“What is this?” I ask.
“Beer.”
“Oh, no, I don't want this. I don't want to drink.”
Kira shrugs her shoulder, taking the cup from my hand, and passing it to some random kid that walks by. “I'm just happy you're here. And if I get too fucked up, you can drive us home.”
“Consider it done. I'd be happy to get us home later.”
There's a commotion coming from the garage that catches our attention. She gives me a smile and nods her head. “Come on, let's go see what's going on in there.”
“Are you sure we can?” I ask.
“Dalia, relax, it's fine. Take a deep breath, we're not going to get in trouble or anything.”
I fake a confident smile and follow her to the door. There's hooting and clapping, laughing and yells. Stepping down into the garage, there's a big circle of kids all crowding a bottle. A couple of them are in the middle of the circle, making out with each other.
Spin the bottle. Seriously?
“Well, well, well, look who climbed out from under her rock.” Sandy purses her lips and rocks her head on her shoulders.
“Not tonight, Sandy, all right?” Kira cuts in, holding out her cup in Sandy's direction. “We're just here to have a good time, no drama.”
With open palms, Sandy tucks her chin into her chest as if she's just been insulted. “I'm not trying to cause any trouble, Kira. I just think it would be fun if you and Dalia joined our game here? What do you think, Dalia? You in?” She looks behind Kira at me.
“Nah, I'm all set. Maybe another time,” I answer.
“Oh come on, don't be a prude, Dalia. Here,” she says, grabbing a drink and trying to hand it to me. “Drink up, have fun, and enjoy the party.”
“I'm good, really.”
“Come on, just take it,” she says, nudging the cup in my direction. “That's why you're here, right? To party with the cool kids?” Suddenly the cup is swept from her hand.
“She said she's good, Sandy.” Setting the cup down on a ledge, Lyle steps between his sister and me. “Besides, we need another player inside.” Looking back at me over his shoulder, he asks, “You in, Dalia?”
Is this really happening? Did Lyle Vox just save me from his own sister and then ask me to play a game?
Kira gives me a gentle push forward, flashing wide eyes and a half smile. “Say yes, say yes,” she mouths the words.
“Um, yeah, okay. I'll play.”
“Good, let's go,” he says, reaching down and grabbing my hand to guide me away from the drunken spin the bottle game. He has no idea how grateful I am.
I don't look back, but I can feel his sister staring at us, her glare burning a hole in the back of my head. But still I smile. Because I don't care about what she thinks right now, I'm on cloud nine.
My small hand fits perfectly in his, snuggly tucked into his palm. He squeezes my fingers tighter, and my heart hammers inside my chest.
Lyle Vox is holding my hand. Lyle Vox is taking me with him to join a game.
This feels like a dream. Don't wake up. Don't wake up. Don't wake up. Wishing silently, I let him pull me through the house, and to a back patio where a game of Twister is underway.
Lyle releases my hand and holds up his arms. Howling loudly, he barks, “All right, kids, let's do this.” A boy named Chris attempts to pass Lyle a bottle of beer, but he declines, and stands at the edge of the mat. “Where am I going, Kay?”
Kay spins the little arrow. “Right hand on red,” she says.
Lyle places his hand down, then glances up at me. “You're next, Dalia.”
Kay spins again. “Left foot on blue.”
There are four of us playing, all taking turns as Kay controls the spinner. We're all tangled together, until one kid falls, taking him out of the game. Then another kid goes down, and all that's left is Lyle and me.
“You're going down, Greene.” He's taunting me, playfully nudging me with his hip. “Uh, don't fall, unless you can't hang anymore.”
“Don't worry, I'm way more flexible than you'll ever be.” Giggling, we're wrapped around each other, arms and legs all braided into one big knot.
He's flirting with me, he's really flirting with me!
It's the first time ever that I feel a mutual attraction between us. His smiles are coy and sexy. He's purposely touching me more than he has to be. There's no reason his face needs to be so close to mine. We’re the only two people playing now, yet we never move more than two spots away from each other despite the rest of the mat being wide open.
Placing my hand on a green dot, my face is up against his chest. He smells amazing, his cologne hijacking my senses. I take a deeper breath, lean in a little more, and brush my cheek against his shoulder.
Glancing up, Lyle is looking down at me. Our faces are so close, eyes locking on each other as we both sway, trying to keep our balance. He gives me a little smile, then licks his lips. My heart starts to pound in my chest, and a cool sweat is beading up on the back of my neck.
Kiss him, Dalia. Kiss him. It's now or never!
I think he wants me to. Why would he be looking at me this way if he didn't?
Do it!
Sucking in a big breath of air, I close my eyes, and throw my mouth against his, kissing him. His lips are soft and warm, slightly wet, and taste like fruit punch. Opening my eyes, Lyle has a look of shock on his face.
His eye are open wide, exposing all of the white around his eyes. His mouth is stiff, and not moving at all.
Oh no! What the hell did I just do?
A rush of embarrassment scales up my spine, making me fall over onto my ass. Jumping to my feet, I
