Page 3

Emmie

“You absolutely have to come with,” says Zara, giving me her best pleading face.

“I absolutely cannot,” I repeat, gathering my books from the floor of the shared living space so I can hide in my room before the boys get back. “Classes start tomorrow, Zara. I haven’t even read half of what they suggested.”

“And you think you’ll cram it all in tonight?” She arches a brow.

“We’ve spent the entire week drinking and partying, I can’t stomach another J?ger Bomb.”

She pouts playfully, “This isn’t that kind of party. It’s a chill night with some guy strumming on a guitar. Not a J?ger in sight.”

She follows me to my room and watches as I dump the books on my bed. “Who is this guy anyway?”

She practically bounces with excitement. “His name is Seb, as in, Sebastian, isn’t that cute.”

I narrow my eyes. “I’m not sure any guy likes to be thought of as cute.”

“He’s amazing at art. You should see the portfolio he submitted. He showed me and I was wowed into love.”

I laugh, “Love?”

“I have to go,” she suddenly wails, dropping on my bed.

“You should see the girls in my class, Em, they’re gorgeous, every single one of them.

If I’m not there tonight, he might fall in love with one of them and he’s actually meant for me.

I can’t miss this opportunity; it could change the course of my life. ”

“Like in Sliding Doors?”

She frowns, and I huff, nobody watches the classics anymore. “Fine,” I mutter, and she screams in delight, throwing her arms around me. “But no shots.” She nods in agreement. “Of any kind.” She nods faster. “And I want to be home at a reasonable hour.”

She rushes off to get changed, and I pick up my phone to call Mum. “Hey you,” she answers, and I hear the smile in her voice.

“How are you?” I ask.

“Oh, you know, same old. What have you been up to?”

I’ve called every night, hating the thought of her being alone. I did the same throughout summer, so our evening phone calls have become a habit I don’t want to break.

“We got to meet others in our class,” I tell her. “Mum, everyone looks so wise and clever.”

She laughs. “Emmie, so do you. They’re probably thinking the exact same about you.”

I scoff. “I doubt it.”

“I saw Ava for lunch,” she tells me, bringing instant joy to my heart. Ava promised to keep an eye on her for me, and she pops over regularly. “She loves her new job.”

“Yeah, I spoke with her yesterday. I’m pleased for her.”

Ava didn’t want to go to university, instead she settled on an apprenticeship with the local veterinary surgery.

“What are your plans tonight?” I add.

“A nice quiet night in front of the television. All my soaps are on.”

I miss watching that crap with her. “Well pray for me because Zee is forcing me to go to another house party tonight.”

She chuckles. “Just be safe and don’t get too drunk, you have your first lectures tomorrow.”

“I won’t. Goodnight, Mum. I love you.”

“I love you more.” And she disconnects.

I already regret wearing jeans. They’re too tight, too hot, and I’ve spent the whole walk here pulling them up like some awkward penguin. But teamed with the low-cut cropped top and Converse, I look pretty good.

The house smells like clove cigarettes and something herbal I can’t quite place. It’s dim but warm with fairy lights looped along curtain rails, floor cushions in mismatched covers, and a couple of people sitting cross-legged around a low table, passing a bottle between them.

Zara’s already buzzing, pulling me through the crowd with her usual confidence.

“Seb!” she calls, and when he looks up from a corner of the room, her face practically lights up.

I can see it in the way she tucks her hair behind her ear, the way her voice lifts slightly.

She really likes him. They greet like it’s the third date, not the second time they’ve ever spoken.

I stand awkwardly whilst they hug. His eyes find me, and it reminds Zara I’m here.

She turns, smiling with a slight blush on her cheeks. “This is Em,” she introduces proudly.

He grins, leaning past her to kiss me on the cheek. “Nice to meet you, Em.”

I laugh at his boldness, “You too.”

“Help yourself to drinks,” he adds, pointing to a table filled with ice buckets.

Zara doesn’t budge but continues to make small talk with him, so I step away to give them some alone time.

I hover near the edge of the room, scanning the crowd.

It’s chill. Not the kind of party where people are doing body shots or swinging from door frames.

Just quiet music, low lighting, and pockets of conversations.

I take a bottle from the nearest ice bucket and pop off the lid with a bottle opener. I’m about to take my first sip when I hear, “Emmie?”

I turn and find Landon. He’s in a hoodie and jeans, hair slightly tousled, like he’s only just arrived. Which, judging by the way he’s holding a full drink and scanning the room, he probably has.

“Hey,” I say, surprised at how glad I am to see someone I know.

“Noah’s around here somewhere too,” he says, smiling. “His mate lives here.”

“Yeah, Zee dragged me here so she could flirt with Seb.”

“Um, don’t think that was his name.” He shakes his head, shrugging, “I can’t remember. There’s a spare beanbag in the other room, come and sit with me?”

I smile wide, nodding as his hand slips into mine and he leads me through to the living room.

We settle onto a giant red beanbag next to a bookshelf missing half its shelves. The music’s just loud enough to cover awkward silences, not that there ever is any when I’m with Landon.

“What did you think to the others today?” he asks, referring to our earlier meet.

“Everyone seemed lovely. And I don’t think we’ll be short of library dates.”

He laughs. “There were a lot of book worms there, right?”

I nod, “I guess that makes sense seeing as we’re doing English Lit.” I release a long sigh. “I never imagined I’d be here,” I add.

“At this party sitting a beanbag with a guy you’re banned from dating? Or university?”

I grin, “The latter.”

“I really think we should challenge the rules with Zara,” he adds.

I take a long pull on my beer. “We both know she’s right.”

“And you’re still healing your broken heart.”

