Secrets Abound (Supernaturally Bound Book 1) (20 page)

“Hey, I need to get Tiffany’s number out of my phone. We are going to have a slumber party tomorrow night.” She whispered. I gave her a puzzled look. Even when we were younger, she didn’t throw slumber parties. “A grown up slumber party, of course, with
boys
and alcohol.” I gave her a look that said I understood now and handed her the phone. She typed the number into Ryan’s phone and handed it back to me.

“You should invite Eli. It’ll give you a chance to get to know him better. Besides, you know what they say. The best way to get
over
someone is to get
under
someone else.” She winked before disappearing from the room.

I felt hesitant. On one hand, I was enjoying talking to Eli, but on the other hand, it seemed too soon to be staying the night with another guy. Then, I remembered Damon and realized that line had already been crossed. Besides, I told myself, I had nothing to feel guilty about.
Aiden
dumped
me.
I should simply do what I wanted. I texted Eli and invited him to the party. He replied almost instantly that he’d be there, and I felt anticipation swell up in my chest.

I must’ve fallen asleep texting because when I woke up the next day, Cassie’s phone was laying on my forehead. I thought about tonight, and then, I thought about the last few days. It was surreal to not be talking to Aiden for so long. I missed him, but I was too hurt to mend that bridge anytime soon. I felt a few tears trickle down my cheek, but I immediately brushed them away with the back of my hand.

I checked Cassie’s phone and realized it was already almost two o’clock in the afternoon. I smelled something cooking, so I made my way to the kitchen and found Ryan cooking breakfast. It was way past breakfast time, but we had all just woken up.

As I poured myself a cup of coffee, I watched Ryan flip pancakes and it reminded me of when Aiden had made me breakfast the day after the bonfire. I felt a twinge of sadness in my chest. I missed him. I missed hanging out with him.
No
! I couldn’t do this anymore. I
had
to stop thinking about Aiden, or I’d drive myself into a depression.

I slid into the chair across from Cassie who looked like a zombie. Ryan set all the food out on the table, and we began loading up our plates. I didn’t have much of an appetite, but I forced myself to eat so Ryan wouldn’t be insulted.

“Everyone’s coming over at five.” Ryan told us.

The reminder that Eli was coming over perked me up. I hastily finished “breakfast” and hopped in the shower. I did
not
want to look grimy when Eli came over. I styled my hair and threw on a pair of black shorts and a blue spaghetti strap. This wasn’t exactly a winter outfit, but I figured I wasn’t going to be leaving the house.

Tiffany and Nicole showed up first and we settled the sleeping arrangements. It was decided that Eli would sleep in the guest bedroom with me, but I still wasn’t sure how I felt about that. I guess I’d find out, tonight.

The boys showed up thirty minutes later with beer and liquor in their arms. Eli emptied his hands and gave me a hug. It was warm and nice. He was slightly taller than Aiden but equally as muscled. His sandy brown hair and dark brown eyes were such a contrast to Aiden, though.

“How are you?” He smiled.

“Great.” I grinned embellishing a bit, but it sounded better than saying “on the verge of a breakdown.” I needed alcohol and quickly. I followed him into the kitchen and poured myself a shot.

“Whoa, starting early are we?” Eli said as I took the shot.

“The best way to do it.” I smirked.

“Okay,” He poured us both a drink. “Cheers.” We clanked our glasses together and started drinking. Everyone else soon followed our lead.

Before long, we were all sitting around Cassie’s downstairs living room, drinking and laughing. I was sitting on the couch between Eli and Grey. Nicole came back from the kitchen, handing Grey a drink and sat close to his other side. Cassie and Ryan curled up together on the loveseat. Tiffany was sitting on Hail’s lap in the recliner.

“It’s not a real slumber party unless we play truth or dare.” Nicole announced.

“I don’t think I’m drunk enough for that. Especially after what happened last time.” Hail replied.

“It wasn’t that bad. Besides, we can make it into a drinking game.” Grey asserted.

