"I need a drink."


    Only with a buzz could she shove Everett''s words to the back of her mind and forget how her heart fluttered like a fool at the mere hint of his affection.


    Selena sighed, heading back to the private room. Callum, worried about her, tagged along.


    Selena found herself in a cozy corner and reached for the bottle, ready to drown her sorrows. But Callum, ever the thoughtful friend, handed her a cocktail with a beautiful gradient hue. "This one''s really good. Want to give it a try?"


    She knew what he was up to-cocktails were lighter and not as harsh on the system. Ah, ssic Callum, always the doctor, even when it came to drinks.


    Selena craved something stronger but couldn''t just brush off Callum''s kindness. He genuinely cared, and she didn''t want to hurt his feelings.


    "Alright," she agreed, taking the ss and knocking it back in one go.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Then came the second, then the third... she wasn''t slowing down.


    Callum started off drinking with her, but as she finished shots after shots, he couldn''t help but step in, gently holding her hand. "Even if it''s not that strong, you''re gonna get smashed drinking like this." "Getting smashed doesn''t sound too bad right now," Selena mumbled, pulling away to pour another ss.


    Callum knew this couldn''t continue. As she reached for another drink, he firmly took it from her. "That''s enough. I''ll take you home."


    "No, I want it back!"


    Selena''s head was spinning, and her attempts to reim the drink were clumsy at best. Her eyes welled up, feeling like the universe was against her.


    In a burst of frustration, she lunged at Callum, more to vent than to actually get the drink.


    Callum was caught off guard by her sudden move, and found himself pinned on the couch.


    She reached out for the ss, bringing them closer, her hair brushing softly against his cheek, tickling.


    He froze, motionless.


    To anyone watching, it looked like she was draped over him in a moment of intimacy...


    "What''s going on here?" A sharp voice broke the tension.


    Callum nced up, seeing Everett ring at them, his face shadowed with anger. Jaime looked like he''d seen a ghost.


    Selena, oblivious, kept reaching for


    the drink until Everett, with a steely expression, grabbed her wrist and yanked her up so forcefully she thought her bones might snap. She winced. "Everett, you''re hurting me!"


    Everett''s face was stone cold. He did not let go as he dragged her away.


    Callum stood quickly, trying to exin, "Everett, you''ve got it all wrong. Selena''s just had too much and I was only trying to stop her from drinking more. She was just trying to get the drink back. There''s nothing else going on."


    Everett scoffed, unconvinced, and hoisted the still-struggling Selena over his shoulder, striding off, his exit leaving a trail of anger in the air.