I nod. I haven’t gone into details, but I’ve shared small snippets. Like how I spent the summer with my gran to get away from a boy.

A girl drops down on a spare beanbag and holds up an empty bottle. “Spin the bottle?”

I freeze up. Memories come back, assaulting my brain and I stutter to get a full breath. I feel Landon rub my knee gently, “Are you okay?”

I make eye contact, and as if he sees every bad memory of Bella and her cackling laugh, he stands, taking my beer and placing it on the table, then pulling me up.

“It’s fine, we can leave,” he whispers, rubbing his hand gently on the small of my back as he leads me from the room and out into the garden.

I lean against the wall and take a deep breath, releasing it slowly. “I’m sorry,” I mutter, almost embarrassed.

“Hey, it’s fine. I hate that shit anyway. It’s what kids play.”

“Those kinds of games never go well for me,” I whisper.

“Landon, hey,” A girl approaches and Landon grins. I think I recognise her from our course and so I force a polite smile.

“Kerry, right?” he asks, and she nods, pleased he’s remembered. “And you remember Emmie?” he adds, nodding my way.

She smiles. It’s friendly, not bitchy, and I relax. “Yeah, how are you both? Wasn’t today great?”

“Everyone seems nice,” says Landon in agreement.

“I was about to grab a drink; can I get you one?” Her eyes linger on Landon, and I read the signs before he does.

“Go with her,” I say, and they both turn to me. “I just need a minute. I’ll come and find you.”

Landon frowns. “Are you sure?”

“Please, go. I’m fine.”

Kerry hooks her arm in his and he leads her inside.

Kai

The bottle spins. The circle’s shrunk now with just eight of us left, slouched on cushions and beanbags, a haze of smoke floating between us and the low thrum of the music. This version’s not exactly PG.

“Whoever it lands on,” the girl across from me says, twirling a strand of pink-dyed hair, “you’ve got two choices. Kiss or dare. But either way, it’s gotta be dirty.”

Laughter ripples through the group. No one objects.

The bottle slows. And points to me. Of course it does .

Pink Hair bites her lip. “Well, Kai?”

I lean back, arms stretched along the top of the beanbag, wearing my best slow grin. “You think I’d play if I was going to back out?”

She grins, tapping her chin like she’s weighing up her options. “Kiss or dare?”

“Dare,” I say.

“Ooh, brave,” she coos. Then her eyes narrow just slightly. “I dare you to pick someone in the circle and kiss them properly. Tongue, hands, the works. Thirty seconds minimum. We want movie scene.”

“Movie scene?” I repeat. “Okay.”

I glance around the circle, slow and deliberate, because I know they’re watching. Waiting. I let my gaze land on Alex. She’s already smirking like she knew I’d choose her.

I don’t say anything. I just shift forward, closing the space between us with that same lazy confidence I always fall back on.

I grin, my hands falling either side of her hips, caging her in.

She grips my shirt as our mouths crash together.

It’s not a movie scene unless she meant porn, because this is hungry and hot.

Thirty seconds isn’t enough as she lies further back into the bean bag, pulling me with her.

It’s only when Pink Hair announces the time is way past, that we break apart, breathless and panting.

I swipe my thumb across my mouth, settling back in place like I’m bored again.

“Next,” I say, and the bottle spins.

When it lands on Alex, I can’t pretend I’m not excited at the prospect she may pick me for something more.

And when she chooses to dare, I’m practically grinning from ear to ear.

“Choose someone in the circle to suck on that nipple piercing,” I say confidently, my eyes landing on the outline of her piercings. “Thirty seconds on each.”

She laughs. It’s throaty and sexy. “All you had to do was ask,” she says, arching a brow.

The circle goes wild, laughing, screeching, buzzing with excitement that the game just took a twist. I wait, watching as she slowly lifts her top.

Braless, yet they sit there perfectly pert and begging for my mouth.

I lean over her, keeping my eyes fixed on hers as I flick my tongue over her nipple.

Her cheeks instantly pink, she’s turned on, and when I suck the bar into my mouth, her head falls back in pleasure.

I swirl my tongue around the metal, occasionally tugging it between my teeth and dragging breathy moans from her.

I do the same to the other, and I swear, ten more seconds and she’d have orgasmed right there.

As I pull back, she catches my mouth in another hungry kiss.

“Shit, man,” I hear someone mutter from the circle. “These two need to find a room.”

I grin, pulling back. “Just say the word and I’ll show you to mine,” I tell her.

“Patience,” she whispers. “I like the game too much.”

The bottle spins again, this time landing on a guy to my left.

Alex smirks when he chooses kiss. He stands, holding his hand out to her which she takes, her eyes occasionally flicking to mine as he sweeps his hands along her jaw, tilting her head back enough to get the right angle as his mouth closes over hers.

They kiss like a movie scene, slow, sexy, calm.

Some of the girls in the circle swoon. When they finally break away, it’s my eyes she seeks out.

A small smirk is still tugging at her lips as she drops beside me, her knee brushing mine.

A song comes on, blaring from the speakers, breaking the chilled vibe. “What the fuck?” I ask out loud to no one in particular. It’s not from the playlist I’d put on at the start of the night. Alex slides closer, bringing my attention back to her.

“Wanna know who kissed better?” she asks, her tone teasing as she scrapes her teeth over her lower lip.

I grin, placing a finger under her chin and tilting her head back so we’re eye to eye, almost lip to lip. “I don’t need to ask,” I whisper, stealing another hungry kiss.

When we come up for air, the rest of the circle have broken away and we laugh. “How about you show me that room now?” she asks, “You can show me what else that magical tongue can do.”