I was just finishing the last touches of fixing my eyeliner when Elsie burst into my room. She was all in a frenzy, dressed in more comfortable clothes than our dingy uniforms. Her hair was a static mess and she huffed sitting down on the edge of my bed. 

“Hey.” It was more of a question. 

“Hey. What’s up?” She breathed. 

I raised a brow. “You okay?” 

“Yeah. Just had to dodge Sarah in the hallway. She was practically busting down Giovanni’s door.” She explained. “So, I had to run down the stairs and go to the far stairwell and come up that way.” 

“Well, I’m glad you decided to come so I wouldn’t be stuck with her by myself” I smiled. 

“That would be bad.” She giggled. 

“I know, right?”  

Over our quiet conversation, Sarah’s booming voice sounded throughout the apartment behind my closed door. We both looked at each other and rolled our eyes. 

“God, kill me now.” I huffed. 

“Nope, sorry. Not allowed.” Elsie giggled again. “Maybe if we do it at the exact same time. But that is a long shot. So, it is a good thing I did come.” 

We both walked out of my room and I closed the door behind us. It was okay to invite some people over, but that did not mean I wanted them snooping around in my things. Just as we made an appearance, some of Ryker’s football friends walked in right behind Giovanni. Five in total; Luke, Chris, Kyle, Robbie, and to my abject horror, Abraham. Kyle had brought his girlfriend; I did not know her name, but she had a cute face, and seemed shy. 

Robbie looked directly at me. “What is she doing here?” 

“I fucking live here.” I pursed my lips. 

“Wait.” Chris chimed in. “Jaylyn is your roommate, ‘Jay’?” 

“Yeah, why?” Ryker responded to their astonished looks nonchalantly.  

“Didn’t know they allowed unisex living.” Chris said, looking at me. 

“Me neither.” I snipped. “So, lucky me, right?” 

“More like, lucky Ryker.” Kyle laughed, trying to bring the awkwardness down. His girl apologized to me with her eyes but said nothing. Her face darkened a couple shades instead, obviously embarrassed. 

The boys moved on from the subject by lifting a few cases of beer and a couple bottles of liquor. It changed the mood. Elsie went to sit down and join the others, piling into the living room like they did this all the time. I shook my head slightly and stepped into the kitchen to grab glasses for everyone. 

“Need some help with that?” It was painfully familiar; I had almost forgot that he was even here for this get together. 

“I thought I made it pretty clear that I don’t like you.” I smirked. “Or did you miss that part?” 

Abraham chuckled from behind me as I reached up for the last couple of spare cups we kept in the cabinets. This would be a first for me. We never brought home more than one person on any given day. I was not really the partying type. More of the get drunk alone and swallow all my anxiety type. 

“I didn’t miss it.” He reached around me and grabbed the two remaining glasses that were pushed so far in the back that I would have had to climb the counter to retrieve them. The motion caused his chest to line up with my back side; he smelled vaguely of chemicals and fruit. 

I could not help the sniff that followed when he set the glasses down on the counter. 

“It’s methanol.” It was his turn to grin. 

“Should I know what that is?” I crossed my arms. “Or should I be worried about you cooking drugs?” 

He stopped himself from laughing and leaned up against the counter. “It’s fuel for drag cars. It comes in different scents, mostly fruits, like blueberries or strawberries.” 

“So, you do more than illegal street racing, hm?” I leaned against the counter across from him. 

“More like illegal drag racing.” His eyes danced with amusement. 

As much as I hated to admit it, it was attractive, but the arrogant air about him could not be ignored. Even with his smile. 

“Perfect.” I rolled my eyes. “Even better, actually. It just gives me even more of a reason to dislike you.” 

“Oh, come on. You cannot dislike me as much as you say you do, and still have a decent conversation with me.”  

“Oh, you have no idea what I’m capable of.” I smiled sweetly. 

“Well, why don’t you show me, then?” He challenged. 

“You wouldn’t be able to handle it.” I countered. 

It only slightly registered that Abraham was attempting to flirt with me. Not that it was uncommon for guys to openly hit on me, but he was going the extra mile. 

“Hey.” Elsie interrupted. “You ever going to get these glasses?” 

She wore a smile, but her eyes were uneasy around Abe. It was only amusing to me because I had found out exactly why he put all my instincts on high alert. Elsie might not know everything about my life, but she knew something, maybe without even realizing she knew. Being around the families that work for Black was unsettling. They were arrogant, selfish, and hot-tempered.  

