Boston Boys

Bottle Breath

As the night progressed, Tara announced the game that would make or break you. "Alright, everyone! Let's play spin the bottle!" she called, raising the beer bottle high in the air.
Madyson's stomach flipped. This was a bold move in front of influencers Haley and Madyson both idolized.

As the small group made their way to a quiet room to get away from all the noise, settled on the floor in a circle, all eyes were on Tara, who placed a classic beer bottle at the center.

Madyson found herself sitting uncomfortably close to Chris, her attraction battling against her unwillingness.

"Who wants to go first?" Tara called, a grin stretching across her face.
A girl with short hair and light brunette waves raised her hand. She spun the bottle eagerly, and Madyson's heart sank as it landed squarely on Chris.
The atmosphere shifted into something thick and electrifying, and Madyson felt a mixture of envy and disbelief.

He didn't hesitate. Chris grabbed the girl by the back of her neck, pulling her in—a captivating confidence behind the act. Just as Madyson felt her heart plummet, Chris locked eyes with her.

Time slowed momentarily; she looked away, feeling the fluttering of butterflies as she tried to regain composure. What the hell was happening?

Now it was his turn to spin. Madyson watched with bated breath as the bottle twirled and eventually slowed, pointing directly at her. She froze.
A wave of panic welled inside her. How could she possibly kiss him after just witnessing him share such a moment with someone else?

I mean that is the point of the game.

Noticing her reluctance, Chris leaned back, a teasing smile on his lips. "C'mon, Mads. Don't be shy now," he urged, the playful challenge in his voice making her heartbeat quicken, conflicting her desire with her common sense.

"Um, I think I'll skip," she finally managed to stutter out.

Laughter erupted around her, including some playful jabs aimed at Chris's direction. "Aww, come on, Mady! Don't be a chicken!" Tara called out.

"Yeah, no one skips me. It's a kiss, not a marriage proposal," Chris chimed in, his tone light yet laced with something deeper. It was as if teasing her was his newfound pastime.

"I'll skip," she said again, a flash of irritation mixed with embarrassment coursing through her.

The laughter around her was deafening, and she knew the consequences. One of the rules was clear: if you don't kiss, you take a shot.

The group cheered as she took the shot, Madyson cringing at the burn of alcohol sliding down her throat.

Next was Haley, who spun the bottle eagerly. It landed on Matt, one of the Sturniolo triplets.

He was the quieter one, his smile genuine and warm. Madyson watched as Haley went in, her heart racing at the success of her best friend in this wild game of chance.

But just as Haley leaned in, Matt went for her cheek instead of her lips, catching everyone off guard.

The room erupted in laughter, Tara throwing her head back dramatically. "What kind of lame ass kiss was that?" she joked, and Haley blushed, still grinning.
"That's one way to leave a girl stunned," Madyson chimed in, soaking in the lightheartedness of the moment.

As they went around the circle, the game continued, but so did the simmering tension between Madyson and Chris.

What if he truly was the jerk she'd briefly met? The confusion in her chest buzzed restlessly.

Haley squeezed Madyson's hand, pulling her back into the moment. "Hey, you okay? You seem a little distracted," she whispered, concern weaving through her voice.

Madyson shook her head, the laughter around them mingling with her thoughts. "I'm just thinking... about Chris. He's not at all what I imagined."
"Look, nobody's perfect. Just keep an open mind. He's cute, and maybe he's just as confused as you are."

Madyson chuckled lightly. "Yeah? And what about his cocky attitude? Isn't that supposed to be a red flag?"
Haley nodded knowingly. "It might just be part of his charm...or a facade. Either way, you might want to find out for yourself."

With a deep breath, Madyson turned her focus back to the circle, excitement battering against her nerves. Chris had just spun again, the bottle taking its sweet time before landing on one of Tara's other friends. As that kiss played out, Madyson couldn't shake off the feeling of longing.

It seemed ridiculous—well, not just ridiculous, but frustrating.

When Madyson's turn approached again, a spark of determination ignited within her. "I'm not going to let him have all the fun," she thought.
She spun, the bottle settling on a curly haired blonde. "Carrington, right?" Madyson then leaned over, her heart pounding against her chest, and grabbed him by the collar.
She pressed her lips to his before he even knew what hit him.

A cheer erupted, and Chris's expression darkened for a split second—jealousy flickered in his eyes for just a moment, but he quickly masked it with a smirk, brushing off the wave of annoyance.
He leaned back, trying to act unaffected, though a surge of curiosity about Madyson bubbled inside him.

Meanwhile, the scene between Matt and Haley was unfolding in its unique way.
Haley had always thought Matt was handsome, the charming guy who effortlessly made everyone smile, and she would be lying if she said a jolt of disappointment wasn't coursed throughout her with what had happened with Matt.

Could it be that he didn't feel attracted to her? What if she wasn't as attractive to him as she had hoped? But Haley was determined not to let those insecurities get the best of her.

Haley found herself growing bolder as she settled in next to Matt during a break from the game. "So, what's up with your cheek-kissing technique?" she teased lightly, a soft smile tugging her lips. "Planning to write a book on it?"

Matt chuckled sheepishly. "What can I say? I'm a gentleman." The moment hung between them, infused with unspoken words.

His gaze locked onto hers, uncharacteristic confidence shining through. "Or maybe I just wanted to keep you on your toes."