Fancy cars are parked on both sides of the prim and proper street. And while Justin’s house isn’t as giant as Ella’s, it’s still obscene compared to what normal people live in—one of those three-story brick federal numbers with black shutters you imagine some important senator living in and drinking brandy with his pinkie in the air.
“This case is wild,” I whisper to August as we walk toward Justin’s front door. “I knew this town was posh, but it’s like they exclusively live in party scenes plucked from eighties movies. All crazy, no consequence. I’m thinking of it as a staycation from our normal lives.”
August shrugs. “Not my thing.”
I laugh at his predictability. “I mean, debauchery isn’t anyone’s thing. It’s just a way to let loose. And however much you protest, we both know you’re enjoying this case.” I wag my eyebrows at him, on the off chance he missed my insinuation.
But he gives nothing away in his expression. I could be wrong that he has feelings for Ella, but my gut is telling me otherwise.
And since we’re on the topic of epically bad romantic choices, I decide to test the waters with the Bentley conversation. “Speaking of secret crushes, there’s—”
But I’m cut off by Derek and his Amber-look-alike date.
“Duuuudes.” Derek claps August on the shoulder. “Get ready because Justin’s ragers are a thing of legend.”
I make a mental note to pick up this conversation later after a (hopefully) successful night of Justin foiling.
Derek opens the large front door, and music that was undetectable from the driveway blasts out. Unlike Amber’s swanky boat party or Ella’s pool party, this one is massive. The living room is brimming with people dancing, and the back deck and never-ending lawn are the same.
I beam. It’s basically every element of chaos we could ask for in order to carry out my plan.
“Kitchen!” Derek declares over the music, and we weave through the crowd to follow.
Derek grabs plastic cups and a bottle of tequila from the shiny marble island counter, pouring heavy-handed shots. He attempts to give one to each of us, but August and I grab beers instead—much easier to drink slowly or not at all.
“To dancing naked on the coffee table later,” Derek declares.
I laugh, although knowing him it’s probably not a joke. “Legendary parties are legendary, right?”
He and the Amber look-alike raise their shots, and we all cheers as Amber, Ella, and Leah walk in.
“The cousins,” Leah exclaims. “Now it’s a party.”
Sharky, of course, gives August a kiss on the cheek, one that’s so close to his mouth that it actually catches the corner of it. She glances at Derek to make sure he saw. But I glance at Ella, who looks uncomfortable.
Derek grunts. “I feel it’s my duty as a fellow dude to tell you to be careful,” he says to August, obviously taking a dig at Amber. “She’s got claws.”
Amber drags her teeth across her bottom lip and flicks her bob. “Jealousy is a bad look on you, D.”
Derek pulls his date closer. “Do what and who you want, Amber. I’m over it.”
Amber opens her mouth to respond, but Justin cuts her off with his entrance. “Yeah, bro!” Justin says and fist-bumps Derek. “I had a sixth sense I’d find you knee deep in booze.” He slings his arm around Ella, and it’s clear he’s already buzzed.
“Time for a drinking game,” Amber declares.
“You know I’m always down,” Justin says eagerly.
“Quarters?” Leah suggests.
“If we were boring, then sure,” Sharky replies with an evil glimmer in her eyes. “I’m thinking a game with more spice. Truth or Dare.”
August and I exchange a look—an amazing game for kicking up dirt, but also an uncontrollable one.
“Here are the rules—” Amber says and pauses while Justin hands out beers.
Derek’s date lodges an objection in his ear, but he shakes his head and says, “It’s just a game; what’s the big deal?” She takes her drink and exits the room, leaving him behind.
“As I was saying,” Amber continues. “Everyone drinks when a truth or dare is chosen, and everyone drinks when it’s completed. Leah, you’re up first.”
“My choice, huh?” Leah says, looking at each of us. “Justin, truth or dare?”
He grins. “Truth.”
“Drink,” Amber reminds us.
Leah considers her question. “Most embarrassing thing that’s happened during a hookup,” she says, and Amber and Derek chuckle.
“Oh man, Leah, go right for the jugular, why don’tcha.” Justin sips his beer. “Most embarrassing? Easy. My mom walked in without knocking while I had someone in my bed.”
Derek snort-laughs his beer.
“It was like a scene out of a movie, I swear,” Justin continues. “Hair in rollers, screaming bloody murder. I got up so fast that I got my leg caught in the blanket and I fell right the hell off my bed. There I was, naked, scrambling to get back up and hide my willy while she’s covering her face and wailing. She wouldn’t look at me for two days.”
But even telling an embarrassing story, he’s practically oozing charisma—big smile and blue eyes that can do no wrong. And they all stare at him like he’s a god. One look at August’s hardened expression, and I know what he’s thinking—just like Kyle.
“How do I not know that story?” Ella asks when the laughter dies down.
Justin shrugs. “Never asked.”
“Who was the girl?” Amber says before Ella can respond.
“Nice try, but that wasn’t the question.”
“The answer’s that interesting, huh?” Amber starts.
“Okay, Amber, truth or dare?” Justin says, cutting her off from prying further.
“Mmmm, truth,” she says, and everyone takes a drink.
“Best and worst kisser you’ve ever had.”
She immediately starts laughing. “Wow, tough one.” She holds Justin’s eye contact in a way that makes me slightly uncomfortable. “But I’d have to say the best was . . .”
I look from Amber to Justin. There’s something flirty about their interaction, something more than Amber’s usual; it’s the way she draws out her words and the way his eyes periodically flit to her lips. Not that it’s a huge shocker that they’d flirt; they’re both the type. It’s just a crappy thing to do in front of Ella, however subtle. And I think Ella notices, because her shoulders tug inward.
