Page 18 of SnowBound

“Nah, you’re wrong. I know how to have fun. And I can hold my booze. I just prefer pink cocktails with umbrellas to Neanderthal’s liquor. A woman is allowed to have her own indulgences, you know. I can be wild when I want to be.”

How could a guy I’d only met a few hours ago read me? I hated parties and only drank on special holidays. Honestly, I was the worst drinker. And a bit of a homebody when given the choice.

Tonight, a piece of me wanted to live without fear for once. Be free. And another piece of me wanted to cheer up the boy I met a couple of hours ago for a reason I refused to acknowledge other than I hated the sadness etched in his gaze. Bring him joy even if it was just for a short time span.

“Prove it,” he said, snapping me out of my thoughts. I offered him a pointed look. “Prove to me you can get out of your comfort zone. Here and now.”

“How?”

A cocky smile stretched Andy’s lips. “Kiss me.”

“No. Forget it.”

“See? I am right. You’re a good girl, Abby. And predictable. I knew it. You can’t lie for shit. And there’s nothing wrong with it. But I also like this other version of you tonight. The one where you let go and live a little. The freedom. It suits you. Your eyes glisten. You look happy. No one expects anything from you tonight. Be whoever you wanna be. This is your chance.”

“Andy, you’re wrong. And you know nothing about me.”

“Oh, I think I do. Much more than you can imagine.”

Was I that obvious? I huffed. “Whatever. I can be wild.”

“Keep telling yourself that. I’d like to experience your wildness,” he said, drowning his words with more booze. “I’m sure I’d be impressed by the sight of you getting frisky.” But I heard him all right.

The tension growing between us suffocated me. Why did every word coming out of his mouth feel like sensuous foreplay? Damn it…not sensuous…hot and smoldering? No… What was I thinking? Geez…something was wrong with me.

With my best poker face in place, I made an effort to not show how much his words stirred some unknown sensations inside me. With my chin up and my back straight, I stared at him when I said, “Oh, I can do a lot better. This is just the appetizer. Are you ready to play, Aaandy?” And prayed my face wasn’t scarlet as heat pooled in my cheeks.

Andy grinned and nodded. “The right question is, Abby, are you ready to play with me? You know this works both ways, don’t you? And I am an amazing player. The best.”

“Wh-what do you mean?”

“If you challenge me and I complete it, I get to challenge you too. Isn’t that how it works?”

“No, I object. That was not in the rules. You’re the sulking type, and I get to dare you, not the other way around.”

He winked and I blinked, scared of the words about to leave his full lips.

“Well, it is now, Abby baby. When I play, I play hard. Play hard and love harder. Roll with the dice. Rock and roll.”

I blushed when I heard his words. “What? That doesn’t even make sense.”

“It will. Gimme a minute to think.”

“Huh, if I remember correctly, minutes ago, you didn’t want to play.”

“That was before. This is now. Got it? Since you are not a virgin, let me see the wild side of you. Get up and get naked.”

My eyebrows probably leaped to my hairline. “Whaaat?”

“Hahaha, I am just joking. Not about the get up part, though.”

“I’m already on my feet. You speak nonsense.” What happened to the broody guy I met earlier?

“Let me explain. Your challenge is to stand on a chair of my choice at the departure lounge and dance to the song I play on my phone.”

“What? No. No, no, no. I can’t do that.” I chewed on my bottom lip, unsure of how to get out of this one.

“Are you backing down? What about the untamed side you bragged about? The girl who doesn’t shy away from a good time? I’m more than ready for her. Bring her on.” Andy leaned back and smirked at me. “This is like skinny-dipping. Nothing to hide behind if you chickenshit in the middle of it.”