. one night/all night

[tate mccarthy]

DRINK ZERO Tate's arm is lazily sloped around Liv's slim shoulders, her skin already sunkissed and glistening in the hazy afternoon sun. He's looking forward to his first drink, turning over options in his mind; would he start with his preference, a whiskey on the rocks, or should he lean tropical? When in Rome, after all. The thought is disrupted by Cora's enthusiastic Freddie riding, making him laugh. Soon enough their throng of people meets another, the group littered with faces familiar and less so. His arm slips away from Liv so that he can shake Theo's hand, his other pushing his sunglasses up to get a better look at the beautiful people gathered in front of him. Freddie makes a passing comment and he nods briefly, surreptitiously, more conscious of not coming off as leery so early on in their meeting. There's one familiar face that he can't quite place, though as soon as she talks it lands: her voice has an echo of her brother's, and he winces inwardly. Between Lily and Jane, Aisha would be icing him out for months after this. Still, he smiles easily, nodding. "Lily! Long time no speak. How've you been?"

[olivia hamilton]

ALMOST DRINK ONE Olivia is giddy as the group exits their resort, heading to the meet the group that Tate and Cora had met previously. The champagne buzz she'd received from the plane combined with the mini bar that greeted them upon checking in, was only making her crave a tropical drink more. Liv had chosen a new orange bikini to pair with a cream cover up, and she was eager to work on improving the slight bit of sun that kissed her skin. The guys greet Theo first, with Tate saying hello to a familiar face she believe he called Lily. She was taking mental reminders of names. "Hi Theo, I'm Olivia. Nice to meet you, so happy we could join!" She moved the sunglasses off of her face as she introduced herself to the man. Olivia grabs Cora's hand and inches her in the direction of the bar. "Let's go, I can't wait anymore!" She grins, a chuckle following the smile. Olivia beckoned Tate with her pointer finger as she pulled Cora alongside her.

[cora wolfe]

DRINK TWO “Speak for yourself,” Cora murmurs in Theo's ear, the fingers she squeezes around his bicep slight in comparison. He'd been a fun, tropical fling - memorable enough that when his name showed up on her phone during a blustery New York day she'd taken the bait and ran. With a curated crew, of course, smile sharpening in amuse when she realized Lily and Tate were the casualties of a bad breakup - and Aisha would be absolutely howling the second anything emerged on socials. “She's been busy getting famous herself, Tate, keep up,” Cora admonishes before looping her arm around Olivia's, all but dragging her to the bar in her excited wake. As usual, service is immediately turned on them. “I think...we take a quick shot just the two of us for fun, then we deliver some mean Rum Runners?”

[theo lovett]

DRINK FOUR The sky turns to shades of deep pink and smoky purple, the sun cut into a perfect semi circle as it dips behind the wide line of the sea. The music has been turned up or maybe Theo is just noticing it more now, the thumping beat mingling with the chatter of excited spring breakers, everywhere heaving with young, perfect bodied glistening with sunscreen. He’s finally worked up the courage to strike up conversation with Liv, and they are chatting away easily when Cleo comes up, a grin on her face that signals impending mischief. He starts to shake his head but she’s already saying it, pressing shots into their hands as she does. “Did you know that he’s, like, obsessed with you? I can’t tell you how many times he’s just been sat on his phone, scrolling through your Insta.”

[olivia hamilton]

DRINK FOUR Olivia has bounced back and forth between the loungers in the sun and the shaded bar. But with the sun starting to fade in the sky, she was glued to the bar top just as everyone else was. Her buzz feels just as good as the sun that’s now tinged her cheeks pink. She’s taking a sip from her vodka cranberry, taking a break from the tropical ones that went straight to her head. Theo and Liv are mid-conversation when Cleo comes up with the biggest grin on her face. Liv decided after her second drink that she loved the spunky girl. Shot glasses are shoved into their hands and she spills a little confession of Theo’s. She sees his face turn into a small grimace and Liv can’t help but giggle. Liv’s free hand squeezes his arm in attempt to make the man feel better. “It’s okay, I’m really flattered!!” She murmurs, downing the shot and winking to him after she’s finished with the tequila. “Need to make anyone jealous? I’m sure you do, look at you! Let’s take a picture!” She encourages him, pointing to the phone in his pocket.

