Her voice is so theatrical, pretending to be serious and grumpy. I can't take it any longer, and I crack, my chest shaking with laughter. She cracks a smile too, giving up her ruse, and wraps me in a hug.
"Alright. Now it's time for drinks!"
Chapter Twenty-Two
LOUISA
It's the 4th of July weekend. B and I were invited up to Evie's parents' cabin. Evie, Liam, and Iris arrived yesterday, but B and I are just getting here. Iris's boyfriend was supposed to be joining us, but he ended up taking a job as a camp counselor, so now they are doing long-distance for the summer. From what B tells me, it's not going very well. I've been warned not to bring it up.
Liam runs out to help us carry our bags and shows us our rooms. B and Iris are sharing one of the guest rooms, so I get a room all to myself. There's another room full of bunk beds that I'm told will be filled throughout the weekend as different people come and go.
After I unpack and change into my swimsuit, I make my way down the stairs and follow the sound of laughter. I've been here a few times before, so I know my way around, and I know that Evie's parents want everyone to make themselves at home. So before heading out to the yard, where everyone is hanging out, I grab a seltzer out of the fridge and crack it open.
I promised B I wouldn't talk or think about my exam until I got my results back. This weekend is a great way to get my mind off of it.
Outside, everyone is playing yard games, so I join the girls in a game of cornhole. I'm partners with Evie, and we are absolutely destroying B and Iris. By the time we're finished, a few more guys have arrived. All four of them are Liam and Evie's friends from college. I've never met any of them, but from what I've gathered, two are dating each other, and the other two are single. This should make for an interesting weekend.
Evie's dad and Liam are grilling dinner, and the rest of us are playing flip cup around a table in the yard. B is giving a demonstration and making sure everyone is familiar with the rules. I've played this several times, so I tune her out. Iris is on my right, and one of Liam's single friends is on my left. I still haven't gotten everyone's name down, and I can't remember which one he is.
The game starts, and B is first for our team, followed by Iris. It takes Iris several attempts to get her cup flipped. She's starting to sway, so I steady her with my hand on her back. Most of us have been drinking all day, so we're already pretty tipsy. Iris finally makes it, but the other team is already on their fourth and final person; it's one of the college friends. He is struggling just as much as Iris.
Once Iris successfully flips her cup, it's my turn. I chug my drink and successfully flip my cup in one try.
The guy to my left starts chugging his drink. Everyone is screaming as it's down to the last person on each team. Whoever flips their cup over first wins. I watch as our guy's Adam's apple bobs up and down with each gulp. Beer is pouring out the sides of his mouth and running down his shirtless chest. I know I'm staring, but he looks sohot right now. He slams his cup down and lines up, taking his time.
"Hurry!" B yells from the other end of the table.
He flicks his finger, and with one 180-degree rotation, the cup lands upside down, and everyone on our side of the table jumps up and screams. The guy to my left turns to me in celebration and gives me a high five that I'm pretty sure is going to bruise, then wraps me in a quick hug. I don't even mind that his chest is sticky from sweat and beer.
Through the celebration, I can hear Liam call for us. "Dinner's ready!"
Everyone calms down and quickly picks up the game so the cups don't go flying across the yard in the wind.
"That was very impressive."
I look over at the guy and smile. "Thanks. You as well. That was super clutch at the end. Once Iris got stuck, I totally thought we were going to lose."
One of the other guys yells from the house, "Hey Tony, can you grab me another beer on your way in?"
Tony, that's his name! Okay, I am now committing that to memory. Tony. Tony. Tony.
We all go into the house and scarf down food like we've been starving for days. Drinking all day will do that to you. I took down two brats and a burger myself.
After dinner, most of us go out on the pontoon for a midnight stroll. Out of the four guys who arrived later today, only Tony comes out with us. The other three were sicker than dogs and went to bed early.
Liam drives the boat to the sandbar and throws the anchor in. There are no cabins on the water over here, creating a private pocket of the lake. We brought a cooler of drinks along and plan to hang out here for a while. We all crack open a new drink and find seats in a circle.
"Alright,what are we playing first?" Evie looks around at us with a mischievous look on her face and sips her drink.
"My vote is for Truth or Dare," B pipes up before anyone else.
I roll my eyes; B would suggest that. She has loved that game ever since she realized the kind of power you can wield as the person giving out a dare.
Iris gives her opinion, "I want to play Never Have I Ever."
"Oh, I like that one." Tony smiles and takes a sip of his drink.
"Let's warm up with Never Have I Ever, then switch to Truth or Dare once our drinks have kicked in a little more."
