Page 68 of Bridesmaid for Hire
“You’re turning my dick into applesauce, that’s what you’re doing.”
“Ew.” I cringe. “Don’t say that.”
Pop.
“Wooooo!” Hudson yells as he raises his hands above his head while Hardy lays flat on the sand, looking like he just took a brutal beating.
“At least you’re not the only one whose dick was turned into applesauce.” I pat his cheek. “Be glad it wasn’t by your brother.”
Brody pours some water over his face while Reginald splits the group into two large teams of two. The game is still up in the air. Hardy and Hudson are in the lead, but not by much. Beatrice and her husband are in third while Haisley and Jude are second. We’re fifth, but we still have a shot—points are awarded to the overall team that wins, and also to the individuals that score.
The game is like flag football. But instead of scoring a touchdown, you’re required to toss the ball in a bin at the end zone. If both of your flags are pulled, you’re out of the game. You can only have a flag pulled if you have the ball. First team to score three points wins.
Hardy and Hudson are on the opposing team while Jude and Haisley are on our team. I watch carefully as Reginald divides the rest of us up and when he places Beatrice on Hardy and Hudson’s team, I mentally fist pump. She may be good at the egg toss, but I should be able to outrun her.
Okay, we’ve got this one in the bag.
I turn to Brody. “We have to score if we’re going to climb the leaderboard. So, get the ball to me and I’ll score.”
His brows raise. “You want to score?”
“Uh, yeah. If you try to score, both Hardy and Hudson are going to go after you. But if I try to score, they’ll be dainty about it.”
“Hudson popped a balloon on Hardy’s face, there is nothing dainty about them.”
“Trust me, they won’t attack me like they’ll attack you. Plus”—I pat my bicep—“I have one hell of a stiff arm. If they come at me, I’ll just,bam.” I stiff-arm Brody in the chest. “Block them like this. They’re hosed.”
“You’re going to break your arm if you try to stiff-arm them. They have at least seventy-five pounds on you.”
“Do you not have faith in me?”
“Honestly?” He grips the back of his neck. “No. After today’s events, I have no faith in you. My faith in you is actually in the negative.”
“Well, be prepared to be proved wrong because this girl is scoring all three points. I have moves. I can juke. You have no idea what I’m capable of.”
He drags his hand over his face and mutters, “Jesus.”
A staffer from the hotel hands out belts with flags attached to them and while we strap them on, Reginald walks by, sizing up our team.
“Let’s see something impressive, McFadden.” He pats Brody on the shoulder and walks away, leaving Brody looking frustrated.
“Hard to be impressive when I’m teamed up with this…” He gestures at me with disgust.
“Uh, excuse me, but that’s insulting.”
He leans in close. “And it’s insulting that I’ve had to endure this day with you.”
“Why are you in a bad mood?”
“Why?” he asks, looking as if I should know the answer to that. “Maybe because you’ve embarrassed me all day.”
“I have not. I’ve played the games.” Besides the whipped cream one, but we weren’t winning that anyway. Beatrice and the boys both unhinged their jaws like snakes trying to swallow an ostrich egg. At least that’s what I was told—I didn’t see since I was blindfolded.
“I’ve looked like an idiot all day.” He tightens his flag belt.
“If you looked like an idiot, that’s on you, not me.” I tighten my belt as well and then jog in place. Got to loosen up these steam engine legs that are going to plow down the competition. “Now, maybe you can stop worrying about your image and start winning. Pass the ball to me. I guarantee we score and move up the leaderboard.”
“I’m not passing it to you.”
