Lily’s face wasn’t just pale—it was the bone-white of someone publicly slapped. Her lips quivered, soundlessly.
Nathan didn’t hesitate. He picked up his glass, rose, crossed to Julie, and smoothly linked his arm with hers.
“To you, bro. Happy birthday. Bottoms up!”
They both drained their glasses. Cheers exploded around them.
I watched Nathan. He never once looked my way.
In his eyes, it seemed, his wife’s feelings mattered far less than keeping face with his “bro.”
For the second round, Mark was King.
Clearly drunk, he slurred his announcement: “Number 1… feed Number 3 a cherry. With your mouth.”
Hailey shot to her feet, chest heaving.
Card Number 1 was in Mark’s own hand.
And Card Number 3, unsurprisingly, was Julie again.
“Mark, that’s… that’s not really appropriate…” Julie murmured the protest, even as she leaned in, lips already parting.
Mark plucked a cherry with his teeth and began to bend toward her.
“Mark!”
Hailey’s voice cut through the room, sharp and piercing.
Silence fell. All eyes turned to her.
Mark froze, twisting back with visible annoyance. “What’s your problem, Hailey? It’s just a game. Do you have to make a scene?”
“A game?” Hailey trembled with rage. “You play that kind of game with her? What am I to you?”
Julie instantly squeezed out a few tears, adopting a wounded look. “Please don’t be angry, Hailey. We were only fooling around. Mark’s always treated me like a little sister. It’s completely innocent.”
