Chapter 3-Liquid Courage & Lost Signals

“Maybe this was a mistake,” I mumble to myself, the rim of my plastic cup brushing my lips. The drink burns as it goes down—definitely not beer, but strong enough to punch through my nerves. I’m not much of a drinker, so I know I’m already halfway to tipsy, maybe more.

Just as I finish the last bitter sip, Kevin appears out of nowhere with another.

“Seriously?” I ask, arching a brow.

“You’re welcome,” he winks, handing it over like it’s a life preserver. Maybe it is.

I’m deep into my third drink when the buzz really kicks in. My head feels like it’s floating in a fishbowl—distorted, heavy, and slow. Everything is louder, brighter, hazier. Still no sign of Johnny. I step out onto the deck and glance toward the lake, half-expecting to catch him skinny-dipping with the other party animals.

Not that I’m dying to see naked classmates thrashing around in murky water—but yeah, okay. Maybe I do want to see him.

Maybe Kevin and Chaz were right. Maybe Johnny did invite me for a reason. Maybe all this liquid courage will finally help me say what I’ve been holding onto since freshman year.

I do one last scan and sigh. Nothing.

Then—I catch a movement from the second-floor balcony. There he is. Johnny, leaning casually on the railing, moonlight wrapping around his frame like some kind of celestial highlighter. He looks like he stepped out of a dream and landed in a Hollister ad.

My breath catches.

He sees me.

He waves.

He motions for me to come up.

I do the dorky “who me?” point-to-the-chest move.

He nods.

There’s no one else around. No other love-sick girls hanging in the shadows. Just me.

Oh God.

I shove the rest of my drink down like it’s a power-up in Mario Kart and make my way toward the house, weaving a little as I go. I grab another drink from the kitchen on the way up. I shouldn’t. But I do.

“You can do this, Minnie,” I whisper to myself. “Just follow your heart… and maybe don’t throw up.”

I climb the stairs and wander through the hall, opening wrong doors and catching more than a few glimpses of sweaty, drunken limbs and tangled clothes. One couple doesn’t even notice me. Another does—and winks.

I finally find the last door and pause. My heart’s jackhammering against my ribs. I raise my hand to knock, but before I can, the door swings open.

“Minnie!” Johnny grins, his eyes lighting up like I just made his night. “I was about to come find you. Come hang out. It’s quieter up here. I’ve got my own drinks.”

He winks. My knees betray me a little.

I step into the room and—whoa. This is not a bedroom. It’s a damn suite. There’s a massive California king bed, sleek leather chairs, a mini bar that’s fully stocked, and the balcony view? Straight out of a fantasy.

“Is this your room?” I ask, doing an awkward twirl before I can stop myself.

He laughs. “Yeah, my parents barely use the place anymore. Gave me the key for breaks. Kinda my little escape spot.”

Must be nice. I feel the flicker of jealousy rise, but I push it down. Tonight’s not about comparing our lives. Tonight’s about… something else.

Johnny hands me a drink—something sweet and citrusy—and drapes his arm around my shoulders like it’s the most natural thing in the world. My skin tingles under his touch.

“I thought we could just chill, you and me,” he murmurs, voice lower now, softer. “No crowd. No noise. Just… us.”

We walk out to the balcony. I spot Chaz in the crowd, already draped around some guy, laughing too loud. Kevin is actually flirting—with Dane, of all people. Johnny’s best friend. Didn’t see that coming. I lift my drink toward Chaz as she hoots from below.

“Looks like your friends are having fun,” Johnny says behind me, his voice sending goosebumps across my arms. He steps closer, and suddenly I’m caged in—his arms on either side of me, hands gripping the balcony railing, body just a breath behind mine.

I swallow hard.

“Are you?” he asks.

“Having fun?” My voice cracks, an octave too high. “Yeah. Killer time.”

He chuckles, the sound deep and warm against the back of my neck. “You’re too much, Min.”

He turns me gently by the hips to face him, and I forget how to breathe. His eyes aren’t playful now. They’re intense. Focused.

“I’m gonna miss you, you know.”

“Me? Why?” I laugh nervously. “You’re the popular one. You’ll miss me? What about Lauren?”

His face shifts. Darkens. “Lauren and I grew up together. She just… assumes things. She’s like a sister to me.”

A sister. That word stings. Lauren has never treated him like a brother.

“Well… sisters are cool,” I mutter.

He grins again and leans in, close enough that I can feel the heat of his breath on my cheek. “I love cocoa butter,” he whispers. “You always smell like it. Like a chocolate bunny.”

I blink.

“A what?”

“A coco bunny. That’s what I’m gonna call you now.”

I laugh, caught off guard. “Are you drunk?”

He grins. “Maybe. A little. You’re cute when you blush.”

And I am definitely blushing now. Then his hands move—sliding from my arms to my waist, his thumbs brushing just under the hem of my blouse. My breath catches. He doesn’t stop. His fingers graze up, slow and smooth, lifting the fabric just an inch.

He’s touching my bare skin now.

And I let him.

My mind screams what is happening?! but my body is all in. This is what I wanted, right?

He leans in and kisses me—soft at first, then deeper, hungrier. My hands instinctively curl into his shirt, pulling him closer. His grip tightens around me, lips trailing down to my neck. I tilt my head, heart pounding. His tongue finds the spot behind my ear, and my knees damn near give out.

“You drive me crazy,” he murmurs, voice hoarse. “I should’ve done this a long time ago.”

My hands find the hem of his shirt, fingers slipping beneath—

Then—

The door slams open.

Flash.

A bright light.

My stomach drops.

Lauren. Standing there, camcorder in one hand, smug smirk on her glossed lips.

“You two are just so cute together,” she purrs, her voice amplified—over the DJ’s mic.

The speaker downstairs screeches with feedback.

And then—

Our kiss. Blasted. Public.

“Thought the whole party might wanna hear it,” she giggles.

I freeze. Johnny stumbles back. My shirt’s still halfway up, my face blazing with humiliation.

People below cheer. Someone yells my name.

I bolt.

I run past Lauren, down the hall, down the stairs, past the laughter, the stares, the pointing.

Out the front door.

Into the dark.

My lungs burn.

My chest aches.

I don’t look back.

And Johnny?

He doesn’t follow