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I turn to find Tyler inches away, lookingfierce.
The entire group’s gone quiet. I hadn’t noticed the music change over to a soundtrack and wonder how long he’s beendone.
“The rules are drink or kiss,” the dealerreiterates.
Tyler leans over the table. “Fuck therules.”
I look around the room, every pair of eyes on us, waiting to see what we’lldo.
Whathe’lldo.
What he does is drag me off my stool so we’re toe to toe next to thecounter.
“What are you doing?” Tylerdemands.
“Trying to distract myself from my sudden onset chickenpox,” I drawl, gesturing to mybody.
“By playing a drinking game? When was the last time you drankanything?”
“About thirty seconds ago.” My deliberate ignorance to his question has his eyesflashing.
I plant my hands on my hips, the springy pink tulle, now smeared with ink, coarse under my pinkies. “There’s a whole party of people here waiting to jump when you tell them how high. Don’t trouble yourself withme.”
Tyler curses, rubbing a hand over his neck and pitching his crown at a dangerous angle. My fingers itch to fix it, but before I can, he brushes a thumb over mycheek.
Every part of him is hard, tense, tight, except for where his touch caresses my skin. “I like troubling myself withyou.”
Heat streaks through my body, and the tortured expression in his gaze makes my throatwork.
We’re not alone, butfuck, I wish wewere.
I want a dark room and a dose of that truth serum from the movies, because the way he’s looking at me I’d give anything to know what’s going through hismind.
“Why?” Iask.
I want him to say it’s because he cares about me. Because we’re friends and I matter more than all the people in this room. This entire damnedhouse.
Because what Tyler and I have is special and always willbe.
“She still has to kiss someone,” a voiceinsists.
“Kiss Tyler,” someone elsecalls.
As if on command, my attention locks on Tyler’smouth.
His lips are firm and parted, and I’m suddenly obsessed with knowing what they would feel like onmine.
I might actually be drunk, because I’ve never stared at him for so long. Especially in public. With himnoticing.
“What do you say?” I ask finally. My voice comes outlow.
Tyler reaches out to twist a piece of hair that’s fallen in my face between his fingers. My heart skips as he tucks it back behind myear.
A crowd has gathered. Even Carly and the minions are hovering in the doorway, anticipating whatever drama is about tounfold.
Nervous laughter starts around us, but when Tyler turns his head to scan the room, the crowd falls silentagain.
I count my heartbeats until his attention returns to me, his expression is a mask ofpity.
