12. Bottle-Less Spin the Bottle
TWELVE
BOTTLE-LESS SPIN THE BOTTLE
D ylan
As the high from the show starts to fade, I can tell we’re all wiped. The performance was killer—crowd going wild, energy through the roof—but now we need to chill. Normally, this would mean hitting up an after-party, but tonight I’ve got a different plan in mind.
“Hey, guys,” I say, gathering everyone backstage. “How about we skip the after-party and just hang on the bus? Just us and Lily.”
Marcus raises an eyebrow, curious, and Enzo looks, well he looks annoyed, but that is just his face. Jax seems indifferent, but I catch a hint of relief in his eyes. He’s been dealing with a lot lately, and I know the after-parties aren’t really helping.
Lily, though, looks a bit unsure. “Are you sure? I mean, if you guys want to go to the party, I can handle things here.”
“Nah, we want you with us,” I say, flashing her a grin. “Let’s just relax and have a good time together.”
She hesitates for a moment, then nods. “Okay, sure. Let’s do it.”
We head back to the bus, and the atmosphere instantly feels more relaxed. Marcus and Enzo grab some beers from the fridge, and I hand one to Lily.
“Come on, Lily, have a drink with us,” I encourage, nudging her playfully.
She hesitates again but then takes the beer. “Alright, why not? It’s been a long day.”
Jax, true to form, skips the drink. He leans back in his seat, watching us with that quiet intensity of his. Something’s definitely on his mind, but I’m not about to push it right now.
A terse quiet falls over the bus and I sip on my beer, mulling over the direction of our night. If I don’t do something soon, this will likely end in a fight, and I’m too worn out to deal with that.
Enzo shocks me by being the first one to break the silent spell, in a non-asshole way for once. “Remember that time in Detroit?” He says, leaning back with a grin. “When Marcus got locked in the bathroom at that dive bar?”
Marcus groans, rolling his eyes. “I told you! It wasn’t my fault. The door jammed!”
Lily laughs, eyes sparkling, her cheeks turning a rosy, pink as she sips on her beer. “How did you get out?”
“We had to take the door off the hinges,” I say, grinning at the memory. “And Marcus was so drunk, he thought he was being kidnapped.”
Marcus shrugs, a sheepish smile on his face. “It was a confusing night.”
“I bet,” Lily agrees, giggling like a maniac.
I decide then that this bus needs more giggling Lily. Like at all times really, it’s adorable.
Jax heads to the fridge and I raise my eyebrow as I watch him grab a beer. He pops it open, then moves towards Lily, offering it to her in exchange for her old can. She blushes, accepting the can and barely making eye contact with him. Interesting.
As Jax returns to his seat, slumping down in a defeated way, Enzo fiddles with his phone and pulls up some pop rock station on his spotify.
Lily squeals immediately. “Oh, I love this song, turn it up.”
Enzo complies and Lily begins singing, loudly and surprisingly on key. Her voice is full-bodied, and powerful for someone so tiny. I watch mesmerized, my attention only breaking when Marcus accidentally drops his empty can. I flick my eyes between my bandmates and realize that they are all watching Lily with the same intensity. She seems completely oblivious, her eyes closed while she sings, using the natural music breaks to sip on her drink.
I move from my seat, inching closer to her until we are basically touching, the heat from her body seeping into mine. She finishes singing, then her artic blue eyes pop open, attaching to me with hazy focus. “Hey, Dylan,” she says softly, her voice almost drowned out by the music playing in the background. She leans back resting her head against my shoulder. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Sure, what’s up?” I ask, angling my face towards hers. We are so close, our breath is intermingling and I am a hairbreadth away from closing the slight distance and sealing our mouths together.
She takes a deep breath, her eyes flicking over to Jax before she speaks. “I... I need to confess something. Jax and I kissed.”
The room goes quiet, and I feel a protective instinct flare up, along with something a bit more... possessive. “Is that so?” I ask, trying to keep my tone light. “What’s the problem with a kiss?” Lily seems completely oblivious to the rest of the band. She is way more drunk than I would expect from two beers, but she must not drink often.
Lily looks down, her cheeks flushing deeper. “I saw him with someone else at the party. He had sex with her, then the next morning he kissed me. I... I can’t trust him. I think he’s just a player.”
Jax’s face hardens, but he doesn’t say anything to Lily or about the kiss. Instead, he stands up, shoulders tense. “I’m going to bed,” he mutters, heading toward the back of the bus.
I watch him go, then turn back to Lily, who looks mortified. Like she didn’t realize everyone heard her until Jax stormed off. “Hey, don’t worry about it. Jax has his issues, but that doesn’t mean you should beat yourself up over it.”
She glances up at me, guilt written all over her face. “I feel bad. I shouldn’t have said anything. I didn’t mean to air our dirty laundry.” She hesitates for a second, before scrunching her nose. “Honestly, I think I’m a little drunk.”
I laugh then lean in, resting my hand on her arm. “Lily, you’re just being honest. It’s better to get it out in the open.”
She nods, but I can tell she’s still upset. I don’t want her to feel bad, not when she was finally starting to loosen up around us. So, I decide to lighten the mood.
“Let’s change things up,” I say, flashing her a mischievous grin. “I dare you to kiss Marcus.”
Her eyes widen, and she glances over at Marcus, who’s watching us with a raised eyebrow. “What? Dylan, no...”
I laugh, leaning back. “Come on, it’s just a game, like spin the bottle without the bottle.” Enzo splutters a cough behind his beer, that sounds like he is trying to cover his laughter. Lily turns her concerned gaze in his direction, but I ignore him. “Marcus, what do you say?”
