ROYAL ROCK(94)
We clinked glasses and drank. Claire gave me a look and I just grinned at her.
Lydie leaned close to me. “So, Nate, Claire tells me you’re a military guy.”
“That’s right.”
“What do you do?”
“I’m in the Navy.”
“Oh really? So you know all about how to handle yourself on a boat.”
“That’s right. You’re in good hands.”
“I feel so safe now.”
I could practically hear Claire gagging, which only made me smile larger.
“What about you, Lydie? What do you do?”
“Brand management,” she said proudly.
“That’s corporate speak for getting clients wasted and making them happy,” Claire added.
“Sounds like a good job to me.”
“Well, I’m still in school. I’m just an intern right now.”
“What about you, sis? Any big jobs lined up yet?”
She shrugged, not really interested, looking out over the water. I took a sip of the whisky and let the burning, delicious taste fill my mouth. There was a short silence while Lydie refilled her glass.
“Okay, you guys,” Lydie said, “let’s play a drinking game.”
“No way,” Claire said immediately.
“What did you have in mind?” I asked.
“Never have I ever, obviously.”
I smirked. “And how do we play that?”
“Well, we each take turns saying something we haven’t done. If you have done it, then you take a drink.”
“Seems simple.”
“I can’t believe you’ve never played,” Claire said.
“Sorry, sis. Been too busy saving lives to play many drinking games.”
That shut her up.
“Okay, I’ll start,” Lydie said. “Never have I ever had anal sex.”
I raised an eyebrow at Claire. No sip. I lifted my glass to my lips, and the two girls both stared at me.
“Seriously?” Claire said, her eyes bugging out.
“What can I say? Girl I was with before my last deployment had a wide variety of tastes. I’m not the type to disappoint a lady.”
Lydie giggled nervously.
“She doesn’t sound like a lady,” Claire spat.
I smirked at her, loving the jealousy.
“Don’t judge what you haven’t tried, sis.”
“Go ahead, Claire. Your turn,” Lydie said, easing the situation.
“Fine. Never have I ever driven a boat.”
I sipped my drink again. “Seems unfair.”
“All’s fair in drinking games.”
“My turn then. Never have I ever worn makeup.”
Both the girls drank.
“Lame,” Lydie said. “My turn. Never have I ever had a threesome.”
Neither Claire nor I took a sip, and Claire gave Lydie a glare.
“I’m surprised,” Lydie said, slapping my arm. “You seem like a threesome kind of man. You could handle two girls, I bet.”
“So far, it’s been one at a time.”
“Don’t be gross, Lydie,” Claire interrupted.
“What, I’m just saying.”
“Your turn, Claire,” I said.
“Fine. Let me think.” She took a drink and sighed. “Okay. Never have I ever ridden on a motorcycle.”
Lydie and I took a drink.
“Okay then,” I said. “Never have I ever gone to college.”
Both girls took a drink.
“Are you trying to get us drunk?” Lydie asked coyly.
“Not at all. Just playing the game.”
“Sure.” She smiled and moved closer to me. I glanced at Claire but couldn’t read the look on her face.
“Never have I ever,” Lydie said, “killed a man.”
I looked at her for a second. I knew she was just a silly girl, probably a little dumb, but that wasn’t really something men like me wanted to talk about. Everyone knew it was a part of our job, but only the most tone-deaf actually asked us about it.
“Lydie!” Claire said, shocked. “Nate, you don’t have to.”
I shook my head. “It’s fine.” I took a sip of my drink. “It’s part of what I am.”
Lydie grinned hugely at me, and I wanted to throw her overboard.
“Never have I ever,” Claire said quickly, “made out with more than three guys in one night.”
“Claire!” Lydie took a drink. “Don’t try to embarrass me.”
“Never have I ever had an orgasm in this town,” I said before they could start bickering. I sensed a strange tension between the two of them.
Both of the girls took a sip of their drinks, Claire glaring at me the whole time. She was so fucking sexy it was driving me insane. She clearly was pissed as hell at her friend for throwing herself at me, but she clearly didn’t think she could say anything. And she was probably right; we were stepsiblings, after all.