“Yeah, that’s
perfect
.” Cassie chimed in excitedly. “Bryan, could you go get more drinks and some shot glasses? Okay, game rules: It’ll be exactly like regular truth or dare, except once you’ve chosen, if you don’t like the question or the dare you can change your choice by taking the penalty of a shot. However, you don’t get to choose the liquor; the other person gets to pick what you drink.” Everyone nodded in agreement.

“What did I miss?” Ryan asked as he returned to the room with more liquor than any of us could drink in one night. Cassie explained the rules as we all picked our shot glasses.

“Since it was Nicole’s idea, she can go first.” Cassie declared.

“Let me see, I choose Ryan.” Nicole twisted to face Ryan. “Truth or dare?”

“Dare.” Ryan replied boldly.

“I dare you to give Grey a lap dance.” She waggled her eyebrows at Grey.

“If you wanted to watch me get a lap dance, I could’ve brought you with me to the strip club.” Grey muttered to Nicole.

Ryan hesitantly rose and moved in front of the couch. He stood in front of Grey and did an awkward swinging of his hips with his hands behind his head. Grey’s face was bright red as we all howled with laughter.

“Okay, somebody else’s turn.” Grey said quickly, and Ryan returned to his seat.

“My turn, then.” Ryan stated. “Cassie, truth or dare?”

“Dare.” She smiled with confidence.

“I dare you to kiss me.” He said, and everyone groaned at his boring dare. Cassie didn’t hesitate as she leaned over and gave him a kiss.

“Hail, truth or dare?” Cassie asked.

“Truth.” Hail answered.

“Chicken.” Grey snickered.

“Hey, my lap is comfortably full at the moment and I don’t want to get up.” He defended, and Tiffany wiggled deeper into his lap.

“Who in this room would you marry, sleep with, and kill?” Cassie asked.

“That’s easy. Marry Tiffany, sleep with Bridget, and kill Eli.”

“Sleep with
Bridget?
” Tiffany pursed her lips sourly.

“Only if I
had
to choose someone other than you.” Hail said. Eli made a snickering noise at Hail’s grave. “Okay, Eli, truth or dare?” Hail said.

“Dare.” Eli grinned.

“I’m going to use your own against you. I dare you to strip naked, climb on top of the roof, and scream ‘I’m the king of the world’.” Hail announced.

“Yeah, well, you ended up in jail for that, so I’m going to take the penalty and change to truth.” Eli laughed.

“Fine, you have to take a shot of Jack.” He smirked, knowing it wasn’t Eli’s first pick. Eli made a face but poured the shot and drank it.

“Is there someone in this room you want to sleep with?” Hail asked.

“Yes.” Eli replied and all eyes went to me. “Tiffany, truth or dare?”

“Dare,” She grinned.

“I dare you to dip your finger in peanut butter and convince another person, excluding Hail, to lick it off.” He declared. After she returned with the peanut butter on her finger, Tiffany sauntered over to the couch where she offered her finger to Grey.

“What about Ryan?” Grey said abruptly, after receiving a look from Nicole. Tiffany turned facing the loveseat and extended her finger toward Ryan.

“Um...” Ryan glanced over at Cassie.

“Fine, I’ll do it.” Cassie finally said, grabbing Tiffany’s hand covering her finger with her mouth. All the guys’ eyes were fixated on them as Cassie sucked off the peanut butter. Once it was all gone, Tiffany sat back down on Hail’s lap and focused a mischievous stare in our direction.

“Bridget, truth or dare?” She gave me a wicked grin.

“Dare.” I said with trepidation. She gave me a
cat ate the mouse
smile and said, “I dare you to French kiss Grey for one minute.”

The only sound for a moment was an annoyed “ugh” from Nicole, which only made Cassie, Ryan, and Hail laugh. As I contemplated my choices, I saw Eli giving Tiffany a look that said
it’s on
.

“Kiss him already, B.” Cassie yelled out.

I shrugged my shoulders and started to turn towards Grey. Before I even finished facing Grey, I saw my shot glass being dangled in front of me and twisted to see Eli holding it up. I took that as a not so subtle hint that he wanted me to forgo this dare. I smiled as I grabbed the shot glass which earned a disappointed groan from Grey. Nicole swatted his arm with clear disapproval.

