“Sounds like a plan to me!” said Liz eagerly.

What was I going to do, chicken out and go upstairs to watch more reality TV by myself? C’mon, Levy. Don’t be a total loser. This was winter break. This was feeling sexy and sassy and learning how to live a little.

“Whaddaya say, dollface?” asked Drew. All right, we’d need to work on the lingo a little, but …

“I’m in.”

Jeremy led the way as we tried to duck out around the back of the room. Stevie D. was already on the mike again, this time with a Barry Manilow song. Talk about cheesy.

Then, just as I was turning to head out through the open archway, I saw a figure in a chair in the corner, his head bent over what looked like a large pad of paper, his hand scribbling. Was that …?

Eric, Phil’s son, looked up and turned the pad over quickly.

“Hey,” he said.

“Hey.”

“Nice work up there,” he told me, nodding at the stage.

“Oh, that? That was stupid.”

“Why? I thought it was pretty good.”

“Whatever,” I said. The candle flickered in front of him and I could see there was a smudge of charcoal on his lower lip. Neither of us said anything.

“What are you doing back here all alone?” I said finally. I didn’t mean it to sound that rude, but I guess I still wasn’t a big fan of the guy.

“Just — nothing.”

“Must be something.”

“Drawing,” he said. And he pulled the pad closer to his chest.

“Huh?”

“Drawing. You know, like sketching? I sketch sometimes.”

“Really? In the dark?”

“This is fine.” He lifted up the tea light and gave a kind of crooked smile.

“Oh.”

“So, did you go skiing today?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

“How’d it go?”

“Good I guess. By the end I was doing okay.”

“Drew was your teacher?” How did this guy know — agh! Drew!

“Yeah, actually, you know what? I gotta go!” I felt really nervous and excited, but mostly nervous now, and a little mad at myself. Why was I still talking to this guy, anyway? I mean it was sad that he was alone and all, but I had to get upstairs. Now!

I raced through the dining room and then into the lobby. The fire was giving its last licks and the armchairs were empty. I skipped past them and took the stairs two at a time. Made it to the top, too! And then promptly tripped over the Oriental rug lying there, in typical Levy fashion.

By the time I got up to the room, everyone was changed into T-shirts and boxers. Heidi had her hair up in two cute ponytails, and Liz had tied her T-shirt into a knot just above her smooth belly. Dina came out of the bathroom wearing a baby tee that she must’ve had under her sweater that had a picture of a cat on it. I could tell she wasn’t wearing a bra, either. The guys were on the bed, passing a bottle of Jack Daniel’s.

“There she is!” said Drew, raising the bottle toward me.

“We were just gonna come downstairs to find you!” said Liz.

Jeremy handed me a worn-out T-shirt that said DYSPEPSIA: DEADLY? NO. UNCOMFORTABLE? YES. and a pair of plaid boxers. Not exactly sexy, but I didn’t have much choice. All I had brought were thermals. I said thanks and headed to the bathroom.

“Sam, honey, do you mind if we head out there? We’re just really excited to get in!” called Liz.

“Sure!” I called back. Phoebe would never leave me like that. But hey, time to start growing up, Levy.

“Don’t be too long, Sammygirl,” came Drew’s deep voice.

I slipped into the T-shirt and shorts and then looked in the mirror.

“Okay,” I said to my reflection. I rubbed a little more lip gloss on and then mashed my lips into the back of my hand, just for a practice run. It left a glossy circle on my skin.

“Nerd,” I whispered to myself, and then giggled under my breath.

Then I leaned in closer. Pimple still underground. Check. Eyebrows plucked. Check. Freckles in line. Check. Go time.

Downstairs, I tiptoed across the back of the living room. Dara was up there now singing Bette Midler’s “Wind Beneath My Wings.” Stevie D. was standing up, singing just inches from her face. Besides that, it looked pretty empty. I was careful not to look in the corner, in case Eric was still sitting there in the dark.

I pulled open the sliding door. Yeesh! My whole body trembled as my bare skin met the air. It was much colder outside once the sun went down.

“Psst! Over here!” giggled Heidi.

Her voice drifted over from behind a line of snow-covered bushes just past a covered pool. I guessed they used this place all year-round. It was hard to imagine it without a blanket of snow.

“Hey! Pass it over! No hogging, Liz!” said Dina playfully.

I turned the corner behind the hedge and there were six figures rising out of a cloud of steam with lights shining up, making them look like they were an alien spaceship that had just landed.

“Come on in, Sam, the water’s fine!” said Liz, lifting the bottle to her lips.

Drew put out his hand and I stepped in carefully. The water felt hot and bubbly and I was glad I kept my bra on because my shirt floated up to the surface when I lowered down. Then I slid down next to Drew on a tiled bench that went all around the tub.

“Want some?” asked Liz. She held the bottle out over the water.

“I do!” called Dina. “Wait, is anyone gonna come out here and check on us?”

“Nah, they don’t care,” said Drew. “Besides, aren’t you legal?” He raised his eyebrows with a sly smile.

“I’ll be sixteen next month!” she twittered.

“I’m gonna be seventeen!” said Liz proudly. “How about you?” she said, obviously to Jeremy.

“Eighteen.”

“Sixteen,” said Heidi, nudging Trey.

“Seventeen,” he said, tickling her.

“Eighteen,” said Drew.

“Sixteen,” I said. “Almost.” Ugh. I couldn’t lie, though.

“Here, Sam. You want some?” Dina handed me the whiskey bottle.

“Yeah, sure.” I felt all eyes on me as I touched the cold glass up to my teeth and then slowly tipped it into my mouth. It felt warm and smooth, sliding down my throat, leaving a soft burn in my belly. It was actually pretty nice.

“You okay?” Jeremy asked.

“Sure, why?” I said, shrugging. I hoped he wasn’t going to be checking in with me all night. I could take care of myself. I quickly took another swig.

“That’s what I’m talking about!” said Drew, taking the bottle from me.

We passed it around again. I watched the steam swirling around in the center of the tub. The night felt magical, the moon a soft slip, carved into the endless sky, surrounded in a misty halo.

“Hey, I have an idea! Let’s play truth or dare!” said Liz. Her eyes glinted in the moonlight. She was looking directly at Jeremy.

Jeremy looked at me. I didn’t know what to say, but I guess my face said it all, because he said, “I think that might be a little weird for Sam and me.”

“Riiiiiight,” said Liz, smiling.

“How about twenty questions?” said Heidi.

“Okay!” said Dina.

“What’s that?” asked Drew.

“Yeah, what’s that?” echoed Trey.

“Easy,” said Liz. “All right. I’m thinking of a person, place, or thing. You have twenty questions you can ask to guess what it is. Ready? Go!”

When the bottle came back to me I took a long sip, and this time when it slipped down into my stomach I could feel my limbs grow lighter and bubbly. I handed the bottle to Drew.

“Thank you, madam,” he said in his deep, delicious voice, and now everything was swaying a little bit and a giggle escaped from my lips.

“Animal, vegetable, or mineral?” I asked, popping up.

“Animal! That’s one,” said Liz.