I ask her to hold my hand.

“Well,” you stare at Flora, who still looks flustered after your joke. “How about we just hold hands until the game is done?”

Alexandra laughs a storm, but there’s no protest against this action. Scarlet rolls her eyes and brings her knees to her chest, watching with a bored expression. You suppose that’s better than the scowl she was giving you earlier.

Flora more or less carries the same expression as Scarlet, but she reaches for your hand and folds over with hers. Her soft skin presses against yours, and she lightly squeezes. She doesn’t look at you, so it’s difficult to read what is going through her mind. Her cheeks aren’t any pinker, and her eyes are trained on the bottle. Does she like it?

“Alright, nerds!” Alexandra reaches for the bottle and twirls it, sending it into a tight spin. It lands on Scarlet, who grabs it and forces it to Flora again. Finally, Alexandra asks the age-old question, and Flora bravely says dare. “I dare you to… jeez… sit on Warren’s lap.”

Flora makes a face. “We’re already holding hands. Do I have to do that?”

Alexandra scoffs. “OK, princess. It’s either that or lick the bottom of Scarlet’s boot.”

She lets all the air out of her lungs. Flora crawls over to you and sits on your lap—the sudden flood of her scent circling into your nostrils. Flora is also warm and right on top of your groin. She either doesn’t notice your reaction or is choosing to ignore it.

Flora leans in and grabs the bottle, sending it into quite another twirl. It spins and spins and spins, eventually stopping its neck towards… Scarlet.

“This thing likes me too much,” Scarlet growls and points it at Flora.

“I span the bottle. You can’t pick me again.”

Scarlet looks up. “I’m picking Warren this time, flower.”

Alexandra giggles.

“Truth or dare?” Flora asks without turning to face you.

“Dare,” you reply.

“I dare you to massage my back,” Flora deadpans.

“That’s the best you can come up with?”

“Be happy I’m letting you off with an easy one this time,” Flora warns but doesn’t sound serious. She arches her back and groans. “Besides, sleeping on the ground for some many days has given me some unwanted back problems.”

You spin the bottle before you start. This time, it lands on Alexandra. Your hand presses and pats down on Flora’s back. It’s a little challenging to massage her with one hand, but she isn’t fidgeting like Delilah did the time you rubbed her back, so you guess you might be better with just one hand.

You look at Alexandra and she looks back at you. The light in her eyes flashes vividly for a moment as the light catches the color. She looks mischief. “Truth or dare.”

“Truth.”

“Seriously?” Scarlet, not participating at all, sounds disappointed.

“Fuck off, sideline. You’re not even playing.” Alexandra growls, side-glancing at Scarlet and then at you. “I said truth, so ask me a question.”

“So, you actually into me, or was I just convenient to get you off that night you pissed all over me?”

“Ha,” Alexandra scoffs at first but then breaks into a fit of laughter for a handful of seconds. “God damn! Seriously? Look around you! I’m surrounded by girls and some Asian who is all business and have no sex. Where’s fun in that? Plus, the locals around here, man whores especially, could have weird diseases or have some kind of power-kink. I’m not one to be dominated or whipped or what-ever-the-fuck-else these limp-dick males have up here.”

She lets all the air from her body and nods. “So, yeah. I used you to get off that night. I practically marked you as my territory even.”

“Ugh, gross!” Flora says. “Who’s turn is it?”

“Mine!” Alexandra proudly announces and spins the bottle, but she stops it as soon as it points as you and Flora. “Truth or dare, Warren!”

You squint, untrustingly, at Alexandra. “I choose truth.”

“Did you get off when I peed on you? Is that fetish of yours? We could do it again!”

You swallow. Regardless of the truth of actually was, you opened your mouth and said you didn’t. Some tension melts from Flora, who might have been nervous you were some kind of freak outside of what you did with each other earlier that day.

“Boring.” Alexandra comments. Flora spins the bottle next, and it once again lands on Scarlet. Scarlet points it at Alexandra and gets off the couch, swapping places with Alexandra. Flora asks her question, and Alexandra again replies with “truth.”

“Are you sexist against men?”

Alexandra giggles and looks at you. “Of course not. But, when with one, I just can get off easier when I’m more in control. Nothing is hotter than lashing a guy down and using him for yourself.”

Her eyes go to Flora, and she leans in. “If you ever have a chance, you should try using a guy for yourself. Such a fucking power trip!”

“I’m not into that kind of stuff. What’s sex without love?” Flora deflates.

“You should have asked your husband,” Alexandra cackles. “He used you, I’m sure.”

“Hey!” Flora shouts.

“Flora, calm down, and Alexandra, knock that off.” Scarlet leans against the wall. “Warren, it’s your turn.”

You spin the bottle and continue massaging Flora. The mood in the room has changed. Now it feels like everyone is walking on ice. It almost feels like picking dare is the safer option. You’re too distracted with your thoughts to notice that the bottle has spun to a stop on Alexandra. She’s already looking at you. Before you can ask anything, she says. “Truth,” all smug-like.

You wanted to ask if she didn’t like Flora but felt like that might stoke the fire that was idly burning in the room too much. “You and Scarlet seem pretty close, is that true?”

Alexandra stretches. “Scarlet is a closed book with a padlock keeping it shut. But, yeah. If you’re wondering if I depend on her more than the others, then yes. I guess that’s true.” She leans in and grabs the bottle, sending it into a tight, uninterrupted spin. This time, it lands on your cluster.

“This one is for you, Warren.”