Stephanie: The Group
Concern for Lora weighs heavily on my mind, making it difficult to fully address my anger towards Cassie. I descend the stairs, my feet gliding effortlessly, hand sliding quickly along the railing.
A sigh of relief escapes me as I catch sight of Lora. She is alive and awake, sitting at the kitchen table.
"Glad to see that you're okay," I express, the worry still evident in my voice.
"Yeah, I just got dizzy for a moment," Lora mumbles in embarrassment.
"Dizzy? I almost called you an ambulance," Damien mutters.
"Drama queen," John mocks him from the kitchen.
I glance over to John, who is busy mixing a cocktail, clad only in black boxers. Damien, on the other hand, seems nonchalant as if he didn't witness my vulnerable state just minutes ago. But I can't simply brush aside Cassie's humiliating act.
"That looks good," I comment to John.
"Me or the drink?" he responds, a playful grin forming on his lips.
"Both," I reply, winking at him, and his grin widens.
"When you finish checking me out, we can get to drinking," John suggests, teasingly.
"Sure," I smile back at him. "I'll let you know when I'm done."
Cassie's agile footsteps echo down the stairs behind me, and John steps over, handing me a glass.
Instead of accepting the glass outright, I let him hold it out, my hand purposefully grazing his tattoo. My fingers trail along the dragon's tail from his shoulder to his chest. Before he can make sense of the gesture, I take the glass from his hand swiftly, causing my hair to flip in the process.
I can sense his gaze piercing through me.
"You move like a dancer," John remarks as I bend down to set the plate on the table.
"That's because she is," Cassie chimes in, coming up behind me and slipping her arm around my waist.
I turn my attention back to John, curious to see his reaction to Cassie's statement. Typically, men wear a silly grin upon hearing about my dancing prowess. Surprisingly, I find genuine appreciation reflected in John's eyes.
"What style of dancing do you do?" he inquires, his gaze unwavering as he takes a sip of his cocktail.
"It depends on who I'm dancing with," I respond, holding his gaze.
"What style will you dance with me?" he asks, his eyes refusing to break away from mine.
"Hm..." I bite my lip in thought before tasting the cocktail he made, its strength refreshing.
"It depends on what you can handle."
"I can handle anything," he asserts, a smile forming on his lips.
"Oh, I forgot, you're like a world champion," I say, aware of Cassie's arm tightening around my waist. I know she's irritated that John attained his title before her.
"Like?" John raises an eyebrow. "I am the world champion."
"If you want me to believe that, you'll have to personally convince me," I challenge.
"Woho, you two are at it," Damien interjects, and Cassie responds by squeezing my ass.
"Yeah, real cute," Cassie hisses.
"She is. And beautiful too. It's good to finally have a face for all those Stephanie stories of yours," John compliments, his smile directed at me.
"How did you imagine me?" I inquire, curious about the image he had formed in his mind.
"I must admit, I couldn't conjure up someone as beautiful as you," he admits sincerely.
"Aww, I can't believe all I ever heard about you is how much of an asshole you are," I remark with a touch of sarcasm.
"Is that so?" John looks between Damien and Cassie. "I wonder who could say such things."
"Cassie," Damien coughs with a chuckle.
"You talked plenty about Stephanie though," John turns his gaze to his brother, and I arch an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Really? How poorly did he speak of me?" I ask, genuinely curious.
"Surprisingly well," John smirks.
"Is it really that surprising?" I glance down at myself and then back at him.
"Yeah, considering you traded him for Cassie."
"And now she's upgrading again," Damien remarks, taking a drink, earning a smack on the back of his head from Cassie.
"You can't upgrade after me; it's a long fall down," Cassie growls at him.
"Unless John is there, waiting to catch her," Damien retorts with a smug grin.
"You remember that I can kill you, and that I am not prone to a guilty conscience?" Cassie calmly reminds him, her words carrying a subtle threat.
"Oh, not so funny when it's happening to you, sis?"
"Nothing's happening, fucktard," I interject before things escalate further. Not that I'm not somewhat enjoying the banter. It's a small victory for me against Cassie.
John laughs and pats Damien's back. "You're drunk."
"You're drunk," Damien frowns at him, taking another sip.
"I am drunk," Lora mumbles, her posture relaxed as a faint smile graces her face.
"Here, this will help," Damien offers, lighting two cigarettes in his lips and passing one to Lora.
"Thanks," Lora reaches out, and their fingers brush momentarily as she takes the cigarette.
"Sure, love," Damien replies, and they exchange a momentary gaze, the silence between them expanding.
I find myself turning my attention back to John. He sips from his cocktail, his gaze fixed on the glass doors that lead to the garden.
I catch a glimpse of the sunlight reflecting in his eyes.
"Sun's up." he mentions, to nobody specific.
Damien suddenly stands up and takes off his shirt. "Let's go for a swim."
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