Five
I sip my drink lightly, and my eyes nearly water—the burning liquid hugs my throat like hot coals, sliding to my stomach like bile.
After twenty minutes, Sam’s face is blurred, Mark’s laughter echoes in my ears, and I feel a delicious happiness slipping between my teeth, my reddened eyes.
“I’ll put on music,” Sam shouts, dragging the words firmly, standing and walking confidently toward the huge speakers.
“Let’s play, forget the cards in the game,” Mark interrupts, looking up.
“One question for the winner and a challenge for the loser,” he adds, firm but imprecise. “My turn.”