The bottle slowed down, inching its way towards Eliza, and as it was about to go to the next person, it swung back to her. Like a magnet—which hadn’t happened to anyone else, and I had to wonder if someone sabotaged it that way. Or maybe it was fate.

Eliza went white. Carter shrugged, like it was a nonissue. Like he knew, of course, I wasn’t going to kiss his sister. But I had to act “normal” around her. The way Carter was expecting.

“It’s your lucky day, sweetheart,” I grinned.

“What? Oh. Ha, you wish.” She backed away.

Carter pushed me the bottle. “Spin again.”

“No no,” Madison called. “That’s not how the game works.” Madison had remained mostly silent after the Carter/Hannah thing, but now she had something juicy to live for again.

I pointed to Jeff, who could clearly see Carter’s reaction. “House rules,” I said, “What’s the move here, Karvotsky?”

Carter relaxed, as if he knew that obviously Jeff would take his side.

Madison ruffled her hair, in total control of the situation. It seemed like she wasn’t vindictive enough to out my secret by shouting it. Not yet. She was waiting for something. And I had no doubt in my mind that she would make me pay for Carter being with Hannah and not her, even though that wasn’t my fault.

“I’ll sub in,” she said.

Austin took a long swig of his drink.

“Sure,” said Jeff, relieved that he was no longer in charge of this game that he obviously rarely played. Bless his heart. “That’s a good rule. First person to call in for a sub gets to do it. Perfect.”

Madison went on her knees. Eliza picked at the carpet, determined not to watch this. We had a deal that we would tell Carter tomorrow.

Which, apparently, right now, meant this.

Madison shuffled closer to me, brushing into Carter on her way.

She looked over her shoulder at Eliza. “Last chance.”

Eliza shrugged like the entire thing was ridiculous. Which it was until Madison sat in my lap and put her arms around my neck.

Our circle, and the excited high schoolers watching behind us, erupted.

Madison shoved her body in my face.

“Wait,” said Eliza.

Madison froze, but since her lips were a few inches from mine, only I could see the big, annoying, smile on her face. She had wanted this all along.

The group stared at Eliza, especially Carter, and she glanced purposefully between Austin and Madison. She was trying to pretend she was doing it for Austin, who did genuinely seem upset at Madison’s behavior.

Madison moved aside and Eliza crawled over. I tried to Jedi mind read her that she really didn’t have to do this, but whatever I did wouldn’t have mattered. This was a game between the girls.

“It’s fine,” Eliza whispered as she leaned in. All she did was press her lips against mine, as awkwardly as she could. No opening, no starting to make out. Three seconds and done. That’s what she was going for. Easy. We could do that.