Sucker Punch

Chapter Five

Ivy

"C'mon, you and Shelby can play against us," Jay says over the kitchen counter. Mo and Adam grumble about it being their turn, and I start to point that out, but Finn cuts me off.

"Mitch and Shelby should go on a liquor run. Looks like we're running low." Mitch doesn't even try to his hide excitement. "I'll be Ivy's - Eevee's? - partner," Finn looks at Jay then at me as I step out of the kitchen.

I take a gulp of my drink and start to speak but I'm cut off. Again. "Nah. We're all shitfaced anyway, we might as well just head to the bars," Jay says.

"Nuh uh. I'd rather embarrass myself here than end up playing babysitter at a bar again," I tell Jay then sneak a glance at Adam who's too drunk to catch my dig.

After I've refueled on liquid courage I join Finn at the end of the beer pong table. Shelby and Mitch are about to leave when I shout in their direction. "Headsup, Mitch. Just know that if you try anything Shelby doesn't want -" Mitch interrupts me and I'm really starting to get agitated.

"Yeah, I know. You'll kick my ass," he finishes for more.

"No, actually. I won't. But she will," the groups laughs and Finn interjects.

"She's right, man. Shelby will get you with that sucker punch."

Everyone laughs again and the pair finally step out. I look up at Finn and warn him about my lack of beer pong skills. "I'm really more of a flip cup person," I say. "So, sorry in advance for making us lose."

He offers a barely-there smile and shakes his head. "We won't lose, I'll coach you along the way," he says as he rearranges our cup-pyramid.

"Okay, but Gal never loses. Like never."

He looks me in the eye and I try to suppress a blush.

"Just trust me."

He grabs a pong ball and I turn to face Gal and Jay who are standing opposite us. My best friend looks positively giddy to have me playing against her. She knows I hate party games and pretty much anything that draws attention to myself. Seeing me play with a guy probably fuels her excitement even more. Jay, however, stands rigid, his eyes narrowed toward Finn. Judging by the hard line of his lips, he's annoyed we rejected his bar idea.

Let's just get this game over with.

Finn

I get as close as possible to her, without actually touching her skin. Guiding her arm, I lean down and speak directly into her ear, giving her a few queues to follow. She smells so good I almost forget where I am. I step back before she starts thinking I'm a creep, and give her room to aim.  Sure enough, she sinks the shot.

Ivy shrieks a loud "Yes!" She bounces a few times before turning to me and meeting my high-five. "That's literally never happened before! I've actually hit three in a row."

"I told you. Just give the ball some more arc and flick your wrist." We're off to a decent start, but I don't really give a shit about winning. Just watching us. And I'm watching Jay's jaw tighten as I inch closer to Ivy.

I think I'm the most sober person in this apartment, and the only one who noticed the quick flash of anger on Jay's face when Ivy and I walked out of my room together. Now, standing directly across from him, I've pretty much confirmed my theory.

Jay's attraction to his girlfriend's best friend also explains why he lied to them about my "temper."  Not that it mattered. I have no interest in Ivy, or any girl, for that matter.