Cruz and I follow Jonathon into the living room.

A large cup, a deck of cards, and several beers are spread out on the coffee table. Nine others are gathered on the couch. I skim their faces. I recognize Carly and her boyfriend, Aaron, and Kiana and her boyfriend, Jace.

I make a point to take a seat beside Jonathon.

If Jonathon gets tipsy enough during the game, then his guard will be down, he'll be more likely to talk, and I need to be close enough to chat him up when the alcohol hits.

Once I sit down, however, there is no longer enough room on the couch for Cruz. Dismay sinks inside me.

Someone else notices, too. Right away, the pretty brunette sitting next to Kiana coos at him, "Hey, Recker, you can have my seat if you let me sit on your lap!"

I attempt not to glare at the bitch for hitting on my guy.

"Thanks, Regina, but I'm good," Cruz grunts back at the brunette.

Ah, her name is Regina.

He sits down on the floor. Disgruntlement crosses my guy's face as he steals a glimpse at Jonathon and me, but I pretend not to notice. I feel bad about ditching Cruz for Jonathon, but I'm confident he'll understand once I tell him about Brody and Suzie.

Besides, we can't act like a couple in public, so there's no reason for us to sit next to each other. No reason for me to hate on the flirty brunette. No reason for Cruz to feel threatened by Jonathon.

But it's easier to talk the talk than walk the walk.

I can't help feeling bothered by the way Regina keeps batting her eyes at my guy.

Cruz also looks grumpier than usual. His eyes keep darting towards Jonathon as though he's afraid his teammate might make a move on me.

The game begins.

Kiana goes first. She draws a six for "chicks." Only the girls drink.

Damn it.

Jonathon escaped this round.

Carly, Kiana, and Regina each take a shot of beer. I stare at my shot for a second too long, feeling anxious about putting any kind of alcohol in my system again. Then, I think of Suzie and Brody and push aside my paranoia. With a clench of determination, I force myself to swallow it down. The beer hits the back of my throat in an unpleasant way. It tastes bitter and acidic. I barely keep myself from spitting it out. Barely.

Aaron is next. He pulls out an ace. "Waterfall." Everyone has to drink, and we can't stop until Aaron stops.

I start chugging away.

At least, Jonathon is also chugging away beside me, trying to keep up with Aaron. I slow the rhythm of my gulps. I don't want to get drunk before Jonathon.

When Aaron finally sets down his shot glass, it's Regina's turn. She picks up a jack. Time for a mini-game. All of us raise up three fingers to play a round of "Never Have I Ever," and the first person to put down all three fingers must drink.

To my annoyance, Regina winks at Cruz and purrs, "Never have I ever made out with a soccer player."

Carly blushes and Kiana coughs sheepishly, and they both put down a finger.

Cruz pretends not to hear Regina, and I pretend not to care that she's flirting with my guy.

I bite back a scowl.

The beer is already making me feel lightheaded. Freer. Looser. I'm afraid I might blurt out something unnecessarily aggressive, like, "Keep your claws off my man, bitch!"

It doesn't help that, even though Cruz isn't even making eye contact with her, Regina doesn't give up.

She flashes a smile at Cruz. "Never have I ever gone skinny dipping with a soccer player."

Giggling awkwardly, Kiana puts down another finger. A smug smile spreads across Jace's face.

There's a pool out back. I saw it when I was looking for Suzie in the backyard earlier, and it's pretty clear that Regina is giving Cruz another open invitation. Jealousy spikes against my will. I want to mark my territory, and let her know that Cruz is taken, that he's mine.

But I can't say shit.

I steal a glimpse at Cruz. At least, he's still ignoring Regina. It makes me feel a little better.

Jonathon intervenes at this point, groaning, "Quit using this game to hit on Cruz, Regina. The rest of us are here, too, you know!"

"Who says I was flirting with him?" Regina protests with an indignant expression.

Kiana claps back, "Anyone with eyes and ears can see what you're doing, girl."

Regina glares at Kiana. "Why don't you mind your own business?"

Jace speaks up to defend his girlfriend, "Let it go already, Regina. Cruz came with Athena tonight. Pretty sure he's not interested in you."

My eyes keep darting back and forth between everyone, struggling to keep up with the rapid flow of conversation in my beer-induced stupor.

