SEVEN

The basketball team makes their way over to us, and Millie’s eyes are practically glued to mine, sharp and piercing, like she’s inspecting every inch of my face for some kind of guilt.

I don’t know why the hell I feel so busted right now, like I just got caught red-handed doing something actually wrong.

Seriously, so what if I lied a little? It was harmless! But here I am, squirming, feeling like I cheated on her or something.

Daniel, being his usual loud self, is quick to fill in the team on what’s happening.

“So, we’re playing beer pong, and Gracie here was just about to kiss the guy she thinks is hottest,” he announces, pointing right at me, a mischievous grin on his face.

Great, thanks for that, Daniel.

His tone’s playful, but it feels like a spotlight just got shoved onto me, and every set of eyes turns in my direction.

Millie raises an eyebrow, crossing her arms, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Oh really?” she says, staring right at me. “So, you were gonna kiss some random guy?”

I feel the heat rising to my cheeks, and instead of backing down, I shrug, trying to play it off.

“Yeah, Millie,” I say, looking her dead in the eyes. “It’s a dare, not a declaration of love.”

She scoffs, her gaze shifting from me to James, eyeing him up and down in a judgemental way.

“And who’s he supposed to be?” she says, her tone as unimpressed as possible. “Never seen him around before.”

Daniel jumps in again, clearly loving the drama. “He just joined yesterday, actually. Fresh meat, right, James?”

James grins, totally unfazed, stepping forward and extending a hand to her. “James Ellington. Nice to meet you,” he says with that calm, British smoothness that should’ve had anyone impressed.

But Millie doesn’t even offer him a smile—just stares at his hand like it’s something she’d rather avoid.

Charlotte, ever the bridge-builder, jumps in. “Hey, how about you all join us?” she says, trying to break the tension with a bright smile. “The more, the merrier, right?”

Hannah nudges Millie playfully, slinging an arm around her shoulders. “Come on, Millie, it’ll be fun! And I know you could use a break,” she says, trying to ease the tension with a grin.

Millie lets out a sigh, finally tearing her eyes away from me to glance at the beer pong table.

Then, after a long moment, she nods, but not before sending me one more look that has my stomach flipping uncomfortably.

But this whole interaction feels different from any argument we’ve ever had.

Yeah, she’s lied to me too—she’s ditched our plans, played things off, and even gone behind my back on small stuff before.

But this? The way she’s looking at me? It feels almost... personal, like I somehow betrayed her on a deeper level.

It stings more than it should, especially for something as harmless as a little white lie.

Just as everyone’s hyping up for me to finish my dare—eyes wide, expecting a show—Millie raises her voice again, loud and unapologetic, cutting through the buzz.

“Actually, since we’ve got new players, let’s just restart the game,” she announces, looking at me with an almost triumphant glint in her eyes. “Fresh start, no dares hanging over anyone,” she adds, her icy smile landing squarely on me.

I want to scream, to roll my eyes into the next dimension, but I hold it in, clenching my jaw. Instead, I just scowl at her, giving her the exact same look she’s throwing at me.

Millie always does this—every damn time I show even the slightest interest in a guy, she steps in, playing the overprotective, “just looking out for you” card.

And people just go along with it, backing her up without even thinking twice. As captain of the team, she’s got that “cool girl” vibe down, the kind everyone respects and admires.

I shrug as if I don’t care, even though I absolutely do. “Fine, let’s restart,” I say, trying to keep my tone neutral.

*

The game kicks off with half the crowd on one team and half on the other, naturally splitting Millie and me on opposing sides. Perfect.

Right before we start, Jugyoung leans in, whispering, “Girl, this drama is spicy as hell,” with a mischievous grin. I want to shove her into the pool just to sober her up a little.

The night’s already chaotic, and now I have my drunk friend egging on the situation.

The first shot goes to Hannah, who lands the ball perfectly in the cup with a smug “Suck it!” Everyone hoots and hollers, hyping her up like she just scored a game-winning shot.

Next up, a guy named Kenston steps up with that usual, effortless confidence, aiming at the right corner and sinking his shot like it’s nothing.

