Liars and Losers Like Us(54)

Sean passes the bottle back and I swallow another sip of wine. “Tastes like bitter grapes and tree bark.” My lips pucker. “It’s not that bad, really.”

“You’re not that bad.” Sean says and kisses me again.

“You’re not either,” I murmur into his mouth.

His lips slide over mine, then he runs his tongue over my lips. “Mm. This is the best seven minutes in heaven slash drinking game ever.”

“Let’s play a real game,” I say, taking another sip. “Tell me something about you I don’t know. Like a secret, a weird hobby, or a funny story and I’ll do the same.”

“I’m interested,” says Sean. “But where’s the game—the challenge?”

“That’s all I got. You’re the football game guy. You make up the rules.”

“No problem. I got this. So, you give me the number one, two, or three, and that’s how many points—how many drinks the story or secret is worth. If I tell you, you’ll take that many drinks. If I don’t, I have to drink and then it’s your turn.”

“You’re on. But you’re going down Mills, you’re going down.” I stifle a giggle and a joke that’s more appropriate for me and Kallie. “Okay, I’ll go first.” I hand him the bottle. “How many?”

“One.” Sean says.

“One point, one drink? That’s all?” I ask.

“Didn’t you say you got sick last time you drank? We can’t have you hurling in a closet. Who knows how long we’ll be stuck in here.”

“Good call. I won’t have to drink anyway, a one pointer is easy. Let’s see. Oh yeah, I stole makeup from the grocery store when I was in sixth grade.” I hear Sean swallow a drink and he passes me the bottle.

“Wow, you’re a wild one. Can’t believe I’m hanging out with a criminal.”

I smack his knee next to my leg and then rest my hand on it. “Middle school was full of bad choices. But enough about me. Your turn. Two points. C’mon, ’fess up.”

“Two? No problem.” Sean says. “I’ve liked you since the beginning of the semester. I’d watch you walk into class every day and hate that you’d sit behind me because I couldn’t see you unless I turned around to talk to Conner.”

“Really?” My stomach flutters and I’m relieved he can’t see how huge my smile is. “That’s really cute. That was a good one.” It feels like my veins are getting tingly. I take two sips.

“Two back at you, Hughes.”

“Weeeeell, I have had a crush on you since the beginning of the semester. And the reason I sit behind you is so I can look at you without you watching me.” I take a deep breath and exhale the rest of my sentence in a rush. “Your ears drive me crazy. Drink up.” I pass him the bottle.

“Hey, that was easy. You can’t steal my secrets.” I hear the wine slosh. “Tastes like victory.”

“Hey, it’s not if you win or lose, it’s, it’s …” I giggle. “Sssshhhhh. Don’t make me laugh. Trust me, if Kyle finds me in the closet, with booze and a boy … ”

“Yeah, we better keep it down. When’s he gonna leave?”

Buzzzz. KALLIE VATE.

I raise my phone so we can read Kallie’s text: OMG. I think he’s leaving soon. I’m getting WORLD’S LONGEST LECTURE are you still OK?

I turn my phone so I can text her back: Yes Seans here so I’m cool Hopefully I wont hv to pee anytime soon

Shwoop.

“Three points,” I say. “I want a three point secret. Give me the goods or drink up.”

“Okay, I guess halftime’s over, game on. Hmmmm.” Sean pauses. “I don’t know.”

“You’re gonna have to drink, then.”

“No, wait. I got one,” he says. He passes the bottle back and I rest it in my lap. “Last night I called my aunt’s house to talk to my dad. That’s it. Three drinks for you.”

“God, really? Um, that’s heavy.” I take one sip. “I’m only taking one drink until you tell me what happened.”

“I almost called you after but didn’t want to be a buzzkill.”

“Sean, please. I want to know what’s going on with you, good or bad. I wish you would’ve called. What’d he say?”

Sean takes the bottle, gulps, and hands it back. This time I don’t sip; I take two big gulps that swim hot fire down my throat.

“He didn’t say much. He sounded high. Or maybe not, who knows? Either way, it was 6:30 p.m. and he said he was taking a nap. Who takes a nap at night? Said he hopes to have his car fixed in time for graduation. It was … I don’t know. I don’t know what I was expecting. I told him I had another call and then hung up.”

“Oh you hung up, huh?” I hmph. “Not to change the subject but here’s a secret of mine. Probably a one point five pointer drink. I hate when you just hang up. You never say good-bye.”

“To you?” Sean asks. “What? Really?”

“Yeah, to me. I say bye or it’s time to get off the phone and you just hang up. Like click, no good-bye, no see ya later, no adios.”

“Oh, weird. Sorry. I’ll work on that.”