I remember before waking up on the bathroom floor needing to vomit.

Thankfully, the toilet was right there. I spilled so much liquid and stomach acid before resting my head on the seat, remembering why I rarely drank. The darkness behind my eyes spun before I puked again and again. Eventually, I passed back out after drinking some of the water that was left for me.

There wasn’t a clock in there, so I didn’t know when I woke up the last time or this time, but I felt a little better and really hoped I hadn’t made up Cy saying there would be toast. With the blanket wrapped around me, I wobbled into the room, and to my surprise, there was toast on the nightstand.

I stuck a piece in my mouth and chewed slowly. After half a piece, I needed more water, so I went out to the living room to get a fresh glass of ice water before dying in bed for the next couple of hours.

We started drinking early, so it was only two a.m. as I scuffled out of the room and into the kitchen. The ice machine was so loud, but I carried on until it was full of ice and water.

I snuggled up on the couch, then realized there were a handful of bags and boxes piled around the wingback chairs. The boxes had Mine written on them. Setting down the water, I moved seats and opened up the first box, revealing a mishmash of my things all stuffed inside without care.

Something must have spilled in here because it smelled like perfume and stale air. The shirt I picked up was wet and sticky, coating my hand in its stench.