“Ares! Raquel!” Samy calls from the shallow end of the pool. “It’s time to play.”
Ares clears his throat and starts to move over there. When we reach the shallow end, I break away from him. Before I can get close to Samy and Apolo, Ares leans over to say something in my ear. “I can be your Christian Grey anytime you want, you perverted little witch.”
I freeze, and he moves toward the group as if nothing happened.
That crazy Greek god!
TWENTY
The Game
“Raquel! Raquel! Raquel!”
I never thought that the first bet I would ever make in my life would involve alcohol. Apolo, Samy, and Gregory are around me at the edge of the pool, offering me a shot of tequila. And I hesitate. The truth is that I feel a little dizzy. I’ve lost count of how much I’ve consumed so far, and that’s not good. Especially since I’m in the pool.
Resigned to my fate, I take the small glass and drink it. The tequila runs down my throat, setting everything on fire on its way to my stomach. I grimace. Apolo gives me a high five. He’s already had a few shots. Apparently, when he’s home, his brothers are more permissive about him and alcohol.
“I’m surprised,” Samy admits, smiling.
I’d like to say that she’s a bad person who hits on Ares every chance she gets, who throws shade at me, or says things to make me feel like someone who doesn’t belong here, but I can’t. Samy has only been nice to me. Even though it’s obvious that she likes Ares, I don’t feel any anger toward her. Samy hasn’t done anything to me.
Gregory takes his drink and coughs, taking a deep breath. “Each time feels easier and easier. It doesn’t even burn my throat anymore.”
“That’s because you’re already drunk,” I say, patting him on the back.
I look at the deep end of the pool and see the stupid Greek god talking to Marco and Luis. They look very serious. Embarrassment comes over me when I remember how I danced. Are they talking about me? Oh God!
I splash my face and the warm water feels good against my cold skin. Small waves form as we swim and they move and crash against the back of my arms.
“We should play a game.” Gregory offers, shaking his hair, spraying us all with droplets.
Apolo considers for a moment. “Something like hide-and-seek?”
Samy laughs. “No, something more fun! Like truth or dare, or never have I ever.”
I frown in confusion. “Never have I ever?”
“Yeah. I’ll explain the rules,” she pauses, going into full explanation mode. “For example, I start and say, ‘Never have I ever been drunk.’ Then anyone who has been drunk before has to drink.”
“What if you haven’t?”
“You don’t drink. It’s fun because you’ll learn what others have or haven’t done when you see them drinking or not. The suspense is great.”
“Okay, okay,” says Gregory. “But do we need more people or not?”
It’s just us, and Ares’s group over on the other side of the pool. The others left a little while ago. I have no idea what time it is. Gregory calls out, and the three boys swim toward us. We get out of the pool and my dress sticks to my body as I put it back on, but I’ve had so much to drink that I don’t care anymore. We sit on the wet floor in a circle. Apolo and Gregory sit on either side of me, Samy sits next to Apolo, then Marco, Ares, and Luis fill the circle. Ares is across from me. The bottle of tequila is in the middle of the circle. Samy explains the rules again to the newcomers. We all listen to her attentively, especially Marco.
“You know, if you’ve done it, you have to take a drink from your glass.” Samy takes some glasses and fills them full of tequila. “Take a drink if you’ve done it, but if you haven’t, then don’t drink.”
Ares lets out a derisive laugh. “What kind of game is this?”
Samy gives him a dirty look. “I’ve already explained the rules, so just play. Any brave ones?” No one. Samy sighs. “Cowards, I’ll begin,” she says, taking her glass. “Never have I ever snuck out of the house.”
She drinks and everyone else drinks, too, but not me. They look at me in surprise.
“What?” I say in defense. “I’m a good girl.”
Apolo gives me a look. “Even I, who is younger than you, have snuck out.”
Gregory pats my head. “Aw! You are a well-behaved little angel.”
Ares doesn’t pay attention to me; he’s too busy lighting a cigarette. The smoke is coming out of his mouth while he waits for Marco to take his turn.
“Never have I ever broken someone’s heart.”
“Ohhh!” Luis exclaims, amused. “I think we’ll all drink.”
My eyes fall on Ares, and I watch sadly as he brings his glass to his lips and drinks. I know he has broken many hearts, but somehow, I feel that he’s thinking of me as he drinks. Again, everyone drinks but me.
Luis grunts. “Really, Raquel? You’ve never broken a heart?”
Samy groans in annoyance. “At this rate we’ll all end up drunk while Raquel is still sober.”
“I’m being honest. I swear.”
Ares fixes his eyes on me and his perfect lips form into an arrogant smile. “Don’t worry, it’s my turn. I’ll make her drink.”
Gregory gives him a high-five. “Come on, let’s see, surprise us.”
Ares picks up his glass and raises it to me. “Never have I ever stalked anyone.”
Low blow.
Everyone looks at me, waiting for my reaction. I clench my hands at my sides and bite my bottom lip. Feeling like the odd one out in the group, I raise my glass and take a drink. Everyone watches me in silence. Angrily, my eyes meet Ares’s and I see him smile. But then he does something that brings me up short. He drinks, surprising us all.
Apolo shakes his head. “We have two stalkers here. I can’t believe it.”
Luis pats Ares on the back. “I never thought you would be one to stalk someone. I always thought you would be the one being stalked.”
Ares doesn’t take his eyes off mine. “It started that way, but life takes many turns.”
Samy clears her throat. “Okay, okay, next.”
Luis lifts the glass. “Let’s make this interesting, never have I ever given someone an orgasm with oral sex.”
Heat invades my cheeks, and I know everyone is going to drink, except for me and maybe Apolo. Luis, Gregory, Marco, and a very embarrassed Samy take a drink. Agonizingly, I watch Ares.
But he doesn’t drink. Has he . . . ?
Gregory seems to be saying out loud what we’re all thinking. “I can’t believe it! Ares Hidalgo! Haven’t you ever made a girl come with oral sex?”
Luis shakes his head. “You’re lying.”
Ares finishes his cigarette, putting it out on the ground beside him. “I’ve never done it.” He says it so naturally, so calmly. We all look at each other.
Apolo can’t control his curiosity. “Why not?”
Ares shrugs his shoulders. “I think it’s something intimate and very personal.”
Gregory intervenes. “And we all know that Ares is not interested in an intimate, personal relationship.”
Samy lowers her head, playing with her fingers on her lap. Did she . . . and he . . . ? As far as I know, they’re just friends. But Samy’s reaction reminds me of my own. Did something happen between them? I glance at Marco, and his expression hardens, giving me such an intense look that I have to look away. Awkward.
It’s Apolo’s turn. “Let’s all drink, never have I ever been drunk.”
I give him a knowing smile. “Cheers!” Our glasses clink.
It’s my turn, and I have no idea what to say. Everyone is waiting for me, impatient. “Never have I ever kissed anyone in this circle.”
Marco raises an eyebrow, and Ares lets out a sarcastic laugh. Very carefully, I watch as Ares and Samy drink. Sadly, I drink too. So Samy has kissed Ares. The confirmation makes my heart sink. Watching Samy, I feel at a disadvantage. She really is very pretty and nice. No doubt, Ares would choose her and not me. I know I would choose her.
Gregory grimaces. “Ohh.”
After three rounds of the game, we are all too drunk to play decently. We decide to jump into the shallow end of the pool. I splash water on my face and head. I’m dizzy, but I know if I stop drinking now, I can make it home.