Chapter Thirty-One Camille

Chapter Thirty-One

Camille

Three Years Ago

"Never have I ever broken a bone," Delaney called out, and Camille happily drank. Eden was soooooo right. Why was she so uptight about drinking at the party? It was fine. Camille was a bit buzzed, but it was nothing she couldn't sleep off. This was fun. Now it was her turn.

"Never have I ever…" She tried to think. Eden and Wyatt kept booing any prompts they thought were stupid. And the competitive side of her wanted to come up with the best one. Go for gold, and all that.

Camille started again. "Never have I ever climbed a mountain."

There. Few could top that. Camille took a long drink.

"Boo," went Eden, on cue. She waggled her phone in Cam's direction as she filmed them. "You know the rest of us haven't climbed a freaking mountain, Cam."

But then Delaney raised her glass, clinked it with Camille's, and drank.

"At least you've climbed something!" Eden giggled, and it set everyone off, even Delaney. Though when Camille really concentrated, forcing her foggy brain to train on her friend's features, she caught the telltale hard set of Delaney's mouth and the flint in her eyes. Whoopsie. Eden would get it now.

But it wasn't her turn. Willa was on deck.

"Uh, never have I ever, um, kissed someone."

"Thank you, that's more like it!" Eden raised her glass to the circle. "Everyone drink!"

Only Willa didn't.

"Oh my god, that's so sad." Eden's voice was breathy with faux concern. "We should have played Spin the Bottle or Seven Minutes in Heaven, instead. We still could…."

Eden's gaze flicked hungrily in Declan's direction while Willa stuttered at the floor.

"Ew, no," Camille interjected. Because she would not make out with any of these boys, and she wasn't too keen to smooch any of the girls, either. She had taste, okay? Plus, kissing friends was bad business.

Luckily, there were plenty of hot girls at this party that Camille wasn't friends with…not yet, anyway. Then, all at once, the alcohol hit her. Camille's vision swam, and her whole body sparked to life like a neon sign. She swayed, nearly toppling over even though she was sitting on the floor. Or had she tried to stand? She couldn't tell.

Camille had been drunk before, but a long time ago. She sensed the conversation carrying on around her, only she was having a hard time keeping track of what was happening. It was apparent the game was still going.

"Never have I ever felt so fucking amazing," Declan whooped, and it was contagious.

"Yes!" Camille shouted. And they didn't just drink—they clinked their glasses noisily and messily in the center of the circle.

Sticky scotch slicked over Camille's wrist. She licked the trail clean, then sipped from her glass. Feel the burnnnnnnnn. She heard it in Coach Beal's voice, but for some reason she found it sooooo funny. Her laughter rang high-pitched and foreign in her ears.

She was beyond drunk. Something stranger than drunk. Happier. Sexier. Like she was made of silk and bubbles and caramel, sticky and sweet. She wanted to dance! Why weren't they dancing anymore?

"I don't feel so well," someone croaked. Was it her? No, no, it was Willa rising from the circle and stumbling out of the room. Toward a bathroom?

"I gotta take a piss," Wyatt announced, lumbering off behindher.

"Never have I ever broken the seal so early!" Declan called out as Wyatt left, setting off a hyena laugh from Delaney.

"Are you guys okay?" came a male voice that snapped Camille to attention. She'd lost the conversation again. Or time.

She narrowed her eyes, squinted hard in concentration to make out his features. The new kid. Liam. The one Delaney had been eyeing all evening. Pick a lane, girl.

"We're GREAT." Camille smiled wide, so he'd know she meant it. Then she rolled alllll the way over, onto her back. The plush carpet cushioned her like a hard blanket. Wait, that was an oxymoron. What a funny word, oxymoron …

"Hey, Cam?" Someone touched Camille's arm, voice baby soft. It was Piper. Didn't she leave? Why wouldn't she leave? Camille's thoughts blurred in her head.

"Maybe you should slow down. I'll get you some water." Piper stood, looming over them. "On second thought, I'll get everyone some water. I'll, um, be right back."

"Let me help you." Liam followed behind.

"What's their problem? They're killing my high." Eden spread her arms wide and threw herself backward like a snow angel.

"What do you mean?" Delaney asked.

Declan and Eden exchanged A Look.

"Don't you feel it, babe?" Declan threaded his fingers through Delaney's, then nibbled a trail up from her collarbone to her jawline. "We're rolling. Doesn't it feel good?"

Wait, what? Panic seared through Camille's elation.

"I think the drinks were spiked with drugs," Eden said dreamily. "I left the glasses out when I went to get the Glenfiddich. So maybe someone"—then she flicked a wrist toward the empty open space of the door—"got their petty revenge. But, like, I'm not really mad about it…."

"Wait, what?" Straight from Camille's brain to Delaney's mouth.

"Drugs?" Camille parroted in horror. Suddenly she was razor-sharp. "How long does that take to get out of your system?"

"Oh, I don't know." Eden sighed, massaging her fingers into the carpet plush. "A few days? Maybe three?"

"I HAVE A COMPETITION IN THREE DAYS!" Panic exploded in Camille's chest like a pressure bomb. "They drug test us, Eden!"

Eden snort-laughed in response. "Well, shit," she said.

"Drink this." Piper reappeared and handed out water bottles. The command was specifically for Camille. Rage boiled up Camille's sternum at her apparent concern. Or was it guilt? Eden's suggestion stuck in Camille's mind. The implication was clear. Piper did this.

"Get out, Piper. No one wants you here. No one likes you." Camille managed to keep her voice steady. She projected the words' venom from every fiber of her being.

"Fine." Piper's response was clipped. "I'll stop babysitting you, since you're so on top of shit." She handed the last bottle to Delaney and headed for the door. "Enjoy getting kicked off the team."

That clinched it.

So help her god, Camille would make Piper Giambruno pay.