Teaser (1)

☀️☀️☀️

I searched his eyes but once he stepped back, taking the cup from my hand, I was able to move. I watched Xavier pour out the water that was left in my cup so he could replace it with the alcohol. His muscles pushed through the shirt that he was wearing which hugged his torso in all the right places. These were thoughts that I was able to avoid before but now realizing how much I like Xavier I can’t ignore them anymore.

“Here,” he said, holding my cup out between us.

“Wha-” I started but took my cup back anyway.

“Cheers,” he grinned then tapped our cups together.

“I can’t,” I spoke up, stopping him from taking a drink of the alcohol.

“Yes you can,” he said.

“No, I-”

“What’s your excuse for not drinking with your friends?” he questioned with a raised eyebrow.

“I’m underage,” I said softly but was still loud enough for him to hear.

“We’re all underaged, Nate,” he chuckled.

“And-”

“And nothing.” He let out a sigh and I knew that he was starting to get annoyed with me. “Look.” He took a step closer to me. “If you don’t like it then you can go back to water. At least you can cross underage drinking off the bucket list.”

I only stared at him before dropping my eyes to my cup, slowly stirring the liquid around. He was right after all. Not that underage drinking was on my bucket list but I could get it over with.

“Okay,” I said, looking up again to meet his eyes.

“Alright,” he said, grinning once again.

“But if I don’t like it then I’m spitting it out.”

He tossed his hands up in mock surrender. “Fine by me,” he said. He tapped his cup against mine, saying “cheers,” before throwing back his head as he took a drink.

I joined in, throwing my head back as well, feeling the alcohol burn my throat at the taste but when I heard my friends all cheering I knew it was for me.

“Yeah!” I heard Hudson and Austin’s voices shout.

“Nathan’s finally putting some hair on his chest!” Milo’s voice added.

“See,” Xavier spoke in a soft tone and my eyes met him again. “Wasn’t so bad.”

And he was right. The taste of alcohol was delicious to me. Maybe because I was underaged and was living in the moment of fitting in but I didn’t mind. But the burning sensation in my throat after taking another sip was something that I had to get used to.

“Game time!” Grace shouted from the hallway.

I watched all my friends begin to make their way back to the kitchen so they could join Xavier, Trevor, Arianna, and myself. All eleven of us gathered around the island that was in the middle of the kitchen, ready to play the game that was yet to be mentioned.

“Okay,” Grace spoke up. “Does everyone have a drink?”

“Yeah,” we all responded.

“We might need some refills,” Vanessa spoke.

“Got it,” Xavier said, then placed the vodka bottle on the countertop and slid it to the center.

“We might need more,” Harper chuckled.

“Damn, are we about to get fucked up?” Hudson questioned and everyone let out small laughter.

“Maybe,” Grace replied.

“What are we playing?” Edwin asked.

“Truth or dare.”

A/N: Summer special coming back all year around!!! First chapter coming June 23, 2026!!