Our side cheers, and I clap along, even though I can’t help but catch Millie shooting me a glare.

I arch an eyebrow at her like, “What?” and she just responds with a silent, “You know exactly what.”

Samantha goes next and totally misses, but instead of backing out, she takes the dare and strips down to her bra and panties, letting out a wild laugh as she throws her shirt into the crowd.

Meanwhile, Millie’s next up, and with a determined look, she aims straight for the cup in front of me.

Close but no cigar; she misses by an inch. Daniel laughs, holding out her drink, and she downs it like a pro, and reads her dare: "Unzip someone’s pants...without using your hands."

I’m momentarily stunned, wondering if she’ll actually do it. But Millie just smirks and turns to Jenna, the vice captain, who’s laughing and egging her on.

Millie raises her chin and says, “Nothing here says I can’t do it with a girl.” The crowd is loving it.

She kneels, hands behind her back, and somehow unzips Jenna’s jeans using just her mouth.

People cheer, some whistling, and Jugyoung’s beside me going, “Damn, things just got spicy!” She takes another swig of her drink, and I grab it, narrowing my eyes at her. “Seriously, cut it out, or I’m calling your brother.”

She just pouts, muttering something I ignore as I turn back to the table, watching Millie’s triumphant grin as her dare ends.

Then it’s James’s turn again, and of course, he just glides the ball in like he’s been doing this forever. I give him a teasing smirk.

“You practicing this in your free time or something?” He chuckles, leaning in closer. “Only if you are watching.”

Before I can react, Millie lets out an exaggerated cough, giving us both a look that could cut glass.

After the other team wins that round, it’s finally my turn. Praying for mercy, I aim and throw—but the universe hates me tonight, because I miss. Again.

Daniel hollers, passing me the cup, and I chug it down, gagging at the taste, only to glance down and see my dare: Drink ten shots without a break.

Laughter and shock ripple around the table, and before I know it, ten shots are lined up in front of me.

Millie sidles over, her voice low, telling me to pass. “You’re not a heavy drinker,” she says, eyes flashing with worry.

I grit my teeth, forcing a smile. “I’ve got this.” I’m not about to back down, not when she’s hovering like I need her to babysit me.

I grab the first shot, and it hits my throat like fire. The crowd’s chanting my name, the hype building with every shot, and soon I’ve downed three, then five.

My head’s starting to spin, but I push through, ignoring the burn in my throat and the prickle in my eyes.

Millie’s voice breaks through, hissing at me to stop, but I drown her out, grabbing two more shots and slamming them back-to-back.

My vision’s getting a little fuzzy, but I force a grin as Daniel slaps me on the back, yelling, “Goddamn, way to go Grace! Respect!”

My vision’s starting to blur, but I manage a smirk, feeling the burn in my throat as Daniel claps me on the back, laughing.

“Damn, Grace! That’s some serious respect!”

Before I can fully process the chaos, the lacrosse boys crash into our space like a wrecking ball of testosterone, whooping like they’ve just won the Super Bowl.

Next thing I know, they’re grabbing everyone, practically herding us toward the pool area like we’re some sacrifice to the party gods.

Laughter and shrieks fill the air, and I barely have time to react before one of the guys wraps an arm around me, lifts me off my feet, and launches me into the pool like I’m some kind of ragdoll.

I hit the water with a freezing, heart-stopping splash, my brain barely processing what’s happening as I go under.

My immediate thought is just, What the actual hell?

As I kick up toward the surface, I hear muffled voices above me, someone yelling my name, but it’s drowned out by the sound of water and distant laughter.

I break the surface, gasping for air, my eyes stinging and my heart pounding. People are everywhere, splashing around, and someone’s laughing like it’s the funniest thing ever.

I manage to swipe the water from my face, breathing hard, when suddenly I feel a pair of hands on my shoulders.

And then, the next thing I know, I’m being hoisted up, water streaming off me as someone lifts me like I weigh nothing.

I have just enough time to mutter, “Oh, fuck me,” before I’m launched across the pool, arms flailing, barely catching my breath before I’m crashing back into the water again.