New stalemate

You returned to people still trying to argue their points but that was a lot less vigor than before, having already worn each other out from what you could gather.

“What’d we miss?” you asked the room, setting down plates and glasses alongside Mom who carried the rest, including glasses of water for Lucy, Sarah and Emma.

“Well Emma has moved to team Winter but Lucy also switched to Summer” Grace relayed, enjoying explaining the chaos that had unfolded.

“I didn’t think about hot tubs…” Emma grumbled, looking like she was torn on what she wanted now.

You looked to Lucy to see if she would give an explanation as to her change in choice but she just gave a shrug and you were sure you saw a barely contained grin. That just made you think she was splitting the vote just for the sake of it but without anything else to go off you sat back down in your chair.

“Well everyone can dig in while you think it over a little longer” you suggested, your sweet tooth getting the better of you.

There was no hidden ploy to get you to help with the plates this time so you were happy to get dug in as soon as possible. Partially as you really enjoyed the dessert but you were also worried that your arms would get taken over by Sarah and Rebecca at your sides so finishing sooner was bound to be to your benefit.

“So if we are split on the votes then I think it means you get to choose Max?” Lucy instigated, taking extra long to lick her spoon clean as she eyed you up.

That thrust the attention on to you while you quickly finished off the cheesecake, getting a small amount of brain freeze when you scooped up the last of the ice cream.

“Well if there are no last minute changes…” you said, giving time for anyone to speak up.

“...then I think for me personally, I’d prefer a summery holiday. But we can always book something else in the winter to please everyone.” you explained, seeing mixed reactions at the decision based on people's preferences.

“Why the summer holiday?” Lucy asked, doing her best to get you into some form of trouble.

“I wanna see you all in swimsuits” you admitted, your bluntness giving no room for anyone to question your motives.

“Fair enough” Lucy replied, relenting given your honest answer but shooting a smirk in your direction.

A few more specifics were sorted out for what you could all do to make the most of the trip but it stayed hypothetical for now, having no set location to know what activities could be planned.

You had finished your second glass of wine and given that you rarely drank, you could feel the effects pretty clearly in your system. You didn’t think you were bad enough to start slurring your words or anything like that but your honest answer to Lucy earlier did show that you were being a bit more carefree in your answers.

For now, you didn’t feel like drinking any more would solve your problems but you were taking stock of the situation now that the meal was wrapping up.

Emma, Lucy and Sarah had only had the one glass of wine so you considered them to still be okay, although Sarah seemed to be playing it a bit loose with the strap on her dress as she kept running her fingers along it.

Grace, Mom and Rebecca were all a bit more used to drinking but you knew that Mom was a bit of a lightweight, something you had very happily experienced in the back of a taxi previously.

Grace and Rebecca however seemed to be in a similar state to you after their second glass so for now, you felt comfortable trying to lead the topic of conversation in a direction that suited you.

Everyone was still on the topic of holiday activities so you at least wanted to branch off from there, not wanting your ideas to come completely out of left field. And to help with that, you reached out a foot to tap Emma, hoping that she would pick up on the hint and help you navigate in that direction too.

“I guess it does come down to what’s available at the camp site before we fully commit to anything” Mom explained, actively joining in with the conversation now that her worries had been addressed.

“I’m sure that even if there isn’t everything at the campsite, we can make our own fun if we want to” you suggested.

“Knowing you, that probably involves something like a swimsuit contest” Emma teased, giving a flirty wink in your direction.

“I would have expected skinny dipping to be honest” Sarah added, throwing out another suggestion.

“Both excellent suggestions. But I was thinking more along the lines of card games or drinking games” you said, nudging a bit more.

“Strip poker?” Lucy interrupted, getting a laugh out of everyone and looking pleased even if she did try to hide it.

“Also a good idea. But I meant something like truth or dare” you explained.

“God I haven’t played that in… ages” Grace said, about to reminisce before she thought about what had happened with you, her and Emma over the weekend.

“I don’t think I ever have” Mom revealed, getting a shocked look from Grace.

“You know I was never much for partying” she admitted, defending herself about her past.

“...neither have I” Rebecca added, that fact being a little more shocking.

Grace looked around the room to see who else might speak up. You and Emma had already played with Grace in the hotel so that left only Sarah looking a little sheepish. Lucy didn’t bat an eye but she had been more rebellious compared to you and Sarah.

“We could play now?” you suggested, looking again at Emma to back you up.

“Oh yeah!” Grace shouted before Emma could say anything. “I’ll go grab an empty bottle” she added, getting up and heading to the kitchen before there were any more words spoken.

Grace’s enthusiasm spread to everyone else as we waited and something along these lines had been in your plans for the night.

“Is there gonna be a penalty for not playing?” Lucy asked, always the antagonistic one.

“Usually it's to take a drink. But you can have a punishment if you’d prefer” you offered, getting a groan out of her before Grace came back.

“Are we moving to the living room?” Grace suggested, getting murmurs of agreement.

“I’ll grab the plates and I’ll join you all in there” you said, wanting to clear the table at least.

You headed to the kitchen as everyone else also got up, carrying as many plates as you could hold when you felt a tug on your sleeve, turning to see that Rebecca had followed you out of sight of everyone else as if she had something to say.