“You have to take a shot of tequila.” Tiffany announced. After I paid the penalty, she asked, “What’s something about Eli that turns you off?”

“Hey.” Eli grunted as everyone else laughed. I feigned deep contemplation as I examined him up and down.

“Well, just from looking at him, I would have to say,” I paused for effect as Eli shifted uneasily. “Nothing.” I replied. Eli gave Tiffany a smug grin which she brushed off with an eye roll.

“Nicole, truth or dare?” I asked.

“Definitely truth.” Nicole responded.

“Have you ever seen a ghost?” I asked her, legitimately curious of her answer. Instead of laughing it off as I thought she would have, her eyes grew wide and her tone serious.

“Yes.” She said, surprising everyone.

“Yeah right.” Hail sneered.

“No, it’s true.” Tiffany chimed in. “I was there.”

“Yeah, we were at a sleepover in junior high. We were playing with a friend’s Ouija board, and we talked to a ghost.” Nicole explained. Nicole seemed to sincerely believe this.

“Someone was probably just messing with you and moving the pointer.” Hail’s tone was skeptical.

“We didn’t just talk to her. We saw her.” Nicole insisted with Tiffany nodding in agreement.

“No way!” Cassie smiled with a gleam in her eyes. “I bet I still have an old Ouija board in the attic. Who wants to go with me to get it?”

“I’ll go with you, babe.” Ryan volunteered.

They disappeared up the stairs while everyone else took the opportunity to grab snacks. I remained on the couch, lost in thought. I hadn’t expected that question would lead to Cassie pulling out her Ouija board. I had a moment of dread at the thought of actually contacting something. I’d had my fill of the unexplained lately and wasn’t eager for more. Before I could harp on it too much, Cassie and Ryan returned with the board and a few candles in hand as Hail began to clear off the coffee table.

“Does anyone have a lighter?” Cassie asked as she set the candles on either side of the board.

“Here you go.” Eli handed over his lighter.

“Thanks.” She lit the candles and squatted on one side of the board. “Who wants to volunteer to hold the pointer with me?”

“I will.” Grey said in a nonchalant tone.

As everyone gathered around the table on their knees, I leaned forward to get a better view. Cassie and Grey, sitting opposite of each other, placed their hands on the pointer. Eli stood and flicked off the lights.

“Spirit world, we call out to all good spirits, evil is not welcome here. Is anyone listening?” Cassie said dramatically. The pointer slowly began moving toward the top left corner over the word yes. Nicole and Tiffany both gasped.

“Are you a man or a woman?” Cassie asked, encouraged by the fact that they got such an immediate response. At first, the pointer moved around in tiny, concentrated circles before finally moving to the letter W, then slowly landed on O-M-A-N. The image of the glowing woman from my bedroom entered my mind.

“Are you hot?” Grey smirked. The pointer moved over once again to yes and back to the neutral position. I rolled my eyes, but I was secretly relieved it was all a joke.

“This just got more interesting.” Hail laughed. “Ask her who here is going to get laid tonight.”

“Spirit, who here is going to get laid tonight?” Grey asked the board. The pointer gradually moved over G-R-E-Y. Everyone started to laugh, and Nicole gave him a flirty smile.

“Are we all going to get laid tonight?” Cassie asked the board. The pointer moved to the top left corner over the word yes making all the guys grin.

“Okay, I need a pre-sex cigarette.” Hail stood up.

“Yeah, me too.” Grey trailed after Hail.

Everybody got up and followed them out the door. As soon as I stepped a foot outside, I was speedily reminded that I was not dressed for the cold.

“Eli, let me see your lighter.” Grey said. Eli checked his pockets before realizing he didn’t have it.

“I gave it to Cassie.” He reminded.

“Oh, I left it inside on the table.” She said.

“I’ll grab it. I have to get my jacket, anyway.” I hurried inside.

My skin was already covered in goosebumps. I dashed to the guest room, grabbed my jacket, and slipped it on as I headed back outside. I stopped short of the door remembering the lighter. I doubled back to the living room and searched the table. I spotted it on the ground next to where Cassie had been sitting. As I leaned down, I heard the distinctive sound of the pointer sliding across the Ouija board.