She helped me grab all the glasses from the counter and we sauntered over to the couch. Ryker moved down further to allow enough space for Elsie and me to sit down; Abraham sat behind us at the table with Chris. Sarah and Kyle poured everyone a healthy dose in each glass and passed them out accordingly, followed by a beer. Everyone relaxed and started chatting about the football season, complaining about courses, or gossiping about the latest drama. I kept to myself and just watched the comradery, sipping on my drink.  

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Robbie got up a short while later and grabbed the cases of beer and put them in the fridge. Sarah had started to complain about them being warm, and nobody really wanted to listen to it. I found out that Kyle’s girlfriend’s name was Rose. She didn’t offer much in talking, but I didn’t mind. She seemed just as uncomfortable as I was, but I didn’t let anyone know it. When I finished my glass, I reached forward for my beer and Ryker snagged the bottle out of my reach. He was still laughing along with Gio and Robbie but twisted the metal cap off and then held it out in my direction. My face flamed as I took a swig, looking down at my thigh where he rested his hand.  

I kept drinking, the warmth of alcohol beginning to numb my throat and burn in my stomach. I was buzzed, only a little, but I was enjoying the soothing sensation. I began to laugh a little at some of the jokes that were flying around. Elsie was still next to me, busy flirting with Luke. Or maybe it was the other way around. She kept giggling at what he was whispering in her ear, and I smiled. She deserved attention. I went for another swig and came back with nothing. I pouted down into my bottle and stood, walking over to the fridge to get another one.  

“Let’s play ‘Never have I ever’.” Sarah laughed out loud, already drunk. 

I shut the fridge on a sigh. 

Dear God, no. This isn’t going to be good. 

When I stood straight and slammed the fridge closed, Chris was leaning behind it, watching me casually. 

“Excuse me?” I asked. 

“You know what you would look really beautiful in?” He gently slurred. 

Oh, boy. I am not the one. 

“My arms.” He finished before I said anything. “My bed.” He continued. 

My eyes widened, but I said nothing, a little shocked at his forwardness, even under the influence. Ryker had noticed his advances and came over, grabbed a beer from the fridge and the bottle out of my hand. 

“What’s going on?” He smirked. 

“What does it matter?” I snipped. 

The glint in his eyes changed and I swallowed hard. Before I knew it, he had swooped down and scooped me over his shoulder, chuckling as I struggled. 

“Sorry, Jaylyn is a little preoccupied. Maybe try again later.” He said over his shoulder as he carried me across the apartment. 

“Ryker, put me down, you ass.” I complained into his back, acutely aware of how close the hand he held me up with was pressing against the curve of my own ass. 

“Nope.” He stood behind our couch, just holding me.  

Elsie looked up towards me and pursed her lips into a kissing motion before she broke out into a quiet giggle. Of course, she would laugh at me for her own amusement. The others joined her, momentarily interrupting their game. When the game ended, Ryker decided to cut me loose. He popped open my beer and handed it over before sitting down. He looped a finger in the belt loop of my jeans, effectively pulling me down with him. 

Too many drinks later, everyone was feeling rather courageous. Sarah had suggested truth or dare, and I could have throttled her. I was feeling good, and every time she opened her mouth it ebbed away little by little. Of course, Giovanni was sitting beside her and was all for it. A couple of the others agreed, besides Elsie, Rose, and me who were visibly uncomfortable with the idea regardless of our intoxicated state. 

I watched as Sarah started and slowly made her way around the circle, asking everyone individually to choose. When she stopped on Elsie, Elsie mulled the decision over quietly. 

“Dare.” She murmured. 

“Elsie, I dare you to kiss Luke.” She seemed proud of it. 

Even though she had been casually flirting with him, her eyes widened when she turned and faced Luke’s shocked expression. Their kiss was quick and awkward, and Elsie’s face turned a deep shade of red, and I wanted to hit Sarah across the head for putting her in an embarrassing situation. Sarah reveled in her cruelty when she looked directly at me. 

“Jaylyn, truth or dare?” She smiled and it was sickly. 

“Dare.” 

“I’m not surprised.” She rolled her eyes. “I dare you to sit in Abraham’s lap for the rest of the game.” She smirked. 

It didn’t make sense until I spotted the guilty look on Giovanni’s face. He and Elsie were the only ones that I had expressed my distaste for Abraham to, so it only made sense that he spilled that little bit of intel to his obsessive girlfriend. 

