Save Me(WITSEC #2)(15)

Creed frowned at a group of guys staring at us, or more specifically me, as we walked by. “I’m going to get in a fight.”

I grabbed his hand, too, and pulled him along.

“Shiloh!” I heard Isabelle call. I searched for her and spotted her and Ethan making their way toward us from the large, drool-worthy kitchen. With a big smile, Isabelle hugged me. Stunned, it took me a second to hug her back. “You look amazing,” she gushed as she pulled away.

I beamed. “So do you.” She was wearing black shorts with a white, shimmering, sequined tank that really made her straight neon green hair pop.

I glanced at Ethan and found him already staring at me. “You do look like a vampire and Jessica Rabbit had a baby.”

Isabelle grinned at Ethan. “Right? I told you.”

Ethan nodded and I saw a mischievous glint spark in his eyes. “Are you ready to play a drinking game?”

Creed cursed. “We just walked through the door.”

Ethan lifted his arms out at his sides, looking around at everyone. “The whole point of a party is to party.”

Isabelle shook her head. “There’s no point in arguing. He’s been brainstorming the best drinking game to play with Shiloh for days.”

“A bet is a bet and Shi lost,” Ethan said. “Are you sure you don’t want to play, baby?”

Isabelle shook her head again. “There’s no way I’d win.” She winced and looked at me. “Prepare yourself.”

Gee, that’s reassuring.

Ethan laughed and waved for us to follow him back into the kitchen.

“What game did you end up choosing?” Colt asked.

“You can’t play. First-timers only,” Ethan said as he grabbed a bunch of shot glasses from a cabinet.

We all watched as Ethan placed four shot glasses in front of me on the kitchen island and four in front of himself. He began filling each shot glass in front of me with a different liquor. Jim Beam, Jose Cuervo, Fireball, and Bacardi 151. Then he did the same with his four shot glasses in the same order. I was acquainted with each of the spirits he’d used and all of them tasted terrible. That was a given, I found, with most alcohol. But I never drank it for its taste. If I had to pick a poison, it would be whiskey. It had a preferable burn when going down. Out of the selection Ethan had chosen, the Bacardi almost had me cringing. Rum and I didn’t get along.

Ethan rubbed his hands together with evil glee. “Here’s how we play—”

“Shit, man, you’re going to get her trashed with one game,” Creed grumbled.

I almost snickered. It’d take more than four shots to do that. I wasn’t going to say that out loud, though. Not until I knew how this game was played.

“The deal was for one drinking game. I had to make it count,” Ethan argued. “Anyway, here’s how we do this…we’re each going to take a shot at the same time. The first person to make the slightest cringe loses. If neither of us reacts to the first shot we move to the next one, then so on and so forth.”

“What do I get when I beat you?” I asked.

“I knew you would say that,” Ethan said with a grin. “If I win, you have to play another drinking game.”

“Why am I getting the impression that you’re trying to get me drunk?”

“I’m not. I think it would be good for you to let loose a little,” he said. “As your friend, I think you deserve to have some fun for once.”

That was very sweet of him.

“Fine.” I looked to Isabelle. “What should I make him do if I win?”

She grinned and tapped her chin with her finger. “What do you think of the music playing?” she asked me.

It was good. Seemed like it was mostly rock. “You want to change it?”

“I think we should be allowed to DJ and dance later to some of our favorites. I was thinking some Taylor, Sia, Billie, and maybe even some Harry,” she said, her grin turning downright evil. Her and Ethan were meant for each other.

I looked to Ethan. “I like that. If I win, Isabelle and I get to play DJ later.”

Ethan held a cocky smirk that I was going to enjoy removing from his face. “Deal.” He lifted the shot glass filled with Jim Beam and held it up.

I picked up my Jim Beam shot glass and clanked it with his. Without losing eye contact, we threw back our shots at the same time. I didn’t so much as blink as it scorched everything it touched on its way down my throat.

Ethan also was unfazed. “Impressive for someone who’s never been to a party.”

I scooped up my next shot glass, filled with Jose. “This is indeed my first party. However, this isn’t my first time doing shots.”

Colt and Creed chuckled next to me and Isabelle giggled. Ethan’s cocky smirk dropped just a smidge, but it was still satisfying to see.

Ethan clanked his shot glass with mine and we downed the Jose. I wasn’t a fan of tequila and it took effort to keep it from showing. Ethan hadn’t reacted to the shot, either. Colt, Creed, and Isabelle cheered, drawing the attention of others.

By the time we both set our empty shot glasses down, Ethan wasn’t smirking any longer.

Isabelle pulled out her phone from her back pocket. “I’m going to make a playlist for our DJ session.”

That made us laugh and Ethan pouted a little. “You’re supposed to be on my side,” he said to her.