[jane ridley]

DRINK ONE God, this was the life. Stepping off a private jet, being chauffeured directly to a luxury resort, procuring a glass of champagne at check-in and having her bags delivered to the unfathomable suite she'd be inhabiting for however long. The bubbles are crisp on her tongue as Jane downs her glass, quickly slipping into a crochet bikini and tiny sarong before stepping straight onto the sand, essentials already gathered in her beach bag. With vague directions from Freddie and giddy determination it doesn't take long for her to spot the group, coming up behind Liv and pressing a kiss to her cheek. “Jealousy's my specialty,” Jane grins, taking the phone and angling it seamlessly to capture Liv's excitement at her arrival and everyone else in their best light. She quickly hands it back and holds up her finger to delay her greetings, grabbing two of the full shots littered on the bar top in front of them and folding seamlessly next to Freddie in the lounge chair, holding one up for him. “Cheers, baby. Seems like I have some catching up to do.”

[tate mccarthy]

DRINK FOUR There's some sort of commotion behind him and Tate turns to glimpse Jane's arrival, giving her a wave. Another twist in his stomach as he sees a photo being taken, knowing it wouldn't be long before his icy sister was pouring over it. He turns back to Lily and resumes the conversation they'd been having, laughing along with a story she'd been telling - she was really quite charming, though he had always liked Joe too so it shouldn't have come as a surprise. "Livvy," he calls out after, the drink making him looser, craving contact. "Come sit in my lap and show Lily your Aisha impression, she'll love it."

[lily mccarthy]

DRINK FIVE Lily'd lost count of her drinks already, much more focused on the loose cadence of conversation than the consistent sips she'd been plying herself with as the sun hit its peak, slowly starting to fade away as the hours drowned as quickly as her quiet inhibitions. If she was being honest it felt nice to be sitting here with Tate, casually mentioning things that happened on her tour or at events that he could relate to. Still trying to figure out the careful balance of sharing with her friends, and recognizing her place in a different world she'd tossed herself into. Luckily the lines were blurring even further right now as she gazed at the bottom of her most recent drink, tipping her head over her shoulder to follow his line of sight before laughing in advance of what she was about to witness. “Do you know she locked me out of Joe's green room once? All my stuff was in there and no one could get in until she was ready - 'ready' ” she air quotes, stifling another laugh at the memory, “meant figuring out which of his 5 t-shirts she was going to wear that night. Took 25 minutes.” Admittedly Aisha hadn't always been her favorite person with Joe but she'd seen glimmers of sanity throughout their time together - a lot of which seemed to reflect in her brother, the bubbly blonde she assumed was his girlfriend suddenly appearing. “Can't wait for this one, does she still do that up-down look before she starts?”

[olivia hamilton]

DRINK FIVE Liv claps as Theo takes out of his phone, loving her suggestion of taking a photo. She’s suddenly surprised when Jane’s presence is finally in the group. She squeals and smiles even bigger as Theo snakes his arm around her for the photo. “I love it! Yay you’re here!” While catching up with Jane for a moment, she sneaks a glance at Tate who’s begun to look a little more tan. She’s even happier when he beckons her over, requesting her presence on his lap. Olivia learned a few drinks ago that Lily’s brother used to date Tate’s sister. “Coming!” She replies, getting another drink from the bar and giving the bartender that signature smirk of hers. His embrace is warm and she’s engulfed in his cologne as she finds herself comfortable on his lap. “Oh my god, okay, so much pressure.” She drags her fingers in front of her face to get in character, the pair laughing at her antics and dramatics. “This place is filled with too many…poor people. But it’s fine, get me more to drink.” She mimicked the gorgeous blonde’s infamous, tone and voice.

[tate mccarthy]

DRINK FIVE "Sounds about right," he says, laughing at Lily's recollection. There was something about Lily that made it a relief to share, a sincerity to her, a lack of malice, that meant he didn't have to feel defensive of his sister. It was funny to think of her in green rooms and in band tees, as she had turned so WASPy in the years since - well, as WASPy as a Catholic could be. Livvy fits perfectly in his lap and he instinctively kisses her shoulder as she fulfils his request, making both of them laugh. Like Lily, Liv was far from cruel, and it's one of her qualities that he enjoys most. "God, it's like she's here... though thank god she's not. Another round?"

