The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 146

Sighing, I relented. Mia grinned and bounced on her toes. “Thankyouthankyouthankyou!” she cheered, then grabbed my hand and pulled me over to the circle.

Zane looked up as we took our seats. “Ah, new recruits!” He wiggled his eyebrows at me. “Couldn’t resist joining, eh, princess?”

“Stop calling me that, or I’ll smash the bottle over your head,” I grunted, plopping down cross-legged beside Mia.

Zane merely grinned, and with that, the game began. Students took turns spinning a bottle. Girls giggled as they tried to make the bottle land on their crushes. At one point, two boys kissed, much to the onlookers’ delight. Mia finally spun the bottle, but it landed on the boy who had stolen the cinnamon roll. She refused to kiss him and chugged her drink instead.

Now, it was my turn. I took the bottle and halfheartedly spun it, hoping that it would just land on Mia; at least I could stomach giving her a kiss on the cheek.

But, just as luck would have it, the bottle landed on Zane.

Because why the fuck wouldn’t it?

The group cheered, much to Zane’s delight. Beside me, Mia hid her disappointment behind her cup. But I had no intention to kiss Zane.

“Nope,” I said, jabbing my index finger into his forehead and pushing him back as he crawled across the circle to me. “Not happening.”

Zane pushed his lower lip out in a pout. “Aw, c’mon. Just a peck?”

I glanced around the circle. Everyone was waiting expectantly, and it was either this or I would have to chug a cup of that awful drink. I had to decide on the lesser of two evils, so I chose Zane—but I only leaned forward and pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek before pulling back.

“There,” I muttered.

“Hey, that doesn’t count!” one student declared. “Either it has to be a real kiss, or drink!”

With that, Callum turned, still holding the bottle. “Everyone, go back to your dorms,” he said. “As student council leader, I’m confiscating any and all alcohol.”

The crowd protested in unison. Zane, stepping forward, suddenly clapped his hands together. “How about this,” he said, turning to Callum. “Compete with me in a drinking contest: if you win, we’ll get rid of all the alcohol and end the party. But if I win, then the party continues.”

Callum’s jaw clenched. The crowd cheered, and cinnamon roll boy cupped his hands around his mouth, chanting, “Drink! Drink! Drink!”

Zane grinned, spreading his hands wide. “Well?” he mouthed, his voice lost under the sound of the collective chant.

Callum hesitated, eye twitching. But finally, he sighed and tossed the empty vodka bottle onto the couch.

“Fine. Let’s drink.”