"The best thing to hold onto in life is each other."

Alexa

"Truth or dare?" Lotte is glaring at me as I find my voice. I can tell that Lotte cooks up some pretty good dares and truths to ask so neither of the options sound too good. 

"Uh truth," I stutter and as soon as I hear what she says next I regret my choice.

"So what's your body count?" 

My eyes widen and when I look at Noah I can see the look of horror on his face too.

"Why are you this shocked? We're family, now, remember?" Lotte laughs, "I give up. Why don't you have a shot of tequila? It will loosen you up." She gets up and walks into the kitchen.

"Lotte, you're seventeen for God's sake. Come back here," Noah says in a stern voice.

I whisper, "Is she always this...," I try to gesture in the air.

"Stupid? Yes," Noah sighs.

"I heard that," Lotte laughs from the kitchen.

Bouncing back into the living room with a tequila bottle in one hand and a lemon and two shot glasses in the other, "But you two are legal."

"I'm not," I clarify.

Lotte groans, "Are you guys this boring all the time?" She doesn't wait for our response as she begins to fill glasses. "I'll go first," she gulps down the liquid in one go and immediately squeezes the lemon into her mouth. "Now you guys can follow my example."

Both Noah and I have a shot and I have to say that although it doesn't taste all glorious as expected, it definitely loosened me up and the game became somewhat more enjoyable.

After many more shots of tequila and even more truths and dares, Lotte finally dares Noah to kiss me. I'm saying finally because I was longing to kiss him even though it has been only a few hours since we last kissed. 

Noah looks at me as though asking permission to kiss me. He's acting as if we haven't kissed each other before without permission. He leans in and our foreheads touch. His eyes sparkled and his cheeks lightly tinted pink. "Can I kiss you, Sweet?" Oh, God. Ever since he started calling me 'Sweet', my heart glows. Fuck, I'm drunk.

We are moments away from kissing when I hear a phone buzzing on the couch near Noah. "It's yours," He says. 

"Who is it?" I yawn. 

Maybe I'm a little tipsy and my brain is making up things but Noah didn't seem too thrilled with what he saw on the screen, "It's Eden."

"Ugh, he remembered me." It's Eden, my best friend all throughout my school years until he fell in love with my sister and ruined everything. He calls once in a while and we catch up on things but we lost that bond after he got together with my sister. I blame my sister for that because she doesn't trust me with him. The girl has just got some trust issues.

"Seems like your boyfriend can't sleep without you," Noah growls as he makes sure that Lotte has fallen asleep.

"What are you on about?"

"Just talk to him. He has been texting you 'I love you's all night," He tosses the phone at me and climbs up the stairs without another word.

"Just so you know Eden is just a friend," I yell to the walls. I hear the door slam and knowing that I have to sort things out with Noah, I answer Eden's third call to me.

"Lexyyyy, I love you." 

Eden only says this when he is extremely drunk. "Eden? What's going on? Are you drunk again?"

"Nooo, I'm not."

Of course, he is lying but I go along, "Then why are you calling me at this time, idiot?" 

"Because...because..."

"Spit it out, Eden."

"Avery's is pregnant and I know-"

"That's great news!"

 "It's not my child," he spits out.

"What are you saying?"

"I haven't had sex with her in months."

"Okay, that's enough. Go and get some sleep."

"I love you and please talk to Avery."

"I love you too."

Hanging up, I think about the last time I called Avery. It was forever ago and it didn't end well.

I stop thinking about her and instead pick up a crumpled piece of paper and pen on the floor and begin to write,

Dear f̶i̶a̶n̶c̶é̶   h̶u̶s̶b̶a̶n̶d̶-̶t̶o̶-̶b̶e̶  Noah,

Eden is just my friend. He is my sister's boyfriend to be specific. I am sorry a̶n̶d̶ ̶I̶ ̶r̶e̶a̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶w̶a̶n̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶k̶i̶s̶s̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶n̶o̶w̶. Writing is hard when you're drunk so I'm keeping this short and sweet. Will you accept my apology?

Love, Sweet.

Clutching my apology letter, I climb the stairs to slip the letter into Noah's bedroom. The only problem was, unlike in movies, I don't know which one is his room. Before I could think about where I was going to put the letter, I sit down in the hallway and fall into deep slumber right there. 

Upon waking, I burrow myself into the warm, soft sheets. I rub the remainders of sleep from my eyes and then quickly remember that I didn't sleep in a bed last night. Memories from last night hit me like a truck as soon as I see the letter I wrote sitting on the nightstand. I read what I had written and cringe at my choice of words but I saw a short scribble at the end and everything seems worth it. It reads,

 'I'm sorry about last night too.

P. S. You look adorable when you sleep, Sweet.'

I can feel my face heat up as I read that. This is so embarrassing. I can only imagine how bad I looked drunk and sleeping in the hallways. 

Recalling all my memories of last night especially when Eden told me that Avery is pregnant. I still can't believe that. Before I could overthink about how she could have cheated on Eden, the what seems like a bathroom door opens and yes, I was right, it was a bathroom door. Standing there was a half-naked Noah. His body glistening with water. I should look away but I can't. Finally, I pull my eyes from his toned body onto his face. Fuck, how can someone be this perfect? His dark brown locks fall onto his forehead as water drops from it. I am stunned. "Close your mouth before you start drooling," He smirks well aware of the effect he has on me and probably all the girls he has slept with before. I should stop thinking about that. 

"Ugh, I liked you better when you were annoyed with me and slammed yourself in your bedroom last night."

His smirk fades, "I am sorry about that."

"Me too." 

We smile at each other when we hear Lotte screaming, "Time for breakfast, lovebirds."

Noah throws me a look, "Want to have brekkie?"

"Let me take a shower but I'll catch you guys in a few. By the way, put on some clothes before you go downstairs."

"Noted. I don't want anyone except you thinking that I am the brekkie."

"Shut up," I grin.

• ♡ • ♡ • ♡ •

Hey you! Thank you for sticking around even when I disappear and reappear after weeks. Vote and comment if you enjoyed this chapter!

We are all going through a tough time now and I hope this brings you atleast a little bit of joy in your day. Ily and stay safe!