Regina's face whips towards me in disbelief. "The hell? He came with... you?"

Her bitchy tone makes me want to act like a bitch, too.

"Yeah, he did," I grumble. "No need to get all butthurt over it."

Regina sneers, "Are you two dating or something?"

I look down to hide my lying eyes. "No, we're not—"

Cruz cuts in, "We're actually—"

Before Cruz or I finish talking, Jonathon decides to throw in his two cents, "It's not like that, Regina. Cruz and Athena only drove here together because his dad and her aunt are getting married. They're living together now. Like siblings. Or cousins. Or whatever."

My face freezes.

Goddamnit.

Jonathon and his big mouth have officially spilled the tea. None of this is surprising, but I'm annoyed with him, nonetheless.

A wave of gasps and murmurs spreads through the group.

Cruz and I wince as the partial truth is laid out in front of everyone. I'm pretty sure the whole school will know everything about us by Monday.

King's Cup is forgotten.

Cruz and I are instantly hounded by a whirlwind of everyone's inquisitiveness.

Carly prods, "When did you guys move in together?"

Aaron jokes, "Am I invited to the wedding?"

One of the other soccer players, Eddie, frowns. "Why didn't you bring up this shit to us earlier, Recker?"

In matter-of-fact tones, Kiana remarks to Jace, "Now it all makes sense. No wonder Athena showed up to soccer practice the other day."

Narrowing her gray eyes, Regina leans towards me, "So, tell us, Athena, what's it like living with Cruz?"

It feels like we're under siege. Cruz and I try our best to answer all of their questions, but we're struggling to keep up with their incessant thirst for gossip.

A few minutes later, I make a lame attempt to redirect the spotlight from us back to the game, "Hey, I thought we're supposed to be playing King's Cup?"

Kiana rolls her eyes. "I'm over King's Cup. Can't we do something else?"

"Like what, babe?" Jace asks.

"Like," Kiana answers with a smirk, "truth or dare."

Truth or dare?

This game actually sounds like a perfect opportunity for me to ask Jonathon some questions.

"I'm down for truth or dare," I pipe up. "What are the rules?"

Kiana responds, "If anyone chickens out on a 'dare' or lies after picking 'truth,' then they drink."

"How will we know if someone is lying or not?" Carly demands.

"We'll take a group vote," Kiana replies. "If the majority of us think that the person is lying, then they drink."

"Sounds good to me," Eddie echoes in approval.

Cruz and I glance at each other, sharing a fleeting, tension-charged look. He appears quite tense. I bet there are dozens of questions he wants to ask me right now, there's so much I want to tell him, but we need to hold back until the party is over. This entire pretending-like-we're-not-together thing is really starting to suck balls. It's not easy to lie through my teeth when I just want the whole world to know how much I care for my green-eyed boy. I already can't stand the secrecy, and we still have months to go until graduation.

Regina's voice pulls me from my thoughts. "Who wants to go first?"

I realize, then, that she has been watching Cruz and me very closely this whole time.

What's this bitch thinking?

I wish I could mind her read, no, wait, I mean—read her mind. Yeah, that sounds better. Feeling a bit buzzed, I blink a few times to refocus.

Then, I volunteer, "I'll go first."

The beers are making me feel brave. If I complete my "truth or dare," then I'll have a chance to ask Jonathon a "truth or dare" question.

Let's fucking do this!

"Okay, Athena," she murmurs, "truth or dare?"

I don't feel like dealing with any more annoying questions about Cruz and me, so I choose, "Dare."

"I dare you," Regina declares without missing a beat, "to pick any single guy here..."

Her words trail off in a cryptic way.

"And do what?" I prompt.

She smirks. "Give him a lap dance."

I glare. "Seriously?"

"Lap dances should be right up your alley," Regina coos. "You've always been popular with the guys, right?"

"That's what they say," I remark with a cool smile. "My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard."

"I think it may be your only talent. After graduation, you should definitely look into careers that involve sliding down a pole."

Still smiling, I play dumb on purpose. "You mean, as a firefighter?"

She smirks. "Sure. The kind that shows up to bachelor parties for dollar b—"

"Watch your mouth, Regina," Cruz growls.

