When Our Worlds Stand Still (Our Worlds #3)(26)

Our lips graze, and Violet’s tongue skims my bottom lip. My body is jerked back into a hard chest. Arms wrap around me, and warm breath hits my neck. He brushes the hair, exposing the skin below my ear.

“Oh, come on, they were this close,” Rico shouts, upset with the missed opportunity.

“I can’t sit here while you kiss anyone else, even if it is Violet,” Graham whispers the secret to my skin. His lips dip down and brush the sensitive spot behind my earlobe.

The pads of my fingers run over the trail of warmth his lips left. A part of me wants to twirl around and slap him for believing he has any say in who I kiss. I pivot to the side, and his eyes soften as they scan over my face. One single look reminds me he’s the only one who has a say in anything.

“You can’t do that.” My protest is futile.

“Because you aren’t ready for it, or because you liked it too much and that scares you?” He smiles, helping me sit back up. I shift until my legs drape over his on the coffee table.

“Maybe a little bit of both,” I answer.

“Duly noted.” He nods.

“I’ll let you have that one, Kennedy,” Rick says, wagging his finger in my direction. “For that half-ass completed dare, I should make you do a shot, but since I’m being generous, I think it’s time for you to choose your own victim.”

I stroke my chin and start to laugh. “Since I don’t really know you, Griffin, it looks like it’s your turn.”

“Truth,” he answers, quicker than I expect.

Most guys would choose dare. Let’s face it, guys are more likely to want to do something stupid than admit their darkest secret.

“Tell us something even Sandy doesn’t know.”

“I have every intention of marrying you.” He speaks directly to Sandy with no hesitance, as if we don’t exist at this moment. Griffin’s face softens, and he shrugs. “I love you. I know I haven’t been the most forthcoming with my feelings, but I need you to know, once we are ready, I plan on asking for your hand in marriage.”

“Jesus, it got real deep in here,” Rick blurts, groaning and falling back against the couch. The game isn’t going in the direction he envisioned when he first walked in the room. Amanda smacks him and whispers for him to shut the fuck up.

“I love you, too,” Sandy says. We’re invading their private moment. Her forehead falls against his stomach, shielding herself, but she stands and pulls Griffin to his feet. “It’s been fun, but we’ve got to go.”

No one says a word as she gathers her things, and they throw a wave over their shoulders at us as they walk out the door.

“I didn’t mean to put him on the spot.” I take a long, deep breath.

“Griffin’s a sap. You only gave him the opportunity to say what he’s been wanting to say since freshman year,” Mark chimes in.

“I think it’s sweet,” Bea adds, nudging Mark in the hip, a knowing smile on her lips. Even though she hasn’t known Mark for long, she’s already figured out the type of guy he is. His heart’s capable of bending and yielding.

“Well, now that they’re gone, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty.” Rick rubs his hands together.

This is where things get a little foggy. With all the unfinished truths and dares, each of us has downed four or five shots, making everyone a little scatterbrained and giggly. We’ve eaten three pizzas and two bags of chips. The grandfather clock strikes twelve, startling us with its loud chimes.

“Kennedy, one last turn,” Rick says. “Truth or dare, little lady?”

“Truth.” Whatever it is, I will answer. My body can’t handle another shot, and at this point, after everything I’ve revealed already, nothing could make me any more embarrassed.

“How many people have you slept with? I’d take a personal guess, but I’d be afraid to offend you,” Rick adds. His chin juts out as he waits for a response.

“Oh, really?” I rest my hands on my hips as I sit up straight. “Do I look like a slut or something?”

“No, you’re hot, and let’s face it, girls who look like you tend to have a high number.”

“Rick!” I reach across the table to haphazardly slap his leg.

“Why do you call me Rick?” he asks, running his hands through his hair.

I wiggle a finger back and forth in front of his face. “Oh, no, one question at a time, mister.”

“Well, answer the first one, then we’ll get to why you’re the only person, besides my mother, who calls me by my given name. How many people have you slept with?”

Graham’s entire body stiffens. He stands and circles to the basket, pulls out the bottle of Jack Daniels and fills a shot glass, and shoots the amber liquid down his throat.

“One.” I shift on the couch until my eyes fall upon Graham’s.

“Excuse me?” Graham’s posture stiffens.

“She said one, Graham,” Violet says in defense.

He turns to my best friend, his lips flat and his eyes wide. “I heard what she said, Vi. What I’m wondering is how one could be her answer when she and Mark …”

Mark jumps in the middle of the commotion and squares his stance. He’s prepared for what’s going to happen. “We never …” He ghosts his hand between him and me.