Chapter 31 My Friends are Masterminds
-Annie-
Meg, ever the ringleader, announced, “I’ll start.
” She smiled and didn’t even look around our group before she said, “Truth or Dare, Annie?” “Dare,” I say.
It has become my default in this little game.
“I dare you to kiss Drew,” Meg replies. I know I look shocked, and I try to cover it with a smirk at her.
I guess this was her very public way of giving her approval.
No one was going to be able to say I was a bad friend when she had been the one to push us together.
I look over at Drew standing at the railing.
He is also looking a little shocked at the dare I have been given.
When his eyes connect with mine, he gives me that dimpled smile, and I’m moving in his direction before I can think better of it.
Since he’s standing, I can’t just kiss him.
He’s going to have to help me, and I say so when I reach him.
I think he is going to sit down—it would be easier after all, and a chair is on the other side of his body, but he surprises me.
Instead, leaning down, he whispers back, “All yours, Annie.” I look into his dark blue eyes, then wrap my hands in his hair, using them to pull his mouth against mine.
Our lips meet in a crash, and I feel Drew’s arms wrap around my waist, pulling my body against his.
I started this kiss, and I want to control it.
So, I run my tongue over his full bottom lip before sucking it into my mouth.
Before I can do anything else, a whistle breaks through the fog in my brain.
I remember that I am in front of a group of people, and I start to pull back but give Drew one more swipe of my tongue as I pull my lips from his.
As I do, I notice that my arms are locked around his neck, and I have to unwind myself from his body.
I take a small step away but stay next to Drew at the railing.
I turn my eyes to Meg’s; she is smiling ear to ear.
I return the smile and ask her, “Truth or Dare?”
Meg breaks character and tells me, “Truth.” My brain has to remember to work, and I finally settle on a question: “Where is the riskiest place you’ve hooked up?
” “The back room at the cafe,” she says and smiles at her boyfriend.
The game moves to others in the group, and Luke is now shirtless.
A few of the girls have removed clothing, but some have received dares to kiss.
Danielle dares Craig to remove everything but his boxers, which he does without a care in the world.
It’s his turn to pick a target. “Truth or Dare, Drew?” “Dare,” I hear Drew respond beside me.
I am curious what Craig is going to do… Will Drew get a dare to undress a little?
I can see the image in my head, and I’m hoping I get a look at those muscles in person.
Craig, starting his dare, pulls me back to the present.
“I dare you to spend seven minutes in heaven with…” (he drags a long pause, looking around the group).
I swear I am going to kill Craig if he sends Drew into one of my closets with another girl.
When his eyes pass over me, I know I’m glaring at him, which causes Craig to laugh.
He finishes his review and says my name, and the relief I feel must be all over my face because he laughs again.
Drew offers me his hand, and I gladly wrap my fingers around his.
Before he has a chance to lead us into my house, I know I don’t want to slip into the closet downstairs.
I want a moment with him alone, and I decide to go to my room.
I take the lead into the house and up the stairs.
If he is surprised by our path, he doesn’t show it, and he follows without missing a step.
I open my bedroom door, step through, then pull him willingly into my room before shutting the door.
As soon as the door is closed, I’m no longer in control of this as Drew pins me to the back of the door and kisses me.
It is clear that he is in charge of this kiss, and I can’t help but moan in response when he gives my bottom lip a little bite.
I want more, but as I’m thinking about moving my hands to touch him, he slows the kiss and then steps away.
Why are we stopping is the only thing my brain is thinking, and then I give voice to my thoughts.
He says, “I wanted to look at you, Annie. You’re so fucking hot in this jersey.
” I can’t help but smile. I think the kissing has fogged over his brain, too, because it’s just a jersey.
I look at him and see his dimple appear, and I’ve never felt so good wearing a jersey in my life.
Then, because I have to say something, I ask, “Do you want a picture? It will last longer.” Drew reaches down towards his jeans.
At first, I think maybe he is going to take them off, and I’m a little disappointed when he pulls out his phone.
Then he wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me against him, whispering into my hair, “Say cheese, Annie.” I smile at the camera, then I smile up at him; after all, I had been the one to tell him to take a picture, so how can I be mad that he did it?
It’s so like Drew to take me at my word.
He leads me back downstairs, and we get whoops and more whistles, which causes heat to cross my cheeks.
Drew directs me to the empty porch swing.
I snuggle into his side and he wraps his arm around me.
The rest of the party is pretty much us talking and laughing.
A large group of people head out before midnight to make it home by curfew, leaving just Drew and me on the porch swing and Meg snuggled on Tom’s lap.
He whispers something in her ear, and she stands up, “I’m going to walk Tom to his car and be right back.
” They disappear around the edge of the house, and Drew pulls me into his lap.
“I better get home too, I know you girls have a lot to talk about.” He is trying not to smile, and it makes his lip twitch a little.
I wrap my arms around his neck. I don’t want him to go, but I know that he is right.
I whisper in his ear, “Until next time,” and pull back and give him a quick kiss before removing myself from his lap and standing up.
He stands and leans down, giving me one more kiss.
“Maybe next time we won’t have so many witnesses.
” And then leaves me on the back porch. I’m smiling as I see him leap over the fence.
He waves and goes inside. My phone vibrates.
Drew Davis
Goodnight Annie
I’ll be saving this one as my new lock screen
The photo of us smiling at the camera in my bedroom appears in the chat.
We both have slightly swollen lips, but we also look really happy.
Before I can respond, another one comes through.
This photo, Drew is still looking at the camera smiling, but I’ve directed my attention to him, still wearing a huge smile on my face.
Drew Davis
Both are very good options for lock screens!
No one else needs to see the bikini photo anyway. I’ll save that one for myself
Annie
Maybe I should keep yours as my wallpaper
Then it's just for me after I unlock my phone
Drew Davis
You are so smart, wallpaper changed
Annie
I’ll keep you guessing on what I decided
Drew Davis
Can’t wait to check
Goodnight Annie
Annie
Goodnight Drew
I look up from my phone, and Meg has quietly rejoined me on the porch.
I put my phone away, giving her a round of applause because I know she was the mastermind behind tonight’s fun.
I’ve never been so happy that my friend is the schemer she is.
She makes a little bow, and then we head inside: as Drew had said, we girls have a lot to talk about.