“Thank you all for coming tonight,” Keir says, spreading a warm smile around the room. “It wouldn’t be a party without one of our legendary games, now would it?”
He and Vale laugh when the crowd lets out a collective, exasperated groan.
“Tonight, in honor of our special guest, Mr. Kenan Ross,” Vale says, gesturing over to me, “we’ll play a new game.”
Not wanting to be the center of attention for long, I offer a brief, probably awkward smile, and hope they’ll get on with it.
“You can thank me later,” I whisper to Lotus once they’ve moved on, taking a chance that the ease which existed a few moments ago might linger.
“You’re a Drake fan?” she asks.
“Huh?” I run the conversation over in my head. Why would she ask me—
Oh, the Drake album, Thank Me Later.
“Not really,” I reply honestly. “I mean he’s aight, but he’s not like top five.”
I’m about to ask for her top five, considering this is the longest she’s ever spoken to me, when the word “kiss” arrests my attention.
“What’d they say?” I turn to ask Lotus, but she’s not there. She’s gone and is standing with Chase and nibbling off his plate. He bends to whisper something in her ear. She shakes her head, starts to walk off, but then steals his plate first before joining Billie and Yari a few feet away.
“He said we’re playing Hook Shot,” Amanda says with a look I think is meant to be sexy.
“Uh . . . that’s a game?”
“Yeah, in your honor. You know the hook shot in basketball, when you—”
“Yeah, that part I get.” I point to myself. “I’m a basketball player, so yeah. Hook shot, but what’s the game?”
Vale approaches, her Icelandic blue eyes cool and smiling when she proffers a leather bag.
“Pull,” she says with an encouraging nod.
“Pull?” I ask, still wondering what the hell is going on.
“Yes.” Her tone is patient and she shakes the little bag. “It’s a drinking game.”
Even more lost.