[cora wolfe]

DRINK FOUR “Sounds like Theo has a type,” Cora laughs, looking from herself to Olivia after she bounded down the beach to be with Tate. “I wish my tits were real though, she's just gifted.” It's why Cora's not surprised that she's here with Tate, the rare combination in their family of attractive and rational. Well, as rational as one could be on an impromptu trip to Cabo. Cora turns back to the quartet before her, enjoying the energy radiating off of Cleo, Elyse and Theo as she tosses back another shot. “Should we play a little game? Truth or Dare?”

[freddie beaumont]

DRINK FIVE Freddie had been bellied up to the bar the entire day, into the evening. It was the atmosphere that he thrived in; talking with new people and never meeting a stranger. He was given a shot by the girl called Cleo and just as he finished, his lips curled up into a smile. Jane looked stunning, just coming off the plane surprising her friend. He was seated at one of the chairs pressed up against the bar when she joined his side. Freddie noticed the extra glance that Tate placed in his direction, not caring what that meant. “Hello gorgeous, welcome to paradise. I think we need to do a shot,” he flagged the bartender. “Tequila?” He remembers the last time they dabbled with the liquor.

[jane ridley]

DRINK TWO A satisfied thrill coursed through her body as she drifted to Freddie's side, dark eyes flicking behind even darker sunglasses at the girls who'd been dazzled by his attention a moment ago. Capable of entrancing everyone around him, it almost felt like a victory lap when his stormy blue eyes settled on her in satisfied praise. She decides to double down on her temporary claim, requesting limes and salt with the chilled tequila shots as she draws even closer. “Bite,” Jane requests, positioning the lime between his teeth and palming salt against the sheen of his neck. “Ladies first,” she toasts, leaning in to trail her tongue up the path of salt she'd left on his skin, tossing back the shot and drawing the lime from his mouth with her teeth, sucking it in sour relief. She lets it drop into her palm before leaning back in for a citrusy kiss. “Just what I needed,” she murmurs against his lips, tilting her head back to the bar when she finally pulls away. “Your turn?”

[olivia hamilton]

DRINK FIVE Olivia loved the sound of Tate’s laugh and the feel of his lips against her skin of her upper shoulder. She leaned into his touch and smiled towards Lily. The bar was beginning to get a little more crowded as the sun was officially behind the ocean and a tint of darkness was in the air. Her eyes scan for the remainder of their group and she spied Jane and Freddie at the bar. Her friend’s lips were grazing Freddie’s neck, a shot glass following as she pulled away. Olivia smirked at their encounter, all while intertwining her fingers with Tate’s. She tugged him up, their bodies still staying flushed to one another. “You need another, plus sounds like a lot of fun is happening over there. I swear I just heard Cora say truth or date,” she murmurs before placing her glossed lips on the corner of his mouth. She points her head in the direction of Cora, Theo, Cleo and Elyse.

[freddie beaumont]

DRINK FIVE Freddie does as the gorgeous woman demands, biting the lime between his teeth. His blue eyes watch intently as she schemes the snake bite in front of him. With every step she takes, he feels his pulse quickening. She knows what she’s doing and I’m so for it, he thinks to himself as she leans in to lick the trail of salt she’s left behind on his neck. She seals her masterpiece with a kiss and Freddie feels himself laughing in between their kiss. “Smooth Jane Ridley,” he teases her, “You sure know how to make an entrance, by the way.” Without any shame, his eyes scan her body up and down. There were mere inches between them, and yet he snakes his arm around her waist pulling her closer. “Definitely my turn.” He’s about to flag down the bartender when he hears the familiar voice of Olivia calling his name. His head is lifted in the direction of the blonde. “Freddie, get shots for everyone and come join us. It’s time for a game.” He laughs, remember the last game he had played in Vegas with Olivia and Jane. “Come on babe, let’s see what this is all about.”