Marcus smirks, clearly not objecting to a kiss from our hot, tiny blonde ‘handler’. “I’m game if she is.”
Lily hesitates, then sighs, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Okay, fine. Just a kiss, though.”
She stands up and walks over to Marcus, who leans down to meet her halfway. The kiss starts out soft, their lips barely touching, but then Marcus deepens it, his hand cupping her cheek as he pulls her closer. It’s slow and sensual, and when they finally pull away, both of them are breathing a bit harder, eyes locked.
“Not bad,” Marcus says, winking at her.
Lily blushes but smiles, her confidence growing with each sip of beer. She’s loosening up, and I’m loving it.
“Your turn, Enzo,” I say, grinning. “I dare you to kiss Lily.”
Enzo chuckles, standing up and making his way over to her. He takes her hand, giving her a playful smile. “May I?”
Lily rolls her eyes but this time she doesn’t protest, letting me orchestrate her kissing the entire band under the guise of bottle-less spin the bottle. Enzo leans in, giving her a kiss that’s more passionate than the one with Marcus. His hand slides to the back of her neck, holding her in place as he teases her lips with his tongue. Lily responds, her arms wrapping around his neck, pulling him closer. The kiss is long and deep, and when they finally pull apart, there’s heat blazing in Enzo’s eyes, and Lily is breathless, placing a hand against her chest.
“Acceptable,” he says in a husky voice, causing Lily to expel a breathy laugh.
She wanders back towards the kitchen counter, a flush of pink cresting her cheeks as she stares at the three of us sitting together. But I’m not done yet. “Okay, Lily. Now it’s my turn.”
Her eyes widen as I approach her, backing her further against the kitchen counter. I lean in, my hand resting on her cheek.
“Dylan...” She protests lightly.
“It’s just the game. Just a kiss,” I say softly, my lips brushing lightly against hers as I speak. “I promise.”
The kiss starts out gently, but as she relaxes into it, I deepen our connection. My tongue teases her lips until she opens up for me and I delve in, holding nothing back. The kiss continues, our tongues warring for dominance, my hand sliding into her hair as I pull her closer. My other hand rests on her lower back, pressing her body against mine. We kiss for an eternity, the world around us fading away. Her hands grip my shirt, and I can feel her heart pounding against my chest. When I finally pull away, we’re both breathing hard, the air between us charged with electricity. I rest my forehead against hers for a second, as I collect my thoughts and fight the urge to dive back in.
Lily’s eyes are wide, her cheeks flushed, lips glistening. “Wow.”
I grin, brushing my thumb against the pink crest of her cheek. “You’re pretty good at this, you know.”
She smiles a shy smile, her eyes searching my face, before leaning in to rest her cheek against my chest. I tuck her against me as I walk back to the couch, bundling us together as I sit next to Enzo. Almost immediately she dozes off.
Enzo, Marcus, and I continue drinking and joking for another hour or two before they eventually call it a night and head to their bunk. I wait another half an hour, not wanting to disrupt Lily’s sleep. I finally cave and gently shake her shoulder. She blinks her eyes groggily in my direction, rubbing the sleep out of the corners of her eyes.
“You should sleep in my bed tonight,” I say, keeping my tone light.
Lily’s eyes widen in surprise, the previous sleepiness wiped away. “Dylan, I don’t think that’s a good idea. I can sleep in my own bunk.”
I lean in closer, nuzzling my face against hers. “Come on, I promise I’ll be a perfect gentleman. I’m just not ready for this night to end quite yet.”
She hesitates, the alcohol making her more pliable. “Okay, fine. But only because I’m too tired to argue.”
We make our way to my bunk, and I help her settle in, lifting her up to place her on the bunk. Her petite form is easy to move, but she squeals and clutches onto my arms as I grab her, like she’s worried I will drop her. “Shh,” I shush, dropping a kiss on the tip of her nose.
“Sorry, you surprised me,” she whispers back, scooting further into the bunk so I can climb in beside her.
The narrow space forces us close, practically on top of one another as we lay down. I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her flush against me. The feel of her body pressing into every inch of mine is intoxicating, her softness contrasting with my hardness. I can feel every curve, every contour, and it takes all my self-control not to let my hands roam.
“Goodnight, Lily,” I whisper, my breath warm against the shell of her ear.
“Goodnight, Dylan,” she replies, her voice soft.
She wriggles lightly against me, and I suppress a groan as Lily releases a sweet little sigh. As we lie there, her back pressed against my chest, I can’t help but relish the closeness. Her scent, a mix of her natural sweet, floral fragrance and a hint of the beer she’s been drinking, fills my senses. I bury my face in her hair, inhaling deeply, and feel her relax further into my embrace. My hand rests on her hip, my thumb gently stroking her side.
“Dylan?” she murmurs sleepily.
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for tonight,” she says, her voice soft and sincere. “I needed this.”
“Me too,” I reply, pressing a gentle kiss to the back of her head.
Just before I drift off, I feel Lily shift again, turning in my arms to face me. Her eyes are half-open, a sleepy smile playing on her lips. "You make me feel safe, Dylan," she whispers, her voice barely audible.
I smile back at her, loving how sweet she can be, when she isn’t fired up. "Good. Because you are," I murmur, my fingers gently brushing a strand of hair from her face.
She snuggles closer, her head resting against my chest, her breath warm against my skin. "Goodnight," she whispers again, her voice fading as sleep takes over.
"Goodnight, Lily," I reply softly, my fingers still running through her hair.