Strip Game - A Whirlwind Summer

42: 𝐋𝐈𝐏𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐊 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐒 & 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒 𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐃

♪✰❄︎𖤍❄︎✰♪

𝐋𝐔𝐍𝐀

I stepped out into the garden path behind the house, hoping the night breeze would calm the mess inside my chest. The party was in full swing—music thumping from speakers, laughter bouncing across the lawn, but I needed air. Space. Clarity.

I rounded a corner, not really paying attention to where I was going, until I caught a familiar voice.

"No way bro, I had to cancel the party. Something came up," a guy was saying.

I froze. My breath hitched.

Drake.

I didn’t see him earlier. Didn’t know he came. And now, here he was—with two of his idiot friends, leaning against the brick wall near the side gate like they owned the night.

I tried to turn around and walk the other way, fast—but I was too late.

"Luna?" His voice cut through the air, sharp and mocking.

Shit.

I kept walking. Pretending I didn’t hear.

But he stepped into my path. "Yo, where you running to?"

I stopped dead. "Move, Drake."

His friends chuckled behind him, one of them whistling low.

He grinned, the smell of cheap cologne and beer hitting me. "You still mad about what happened at Tiffany’s party? C’mon, I was just playing around."

"Let me pass." I kept my voice steady even though my heart was galloping in my chest.

His smile twisted. "Why? So you can go grind on your new boyfriend?" He suddenly grabbed my waist roughly. "You’re hot when you’re scared, you know that?"

I shoved his hand. "Don’t touch me!"

He stepped closer.

"I like you, Luna. A lot. You should stop pretending you don’t like me back." His hand gripped my hip again, tighter this time—and he leaned in, trying to kiss me.

"Don’t!" I gasped, twisting my face away. "Let go of me!"

But before he could touch me again, before I could scream or swing, I heard footsteps storming toward us, then—

A hit!

Drake’s head snapped sideways with the force of the punch.

Kyle.

His knuckles were clenched, his chest heaving. “/"Back. The hell. Off."

Drake staggered back, stunned, wiping blood from his lip.

Kyle stepped between us like a damn wall, shielding me. "You touch her again, and I swear I’ll break every bone in your body."

Drake glared, embarrassed. "You crazy, man. She asked for it."

"You’ve got ten seconds to disappear before I forget I’m wearing white tonight," Kyle growled.

Drake’s friends pulled him away, mumbling something about it not being worth it, and within seconds, they disappeared into the dark.

I just stood there, shaking. Kyle turned to me gently. "Hey," he said, voice soft now. "Are you okay?"

I nodded quickly, too overwhelmed to speak. "Thank you."

"I really shouldn't let you out of my sight anymore, this is the second time you're getting hurt this night and I'm not there, I'm sorry"

"I'm fine." I smiled.