Her gaze sharpens. "Maybe you should watch your mouth, Cruz. You're starting to act like a jealous boyfriend around Athena, and it's weirding everyone out."

"You think I'm jealous?"

"I do."

He rolls his eyes. "If only I had a shit to give about your opinion."

Clearly offended, she gasps, "Excuse me?"

"Your voice is giving me a migraine. Can you just play nice with Athena and shut up for five minutes?"

"You're such an asshole, Cruz!"

"I've been told that I kick puppies for fun," he says while serving me a knowing look.

"Anyway," Regina huffs, blushing hotly as she turns away from Cruz, "we should probably get back to the game."

Kiana pipes up, "Are you gonna dance or not, Athena?"

"Aw, shit!" Jonathon hoots. "Is the dare still happening?"

"Damn," Eddie hollers, "who's gonna be the lucky son of a gun?"

"Athena doesn't have to do anything she doesn't wanna do," Cruz protests in anxious tones. "I'll drink for her if she wants to pass."

"No," I insist, "it's okay. I wanna do it."

Jonathon casts both of us another sly look but says nothing.

I purse my lips while I consider my options. Regina knew what she was doing with this dare. If I go through with it, people are going to slut shame my behavior for weeks on end. If I back out of Regina's dare, however, I'll lose my chance to go after Jonathon.

The alcohol in my blood courses through me, couraging my fuel. I mean—fueling my courage. Yeah, that sounds more correct-ish.

I think?

My tipsy mind trips along its merry way.

As far as single guys go, Aaron is out, Jace is out, pretty sure Eddie is taken, too, which just leaves Jonathon and Cruz.

There's no way I'm giving Jonathon a lap dance.

So, feeling pretty flushed and very smiley, I rise up from the couch and wander over to Cruz. Everyone around me starts heckling and cackling.

Jonathon chortles. "Oh, shit! Athena's going for it! She's really going for it!"

Carly comments in snippy tones, "Aren't they going to be family soon? This is fucked up."

"Technically, they're not fam yet," Kiana argues, "and they're not blood-related, so I guess it's okay?"

"Ew, Kiana, no," Carly groans with a disgusted expression.

I don't pay them any attention. I stop in front of Cruz, and he eyes me with alarm. He hisses under his breath, "What are you doing, Athena?"

I don't answer Cruz right away.

As though the gods planned it themselves, right on cue, the naughty beats of Ginuwine's Pony begin blasting through the speakers.

I climb on Cruz's lap to straddle his thighs. My man's green eyes grow wide and his lips part in shock.

"Relax, Recker," I murmur into his ear, "I have a plan..."

But not really.

Cruz looks doubtful. "Do you, though?"

I smile back boldly. He has nothing to worry about. I'll figure this shit out as I go. I may be semi-blitzed, but I know what I heard. Regina only said that I needed to pick a single guy and give him a lap dance. She never specified that it needed to be a legit lap dance.

Overhead, Ginuwine's song writhes on. My booty writhes in time to the melody. Not in a sexy way. I don't want to turn anyone on. I'm just having fun and moving my body in exaggerated, almost comedic fashion. Like a clown pretending to be a stripper. Pretty sure I look like an idiot, but I don't stop dancing.

Smiling, I close my eyes for a second and give into the moment.

Confidence is key.

When my eyes open again, I see that Cruz's gaze is locked onto every playful snap of my hips. Every overly intense shimmy of my chest and shoulders. The corner of his mouth starts to twitch. I can tell he's struggling not to laugh.

"You're insane," he quips wryly.

But he says it like a compliment.

Locking eyes with Cruz, I keep gyrating over him like a naughty clown. The beer makes me shameless. "I know."

The rest of the group doesn't possess my guy's self-control. They burst out laughing at my antics. 

Jonathon exclaims, "Damn, girl! Those sick moves are gonna live rent-free in my head forever!"

Not everyone has a sense of humor, though. Carly winces. "But not in a good way. I'm getting secondhand embarrassment just by watching her..."

Some people are even openly hostile. Regina is glowering at Cruz and me. She looks pissed. 

I know my dancing is going to invite another wave of dumb gossip, but I don't care at this point. The shit-talk will never stop no matter what I do. For now, all I care about is getting Regina's dare over with so I can "truth or dare" the hell out of Jonathon.

I want the truth about Suzie.