Page 76 of The Breakup Artists

Leah considers her question. “Most embarrassing thing that’s happened during a hookup,” she says, and Amber and Derek chuckle.

“Oh man, Leah, go right for the jugular, why don’tcha.” Justin sips his beer. “Most embarrassing? Easy. My mom walked in without knocking while I had someone in my bed.”

Derek snort-laughs his beer.

“It was like a scene out of a movie, I swear,” Justin continues. “Hair in rollers, screaming bloody murder. I got up so fast that I got my leg caught in the blanket and I fell right the hell off my bed. There I was, naked, scrambling to get back up and hide my willy while she’s covering her face and wailing. She wouldn’t look at me for two days.”

But even telling an embarrassing story, he’s practically oozing charisma—big smile and blue eyes that can do no wrong. And they all stare at him like he’s a god. One look at August’s hardened expression, and I know what he’s thinking—just like Kyle.

“How do I not know that story?” Ella asks when the laughter dies down.

Justin shrugs. “Never asked.”

“Who was the girl?” Amber says before Ella can respond.

“Nice try, but that wasn’t the question.”

“The answer’s that interesting, huh?” Amber starts.

“Okay, Amber, truth or dare?” Justin says, cutting her off from prying further.

“Mmmm, truth,” she says, and everyone takes a drink.

“Best and worst kisser you’ve ever had.”

She immediately starts laughing. “Wow, tough one.” She holds Justin’s eye contact in a way that makes me slightly uncomfortable. “But I’d have to say the best was...”

I look from Amber to Justin. There’s something flirty about their interaction, something more than Amber’s usual; it’s the way she draws out her words and the way his eyes periodically flit to her lips. Not that it’s a huge shocker that they’d flirt; they’re both the type. It’s just a crappy thing to do in front of Ella, however subtle. And I think Ella notices, because her shoulders tug inward.

At the last second, Amber readjusts her gaze to August and says, “Holden is definitely a contender.”

My eyes whip to August with an accusatory look, but he looks just as shocked.

“Except we’ve never kissed,” he says.

“Happy to correct that,” Amber purrs, and we both instantly realize that she just played him. “And the worst? No contest. Derek.”

Derek grunts. “And you wonder why I dumped you.”

Amber retorts, but I’m not listening because I’m still thinking about Amber and Justin. Did I really see flirting, or was it all just run-of-the-mill eyelash batting?

“My turn,” Amber declares. “Ella, truth or dare?”

“Dare,” Ella replies.

“How about...” Amber taps her manicured fingertip against her lips. “You French-kiss one of the guys in this circle.”

Ella immediately turns toward Justin.

“Besides your boyfriend,” Amber adds with a mischievous smirk.

“Oh shit,” Derek says.

Ella gives Amber a death stare. “Seriously?”

“Don’t be a prude, El,” Amber says. “It’s a kiss. If it doesn’t mean anything, what do you care?”

Cheap shot.