“Like hell.” Ryker growled next to me as I stood and pulled me back down into his own lap. “I don’t fucking think so.” 

Everyone got quiet but didn’t question him. Once Sarah was finished with her onslaught of crude dares and terrifying truths, the game relaxed and everyone started to enjoy it. It was hard to keep up, my stomach had curled at all the laughter I wasn’t used to having. The bigger dares had Robbie streaking down the hallway, Abraham taking shots of hot sauce, Chris calling his latest crush, and the whole room erupting into laughter when my phone began to ring, and Ryker’s face darkened two shades in obvious jealousy. 

“Sorry, Chris.” I laughed from my perch in Ryker’s lap. “Have you ever seen that movie ‘She’s Just Not That into You’?” 

My comment elicited more laughter, but Chris took it in stride. “You can’t blame a guy for trying.” 

“Then I dare you to kiss Ryker.” Sarah’s drunken smug face peered up from across the small space. 

The laughter died out.  

“Your turn is already over, Sarah.” I shrugged. 

I knew she was only doing it to torture us further. She knew Ryker had a girlfriend, or at least we all assumed he did when it came to Emma. She had been using this simple game to be vindictive and cruel. 

“It’s okay.” Ryker rumbled beneath me. 

I turned around, the question in my eyes. 

“Really, Jaylyn. It’s fine.” He grabbed me at the waist and turned me fully in his lap to face him. 

“Are you sure?” I whispered. 

The whole room was electric, waiting for our next move. The only person that seemed disinterested in the drama of the situation was Abraham.  

“Come here.” He rolled his eyes and pulled me down by the nape of my neck and swallowed away all my objections. 

Spice and alcohol mixed in a heady combination, his mouth devoured mine, bruising my lips and dominating my mind. It was like we were alone, without the staring gazes of our friends. He pulled me closer, crushing me to himself protectively as our lips danced together. He only pulled away enough to trace my bottom lip with his tongue before he nipped there gently. 

“Don’t worry. I wanted to.” He whispered, so no one could hear it. 

“Damn, that was hot.” Robbie raised his eyebrows and looked around at everyone else. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m going to head out. I have a girlfriend waiting up for me.” 

After his departure, everyone else started to fall in line. Giovanni practically had to carry Sarah out, and the other guys followed laughing. Abraham toted a very drunk Elsie under his arm and gave me a sincere look. 

“I’ll make sure she gets home safe.” He promised. 

My eyes narrowed in speculation. 

“I promise, Jay.” He rolled his eyes. “You can trust me, you know?” 

“That’s debatable.” 

Elsie murmured sleepily next to him, but in my current state, I wouldn’t be able to take her. Abraham was the most sober out of all of us, so it only made sense. 

“Fine.” I concluded. “But you better not disturb one single hair on her head or I’ll castrate you, you understand?” 

“Yes, ma’am.” He smirked, but I was satisfied. 

“Night, Els.” I kissed her forehead. “Call me tomorrow, okay?” 

She nodded in agreement and left under his care. I watched them until they disappeared around the corner before I closed the door. The apartment was finally quiet besides the gentle thrum behind my eyes from the alcohol. I had refused to get completely shit-faced, and was currently sporting only a light buzz. I bent over to start grabbing up the empty bottles in the floor and tossed them into the trash. There was no way I would want to clean this up in the morning. 

Ryker studied me from the kitchen and I tried to ignore it. 

I gathered the empty glasses from the living room and took them to the sink, rinsing them quickly and leaving that task for in the morning. Still, his eyes followed me. 

“Can I help you?” I asked, setting down another cup. 

“Is it a problem that I enjoy watching you?” He crossed his arms. 

“I don’t like it when you watch me. It’s disturbing and unsettling.” 

“Is it?” His voice lowered. 

I tried to ignore the burn of desire forming in the pit of my stomach. I froze beside the counter, fighting the urge of my body against the onslaught of my mind. It was wrong. But that was the way of life. Wanting what you couldn’t have. 

“Yes.” I broke free of the internal battle and tried to safely escape to my room before I ended up saying something I would regret later. 

I wasn’t expecting Ryker to reach out and take hold of my arm. I stopped and looked up at him without saying anything. He inched toward me achingly slow, and my mind went blank from all the reasons I should walk away. He gently tucked away a ringlet of my hair behind my ear, studying my face again. 

“Jaylyn.” It was a low whisper that signaled the beginning of my undoing.