Reverse-Harem Cafe!

XVII. A Stolen Kiss

(The last day of the trip)

"How are you feeling today Lady Sasaki? The doctor left some pain medicine, you should take it now."

I roll over sleepily and struggle to sit up. I thank the maid standing by my bed as she hands me some lukewarm water and two glossy, white pills. I take a swig of water and pop the pills in my mouth. My back feels a lot better and the doctor said it wasn't anything serious, just some minor spinal bruising. Before leaving, the maid pulls apart the curtains, letting in some sunlight into my room.

Today's the last day of the trip and we're finishing it off with a private fireworks show. Even if New Year's Eve isn't until tomorrow, we decided to celebrate earlier since not everyone may be able to make it tomorrow. I sigh disappointedly, why do vacations always feel so short?

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Before I know it, it's night time already. Everyone including a group of William's servants gather outside on the hotel balcony and stare out beyond the high slopes that we skied on. Traces of yesterday's avalanche still blanket the hill. Toby lifts up a bottle of champaign and a few wine glasses with thin stems. "Who wants to pop the bottle?? No one? Okay me!"

Ervin looks at Toby in agitation, "You didn't even wait for our answers and it's not like we're old enough to drink anyway."

Toby scoffs and puts his arm around Ervin's shoulder, "Stop making excuses Erv, just because you can't handle a little liquor doesn't mean the rest of us can't have fun."

"Haha seriously??" Ulrich chimes in, "I'll take a glass."

Jacob nudges Ervin teasingly and holds his hand out for a glass too.

Ervin exhales in defeat and finally asks for one. "Whatever."

"Hey don't forget the one that supplied you with the drinks." William smirks and proudly crosses his arms over his chest.

"What about you Mae?" Toby asks me. "You are the daughter of a famous brewer, I have high expectations for you."

I shake my head, "Sorry, I can't tolerate much alcohol either." Aside from that I dislike the taste, why would anyone want to drink something so bitter?

"What a shame." Toby chuckles and continues to hand out glasses to everyone else.

"Mae! You can have some apple cider with me! I don't like alcohol anyway." Max smiles cheerfully and holds up a tempting bottle of sparking apple cider.

"Sure!"

"Watch out!!" Toby shouts as he pops the cork off the champaign bottle and bubbly golden liquor rushes past the brim and out of the bottle, staining Toby's sleeve cuff and then trickling down to the hardwood floor.

"ME TOO!!" Max yells and starts shaking the cider bottle. Suddenly the cork pops out like a bullet being fired by a gun and flies off into the snowy, darkness while the apple cider explodes up like a fountain and rains on us.

"What the hell, this is my new suit!! BEVANS CALL FOR DRY CLEANING RIGHT NOW!" William whines and tries to protect his clothing. "I NEED A LAWYER TOO!"

"My bad." Max laughs embarrassingly. I giggle and hold my arms in front of my face to cover myself from the cider rain.

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"SHUSH, the fireworks show is starting!!"

We all settle down and stare into the night sky. In no more than a few seconds the sky explodes with color and sound. A mesh of blues, greens, reds, and whites, paints the sky into a colorful mosaic. I hear the others murmur in awe and find myself mesmerized as well. I've seen fireworks before but it's feels different this time. I glance over at the others but their eyes are fixated on the sky.