“Don’t be so frightened. I don’t mind. You’re really popular and I understand why. It’s good to see that people have good taste.” Cage gave her a small smile and patted the crown of her head.

The group went through numerous other rounds. Drinking with friends and playing games can only result in one thing. Destruction of dignity or alcohol poisoning.

“Last one!” Jared shouted. He was drunk beyond doubt and could barely stay upright. He was staring at Lily longingly before he opened his mouth. The can of beer was right next to his face, as if he knew what he would say next. “Never have I ever… met the person I’m going to marry,” he said in a loving voice.

The atmosphere grew frigid. Jared drank right away and all the others felt their mouths drop open. Only Lily ground her teeth together. Cage was the first one to drink. Katherine followed. Considering how Stephen and Angelina’s relationship was, it was for the best that they didn’t drink.

Jared was grinning at Lily like a fool. “Drink up!” he urged.

“Why would I drink?” she asked, sounding scared.

“Because we’ll marry, obviously. You’re the one for me!” he proclaimed. Katherine groaned, feeling the outburst coming.

As she had expected, Lily went off. “What the ** does that mean?” Jared moved forward to touch her but she withdrew immediately. “Don’t touch me. I will not be marrying you,” she shouted.

“You’re my one true love. I know you haven’t met my parents and you don’t want to. That’s fine. We can marry and you never have to meet them if you don’t want.” As sweet as that sounded, it was not possible. “Look at Cage and Katherine, they will get married too. Can’t you be secure in our relationship and say yes?” he pleaded. Now that he had put it all out there, it did sound like the ramblings of a drunken man. It was bad.

The group remained in silence as Lily fumed and Jared remained bewildered by the turn of her expression.

“I don’t give a damn about what others do in their relationship. I am not marrying you or anyone for that matter.” She had already stood up and was gesturing wildly.

“Cage!” Jared turned to him with an expectant look. “Get on the internet and get ordained to marry us. We’ll do it right now.”

Lily looked like she was going to faint from anger.

“That is a terrible idea,” Cage grumbled, despite being beyond drunk himself.

“It’s an excellent idea. I can get ordained and marry you too!” At least Jared was a happy drunk.

The others were cursing their fate. Did they have to be right there in an awkward situation? It wasn’t like they could leave.

“I’m going to kill you,” Lily swore.

“You can kill me after we marry,” Jared claimed sluggishly.

“I will do no such thing. I am not meeting your family and I am not marrying you. You can keep your stupid fantasies to yourself and say goodbye to me.” Lily was at that point denying everything she felt for the man. If Katherine had pulled her aside and spoken to her before, maybe this outburst might not have happened. But because she was drunk, she was reacting more violently. Her walls were up and she felt trapped. It was understandable.

“I’ll make you see when I am sober. Just you wait. Cage! Call everyone I know, I’ll have to tell everyone the good news.” He laughed crazily. Cage groaned, trying to hide so that he was not pulled into the conflict.

“Don’t you dare call anyone,” Lily threatened, pointing at Cage.

“I wasn’t going to. And I don’t have any numbers,” he said quickly. He looked away, hoping no one else was going to speak to him.

Katherine was beyond frustrated by that point. “Lily… stop it…” she began hesitantly.

“I won’t,” she attempted to cut Katherine off. It wasn’t going to work, though.

Katherine stood up and pulled Lily away with her. Her friend was visibly fuming and she had to do something about it. “I’m saying this because I love you. Stop running away. Admit to your feelings and stop hiding behind this scary facade you have built. How long do you think it will take him to either rip it apart or completely abandon you?” Lily flinched.

Katherine didn’t want to hurt her friend but she wanted this thick-skulled woman to see the reality.

“You’re a grown woman and he knows what he wants with his life. He wants marriage and kids and the whole white picket fence thing. He wants it with you. If you think your goals are different, break up with him. It’s useless to waste your time.” She gave Lily a hard look.

“I don’t…” Lily trailed off.

“What? You don’t want to leave him? You’ll continue wasting your time, then?” Katherine hardened her stance. “Okay, he’ll eventually leave you. It won’t be hard. He’ll probably just remember you as the girl who didn’t love him.” At that Lily choked up.

“Yes, I don’t love him,” she said softly. The can in her hand was brought to her lips and she took a big gulp.

“Keep tricking yourself. Maybe you’ll start to believe it yourself,” Katherine advised sarcastically. She felt guilty for forcing her friend. She was drunk and there was no other way to convince her friend at that point. Tough love seemed to be her only option.

“I see how Cage looks at you and you him. I don’t think we have that,” she sniffled. Katherine felt her face soften.

“Love is different for everyone. Some feel overwhelming passion, others feel comfortable. I have seen the way you look at each other and I know what I see. Want to guess?” Katherine prayed that her friend would know the answer.

“Love?” Lily squeaked. Katherine nodded.

“Now, think about what he said. Try to see if you can compromise. Don’t mindlessly shout at him because you are scared of the future.” She patted her friend’s arm and then guided her back to where the others were.