Poison - Jade West Page 0,67

that’s because he was being such a total asshole, drinking and watching disgusting weirdo porn late at night, and doing just about anything other than being how he fucking should be.”

And that was enough.

I put my glass down on the side and grabbed the box of cruddy party games from the bottom shelf of the coffee table and cleared my throat.

“Time we got this out,” I said. “Let’s get this party started and stop with the bitching.”

“It’s not bitching,” Hannah said. “It’s talking about friends and their problems.”

“Oh, it’s bitching,” I said, and took the lid off the box. “Let’s just play a game and forget about it, shall we?”

Several of the girls edged forward to get involved in the box unveiling, and Amy Miller even mucked in and pulled the snakes and ladders out, but it seems Dawn wasn’t quite prepared to let it go.

“Truth or dare, then?” she suggested with a swagger, then downed her wine as everyone cheered their approval.

Except me.

I didn’t cheer my approval, because I knew exactly where it was headed.

Disaster.

That’s where it was headed.

Like watching a car crash unfold while you’re in the front seat.

Ellie Borthwick jumped in first with a would you rather fuck Ricky or Jason question for Amy, and the girls laughed as she weighed up her options.

I wanted that cigarette more than anything, just to bail on the stupid game as everyone kept on pouring out drinks, but I didn’t dare show myself up for yet another bad habit while I was already being crucified for my life choices. So, I kept my mouth shut and listened to their sneaky blurted truths and watched their stupid dares.

People doing handstands against Nicola’s fireplace. People doing stupid stripteases like they were in some Amsterdam show routine. People singing songs at the top of their lungs to cheers and whistles.

And then it was my turn to pick my truth or dare.

Of course it would be.

Everyone knew what was coming before Dawn opened her drunken mouth and shot me the evils.

“Exactly what’s going on between you and Lucas Pierce, Anna? Truth or dare?”

I wouldn’t lie, because I don’t. I never lie, especially not when the room is full of people who know me for myself, and value my self-respect and honesty.

“What’s the dare?” I asked.

Several girls were weighing one up, but Dawn was already prepared with the impossible. She poured a pint glass full of white wine and slammed it down on the table.

“Down that in one, or answer the question.”

Nicola and Vicky were horrified, I could see them about to make their move before I opted to take my own fate in my hands and show them all that I’d do whatever the hell I wanted.

I picked up the pint glass and slugged back that wine so fast that a trickle ran down my chin.

Stupid.

It was stupid.

But I was past giving a shit about any of that.

I slammed the empty glass back down on the table and smiled over at Dawn, and she was absolutely seething as the room whooped their cheers at me.

“You shouldn’t have done that. You’re not allowed with epilepsy medication,” Dawn said, stating the obvious.

“No, you fucking shouldn’t!” Nicola hissed and raced on over. “What the fuck were you thinking?!”

I shrugged amidst the horror, and she was screaming about my stupidity, Vicky in tow, with so much force that I reached into my handbag without even breaking a sweat.

“I’m going for a cigarette,” I told the crowd and got up from my seat, and they were all still bitching or staring on open-mouthed as I pushed my way through and out into the damn back yard.

Fuck it.

I lit up and took a drag, and I could feel the wine burning in my belly. I was grateful for it, even if it caused me some bullshit in the aftermath, because it was warming. Warming and heavy and nice.

I expected it to be Nicola storming after me when the back door swung open, but it wasn’t. It was Yasmin Boyle with a cigarette already hovering in her mouth.

I braced myself for another bitching session, but it didn’t come. She looked at me with a strange glance as she started smoking and then she stepped up closer.

“Don’t listen to that lot in there,” she whispered. “You don’t owe Maya Brooks anything.”

I smiled back at her, thankful that someone finally remembered how Maya first stole Lucas from behind my back in the first place.

“I know that, don’t worry,” I said, but she stepped