At the last second, Amber readjusts her gaze to August and says, “Holden is definitely a contender.”
My eyes whip to August with an accusatory look, but he looks just as shocked.
“Except we’ve never kissed,” he says.
“Happy to correct that,” Amber purrs, and we both instantly realize that she just played him. “And the worst? No contest. Derek.”
Derek grunts. “And you wonder why I dumped you.”
Amber retorts, but I’m not listening because I’m still thinking about Amber and Justin. Did I really see flirting, or was it all just run-of-the-mill eyelash batting?
“My turn,” Amber declares. “Ella, truth or dare?”
“Dare,” Ella replies.
“How about . . .” Amber taps her manicured fingertip against her lips. “You French-kiss one of the guys in this circle.”
Ella immediately turns toward Justin.
“Besides your boyfriend,” Amber adds with a mischievous smirk.
“Oh shit,” Derek says.
Ella gives Amber a death stare. “Seriously?”
“Don’t be a prude, El,” Amber says. “It’s a kiss. If it doesn’t mean anything, what do you care?”
Cheap shot.
Ella looks immediately at August and then away like she’s embarrassed he was her first thought. She redirects her attention to Derek and even takes a step toward him. “God, Amber, I can’t kiss Justin’s best friend and your ex. It’s too weird.”
“Aw, come on, El, I need to redeem my skills after Amber’s lies about my kissing,” Derek says.
“Yeah, no. The way you just said ‘skills’ is a hard pass,” Ella says, and she turns once again to August.
As she walks up to him, I can tell she’s nervous. And so can everyone else. Justin is hard-core frowning. To make matters worse, Ella’s delaying. She just stares at August like she doesn’t know what to do, her hands fidgeting with her beer. And each second that ticks by, Justin looks more pissed.
“This is painful. Just kiss him already,” Amber says.
My stomach sinks in a bad way.
Ella gives August a fast peck on the lips. Completely harmless, except for the fact that she starts blushing. My eyes flit to Justin, who’s tense. It’s okay, I tell myself, we can still blow past this. Ella just needs to call truth or dare and distract everyone. Now.
“I definitely didn’t see any tongue,” Amber says, and my hope withers and dies.
“Moving on,” Justin says.
But Sharky’s on the hunt. “I mean, personally I’d love to, Justin, but she just didn’t complete the dare. Rules are rules.”
August and I exchange another look, this one an acknowledgment of danger.
“It’s just a game,” Leah says in an attempt to derail the tension.
“Drop it, Amber,” Ella says brusquely.
One of Amber’s eyebrows shoots up like it’s ready for battle. “Wow. Overreaction?” Amber replies with a sly smile. “I didn’t know kissing Holden was such a big deal.”
Justin shoots Ella an accusatory look.
“It’s not a big deal,” Ella replies.
Amber shrugs. “I don’t know. I heard you were hanging out at the crêpe place.”
For a second, we’re all still. The tension rises about a thousand degrees, and everyone but Amber looks like they’d rather be anywhere but here.
“That’s not what I—” Leah starts but is cut off by Ella.
“Seriously, Amber? Are you just trying to cause a fight? Justin knows I hung out with Holden.”
“Then why don’t I know?” Amber says like she’s the innocent party. “Personally, I thought it had to be wrong because you’d never hang out with a guy I’m into without telling me. Unless you felt guilty about it.”
All eyes are on Ella, Amber’s twisted version of the truth hanging over her like a storm cloud. Justin looks like he’s gearing up to be mad.
“First of all, you don’t care about Holden,” Ella says, pissed. “You’re just playing a game with him because you still have a thing for Derek. Second, I didn’t tell you because you love to cause drama.” She gestures at the group. “Case in point.”
Amber’s eyes narrow. “Triggered much? Why go defensive over the suggestion that you like Holden . . . unless you actually do.”
“Eff this. I’m not doing this with you,” Ella says, turning from the group and storming off.
But she only makes it outside the kitchen doorway before Justin grabs her arm and she stops.
Justin’s eyebrows are pushed forcefully together. “What am I missing?”
“You’re not missing anything,” Ella says. “And I don’t want to talk about this here.”
“Well, this is exactly where I want to talk about it,” Justin snaps.
“Amber is just—”
“Amber is Amber. So what. But do you know how it makes me look that you’re getting all hot and bothered about kissing another guy?” Justin fumes.
“Hot and—” Ella starts, looking like she might explode. “It was a peck.”
“Yet I didn’t hear you arguing that you don’t like Holden.”
For a second, Ella looks stunned.
Justin shakes his head. “You know what? Screw it. Kiss who you want. I really don’t care.” And he walks off. Derek grabs a few beers and follows.
Ella walks in the opposite direction, her expression hinged between fury and embarrassment.
“Happy now?” Leah says to Amber in disgust and walks out of the kitchen after Ella.
Amber touches her chest like she’s wounded, and she, too, exits, leaving August and me in stunned silence.
By the mystified expression on August’s face, I know he’s as floored as I am. “What the hell just happened?”
“Amber happened,” I say, annoyed that I didn’t see this coming. “We need to do damage control and we need to do it fast. We cannot have everyone thinking Ella likes you or worse, that you return that feeling. We’re about an inch from being expelled from this group and pushing Ella farther into Justin’s arms.”
August’s brow furrows, but he doesn’t respond.
So I take control of the situation. “Look, I know it sucks, but you need to steer clear of her tonight. Maybe for longer. Don’t so much as look at her sideways if Justin is around, or this whole thing will implode. We need to right things with the friend group stat.” I give him a hard stare to make sure he understands how sensitive this all is, but he still looks lost in thought. “Are you listening? This is a code red.”
All he says is a distant, “Yeah.”