Chapter 34

Chapter 34: You Won the Bet

If I had known how that day would play out, I would not have attended the party.

I talk like I had a choice; it was Aaron's party for the team. As team leader, he decided to hold a party for everyone to relax before the upcoming back-to-back series of games in January.

From their schedule, they were fully booked to exhaustion. I was exhausted from taking the staircase to class twice a week; how did they manage rolling on ice skates, wearing heavy gear?

The party began an hour ago while I was upstairs on the balcony, obviously avoiding Gavin Hawkins.

That was until Wren forced me downstairs. She wanted me to make more friends? As if she wasn't enough.

I stood at the edge of the party, nursing a cup of punch as I scanned the room. Wren, my best friend and interpreter, chatted with a group of people nearby, occasionally glancing over to make sure I was okay.

Just as I was starting to relax, Janice appeared beside me, a sly grin spreading across her face. Wren noticed her approach and excused herself from the group to join us.

"Hey, Lyric!" Janice said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "I heard you're quite the wild child."

Wren raised an eyebrow, sensing the tension. "What's going on, Janice?"

Janice held up a piece of paper, and my heart sank as I recognized my own handwriting. It was the naughty list I'd made, the one where I'd written down all the crazy things I wanted to do before I turned 19, including losing my virginity to Gavin Hawkins amongst other dirty things.

Wren's eyes widened as she read the list over Janice's shoulder. "Lyric, where did she get this?"

I shrugged, feeling my face heat up with embarrassment. My memory never failed me; I did drop the letter into Santa's box. Santa never reads those, right?

He might have thrown it out, and this somehow got to Janice's hands. But even so, how did she know it was from me?

I didn't write my name on it. It was completely anonymous. I wasn't that stupid. This infuriated me.

Janice chuckled. "Let's just say, I was on Santa's good list and this was my present." She flagged the sheet in front of me; I made a move to snatch it, but she was seconds faster. A laugh burst out of her gut. "And I have to say, I'm impressed. You're a lot more adventurous than I gave you credit for, Lyric."

Wren shot Janice a warning look. "Janice, leave her alone."

But Janice just laughed. "Oh, I'm just getting started. You see, Lyric, I have a proposition for you. I bet you can't kiss Gavin Hawkins under the mistletoe tonight."

Wren's eyes flashed with anger while I clenched my jaw. This was outrageous. "Janice, that's not fair. You're just trying to humiliate Lyric."

But Janice just smiled. "Oh, I'm not trying to humiliate her. I'm just trying to help her live out her fantasies. And if she wins, I'll give her a hundred bucks and this embarrassing naughty list."

I felt a surge of determination. I wasn't going to let Janice get the better of me. I nodded, and Wren translated for me. If it meant I was getting that letter and extra hundred bucks, then I would do it.

Nervousness crept in at the thought of kissing Gavin Hawkins. I had never kissed anyone in my life. How should I move my lips?

Would he push me away? If that happened, I would only be embarrassed.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Wren leaned in, whispering in my ear. Several thoughts raced in my head; I squeezed her hand in affirmation, nodding twice.

She gave me a self-pitying look and turned to Janice.

"Lyric accepts your bet," Wren said, her voice firm.

Janice grinned, satisfied. "Excellent. I'll be watching from the sidelines. Good luck, Lyric."

As Janice walked away, Wren turned to me, concern etched on her face. "Lyric, are you sure you're ready for this?"

I smiled even though I wasn't. Gavin Hawkins wasn't at the party. If he didn't come, then the bet wouldn't be valid.

He needed to be here. I picked up my phone, my eyes hovering at his name.

Why was his number even in my phone?

###

An hour later, Gavin Hawkins walked in in all his glory, wearing a checkered shirt over black jeans. His hair was disheveled, and his chin clean-shaven as always. He looked dashing without much effort.

Gavin's eyes met mine, and for a moment, we just stared at each other. I felt a spark of electricity run through my body, and I knew that this wasn't the end of things between us.

I made my way through the crowded room, my eyes locked on Gavin's. I could sense his confusion as I approached him, but I didn't let that deter me. I had a mission.

As I stopped in front of him, I could feel the tension between us. I lifted my finger, pointing to the mistletoe above his head. His eyes followed my gesture, and I could see the realization dawn on him.

I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. I wrapped my arm around his neck, pulling him closer. Our lips met, and I felt a spark of electricity run through my body.

But I didn't let myself get caught up in the moment. I had to keep my focus. I pulled away, wiping my lips with the back of my hand.

As I pulled away from Gavin's lips, I felt a rush of adrenaline and a sense of satisfaction. I had done it. I had kissed Gavin Hawkins under the mistletoe.

I raised an eyebrow, glancing across the room at Janice.

I could sense Gavin's disappointment and anger, but I just smiled to myself. Mission accomplished. I had won the bet, and I had made a point.

But as I turned to walk away, I caught a glimpse of Gavin's face. There was something in his eyes that gave me pause, something that made me wonder if I had just made a mistake.

Not by a long shot.

Wren grinned at me, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "You did it, Lyric!" she signed.

I smiled back at her, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment. But as I turned to walk away, I caught sight of Janice's smug face across the room.

Janice raised an eyebrow, impressed despite herself. "Well, well, well. Look who's a wild child," she said, loud enough for everyone to hear.

I felt a flush rise to my cheeks, but I refused to let Janice get to me. I had won the bet, and I had proved to myself that I could do something crazy and spontaneous.

But as I glanced back at Gavin, I saw a look of confusion and disappointment on his face. And I realized that maybe, just maybe, I had made a mistake.

Holding out my hand, I gestured for her to return my belongings. Janice's face fell; she shifted her eyes from Wren to me. "Fine, take your stupid love confession and a hundred bucks."

She leaned in and whispered, "You may have forced yourself on him to kiss him. But we both know that Gavin Hawkins might be a man-whore, but he would never willingly fuck you. No one would. Not even a blind person."

"You wanna know why?" she continued, and I swallowed hard, feeling tears prick my eyes. I could not let them fall.

"Because you are a fat, ugly mute girl who couldn't moan to save her life. You should have let Alessio get his way with you because no reasonable man would."

Pulling away, she laughed in my face and left. My lips trembled, my eyes slowly blurring with unshed tears.

"Lyric, don't listen to whatever she said. Janice is just being bitter. You won the bet."

Wren's rant drowned alongside the music. I could only hear the gritting of my teeth and the tic in my jaw. I was going to prove Janice wrong.

No debating.

I was going to lose my virginity to Gavin Hawkins himself and prove her wrong! I wasn't ugly. My disability wasn't a curse. I was going to prove her wrong.

"Lyric, what is that look in your eyes? Don't tell me—"

Instead of responding, I fiercely wiped my tears away. I needed to find Gavin Hawkins.