6

By day three in Hawaii, everything still felt like a dream. Blue skies. Ocean air. Free time between cultural tours and “team-building activities” no one took seriously.

Y/N had just finished a snorkeling trip and was towel-drying her hair when Sam slid into their room like a spy.

“Pack something hot,” he whispered dramatically. “We’re going out tonight.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Out where?”

“A senior with rich parents rented out a cabin up the hill. No adults. Alcohol. Music. Chaos. It’s invite-only, and guess who scored us spots?”

Y/N blinked. “We’re not even seniors.”

“I’m gay and charming. You’re hot and mysterious. It wasn’t hard.”

That night, Y/N stood in front of the mirror, debating her outfit choices for way too long. She settled on a black crop top and high-waisted jean shorts — casual but dangerous. When she stepped out, Rodrick looked up from where he was sprawled on his bed.

Then he looked again.

“You going somewhere?” he asked, voice a little lower than usual.

She grabbed her lip gloss and tossed it into her bag. “Secret party.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Without me? Rude.”

“You weren’t invited.”

“I’m inviting myself.”

She turned to him. “Why? So you can mock me all night?”

Rodrick grinned. “Nah. I want to see what happens when you finally loosen up.”

~The Cabin~

The cabin was already packed when they got there — music thumping through the walls, bodies everywhere, red cups in every hand. Colored lights bounced off the ceiling, and the smell of sunscreen, sweat, and cheap beer hung in the air.

Rodrick melted right in, high-fiving people, slipping into his chaotic element. Y/N stuck with Sam for the first hour, sipping spiked punch and swaying to the music.

She was doing fine — until she saw Heather Hills grinding on Rodrick like she owned him.

Her eye twitched.

Sam leaned in. “Are you okay?”

“Peachy.”

Heather said something that made Rodrick laugh, and Y/N took a bigger gulp of punch than necessary.

She was not jealous. She just hated Heather. That was it. That was totally it.

~The Game~

At some point, people started shouting, “TRUTH OR DARE!” and dragging furniture to the side.

Y/N tried to sneak out, but Sam yanked her down into the circle.

“No escaping,” he whispered. “We die like men.”

Rodrick flopped down across from her, Heather next to him like a leech. Y/N tried not to look. She failed.

Someone handed a bottle to the center of the circle.

It spun.

Landed on a guy named Aaron.

“Truth or dare?”

“Dare.”

“Make out with the person to your left.”

Cheers. Groans. Laughter.

The game spiraled into flirtation and humiliation fast.

Then the bottle spun again.

And landed on Rodrick.

Someone grinned. “Dare.”

He stretched lazily. “Hit me.”

“I dare you…” the guy paused, eyes lighting up as he looked between Rodrick and Y/N, “to do a body shot off Y/N.”

The circle exploded.

Y/N’s heart stopped. Her face flushed. “What?! No—”

Rodrick leaned back with a slow, evil grin. “Rules are rules, sunshine.”

She opened her mouth to protest, but someone had already handed him a slice of lime and a shot of tequila.

“Oh my God,” Sam whispered beside her. “Oh my God.”

“Lay down,” Rodrick said casually.

“No.”

“Scared?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Screw you.”

“Not yet.”

She threw her hands up and laid back on the rug, cheeks blazing.

Rodrick hovered over her, pressing the salt gently to the dip just above her collarbone.

He looked into her eyes — and for once, he wasn’t smirking.

He was serious. Focused. Hungry.

“Tell me to stop, and I will.”

Y/N didn’t say a word.

He licked the salt off her skin — slow.

The room went silent.

Then he took the shot, leaned down, and bit the lime wedge from her lips.

Their mouths brushed — just for a second.

It was electric.

Then it was over.

Rodrick sat back like nothing happened. Y/N sat up way too fast and immediately chugged the rest of her punch.

Sam fanned himself. “If no one else felt that, I’m filing a report.”

Heather’s face looked like it had been hit with a frying pan.

Y/N refused to look at Rodrick the rest of the night.

But she could feel him watching her.

And her skin still burned where his mouth had been.