The Bodyguard | 18+

Chapter 31

As the night comes to an end, we settled into the sun room enjoying the cool air of the night. I'm cozied up beside Alex on one couch, while Stephanie lounges across from us on another. With the rest of the guests gone, it's just us left, soaking in the last moments of the night.

"Check this out," Austin announces, his tall figure strolling into the room with an exotic looking bottle in one hand and shot glasses in the other. "Who knew Nana had a taste for Remy Martin?"

"Austin, where did you get that?" I ask, a hint of worry creeping into my voice.

"In the wine cellar. Took a bit of detective work, but here we are," he replies, casually brushing off my concern.

"You stole it?" Stephanie doesn't try to hide her shock.

"Something like that. But let's not dwell on details. It's shot o'clock!" he declares, setting down the bottle and glasses with a mischievous grin. He fills each glass to the brim, passing one to each of us.

"I haven't had a drink in ages, so just a few shots for me. Got a flight to catch soon," Alex admits, his tone a mix of excitement and caution.

We clink our glasses together, toasting to the night ahead. Then we each take our shots, and the warmth of the alcohol spreads through me, melting away any tension.

"Alright, what's next?" Stephanie asks, her eyes sparkling with mischief. I glance around the room, a grin tugging at my lips.

"How about a game of Never Have I Ever?" I suggested.

Alex raises an eyebrow, intrigued. "Sounds like fun. Who's going first?"

Stephanie eagerly volunteers, kicking off the game with a scandalous revelation. "Never have I ever kissed someone in public!"

We all burst into laughter, exchanging knowing glances as we each take a sip, the memories flooding back. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Jason come into the room. He positioned himself in the corner of the room as he looked around, scanning for danger. I try to ignore his presence and shift my focus back to the game. Austin's voice breaks the silence.

"Never have I ever gone skinny dipping." Our eyes dart around the room as each of us considers our response. I notice Austin and Stephanie raising their glasses, sharing a look as they both take a sip.

"A match made in heaven," I tease, unable to resist a playful jab at their shared experience. Stephanie rolls her eyes.

"Never have I ever had a one-night stand." Alex speaks up. I watch as everyone took a sip but me. I didn't know whether or not to consider Jason a one night stand. He didn't feel like one to me.

As the game progresses, the effects of the shots start to take hold, each sip adding to the haze settling over me. Austin's generous pours leave my glass consistently full, and I lose track of how many I've had. Meanwhile, Alex, showing more restraint, stopped after just two shots. I think I'm on my sixth one. Stephanie and I exchange knowing glances, sharing a silent understanding of our increasingly tipsy state. It's evident in the way we both struggle to stifle giggles and maintain our composure. I look back at Alex, who is now getting up.

"My ride is here, it's time for me to go." He announced to the group.

"I'll walk you out." I smile. With a nod, he accepts as he says his final goodbyes. We navigate the room in slow motion, the world around us blurring into a dizzying whirl. On our way to the front door, and I sense Jason's presence behind us, a silent guardian.

Alex stops at the front door and turns to face me. He cups my face in his hand.

"Until next time Ava." He smiles, before kissing my cheek.