Page 71 of Storm Warning
Well, now he’s fucked.
“I expected you’d be better looking.” Judd rocks back, confusion written plain on his features. I can’t help but chuckle. She probably would have kept that one to herself had he not undermined her ability to play this game just because she’s a girl. Unfortunately for Judd, she already has a predetermined distaste for him for whatever is going on between him and Ginny, and picking Sawyer just because he’s a guy doesn’t do him any favors. He should consider himself lucky that’s as far as her insult goes and she didn’t rip him a new asshole instead.
“Bring it on,” she says, sending him a glare that could kill while grabbing Daisy and I both by the wrists, leading us toward the pong tables.
I look over toward Daisy and she smiles so big I can’t tell if she’s already had too much to drink or if she’s secretly a professional pong player.
Each cup clatters together as Sawyer and I set up the game, while Judd pretends to look at his phone trying to avoid Kaylee’s wrath. I watch as they make eye contact and chuckle softly at how noticeably uncomfortable Judd gets even though he’s damn near three of her in weight and height.
“Sorry we stuck you girls with Rhett, someone had to take him.” He tries to clear his name by making me the pit of his joke. Lucky for him, it lands a smile with Kaylee.
“You’re still going to lose,” she replies.
We start off the game with Daisy first. She tosses the ball like she isn’t sure whether or not she should throw it over or underhand, settling for a sideways toss that doesn’t quite make its mark. Kaylee softly coaches her through whatever technique she uses when she throws and the ball sinks right in.
Judd chugs the drink before taking his turn, making it in a back row of our cups.
“I’ll take the first drink since I’m the one who missed,” says Daisy, but I take it before she has the chance. Her tone alone says she didn’t want it, and another drink or two doesn’t mean much to me.
Sawyer throws next and misses. But if I were guessing, it’s because he’s trying to be a gentleman from the other side of the table. The ball revolves back to us and I take my shot, plunging it into the second row, and Daisy makes the next shot after, following everything Kaylee said to a T.
“Balls back.” Kaylee smiles, no doubt excited to rub our success in Judd’s face. Tossing the balls back, him and Sawyer down their cups before stacking them off to the side.
The rounds go by quickly. It’s probably the fastest game of pong I’ve ever played. Kaylee makes sure Judd knows to eat his choice over and over again as our team pulls forward with only four cups left. She kisses the ball, her focus on one of the remaining cups before she softly tosses it right in. Goddamn, she’s so hot. From her competitive nature, to her fiery personality, it’s like she was hand-tailored to be my weakness while simultaneously being my reason for strength. A rush goes through me as I wish for nothing more than to be the next thing she presses her lips to. Everywhere if possible.
I look at her as I send my ball in the direction of the cups. A bold move given that the game could be on the line, but I make it, and the sly look she flashes me says I’ve earned something extra later because of it.
Swinging her body back toward the boys, she sings, “balls back,” and her happiness feels so pure that it has to be contagious.
“Judd, ya better start thankin’ the girls here for dustin’ off your balls and holdin’ on to them with such care.” Daisy blushes, shaking her head at my joke while Kaylee laughs and leans right in.
“Unfortunately, he won’t be getting them back because we are about to win.” Tossing her ball, she sinks yet another shot, crossing her arms and sticking her nose arrogantly up toward the air.
Sawyer drinks each cup in stride. It’s funny, we’ve barely had to drink at all. Looks like I got added to the right team.
“Y’all do this in a past life or what?” Disbelief washes over Judd. The comment may be fitting to Kaylee and Daisy’s costumes but, damn, can they run the table.
“This is my first time playing,” Daisy replies in the most blissful tone.
“Well beginner’s luck, I guess, but I definitely made the wrong choice,” Judd spits out, envy shining in his stare. He always has been a sore loser.
“Next time, don’t underestimate your opponents based on how hot they are.” Kaylee turns to Sawyer. “No offense, Sawyer, you were just along for the ride.”
Raising his hands in surrender, he says, “None taken,” chuckling softly to himself.
I roll my neck, setting my sights on the final cup. Kaylee’s sugary-sweet scent lingers around me, but I’m not about to let that distract me. Coiling my arm back, I toss, letting the ball sail toward the red cup across the way.Hook. Line. Sinker.I pump my fist in the air, elated I made my mark. We win.
“I should’ve bet ya somethin’, Juddy. This win could’ve been that much better.”
He laughs. “The girls carried you. Don’t get your panties in a bunch.”
Daisy retreats to Sawyer’s side, and I find Kaylee back at mine. “Better luck next time. Practice up and we can have a rematch later.” I reach to tip my hat like its muscle memory but find a crown instead and drop my hand, hoping no one else noticed.
“Wanna dance?” asks Kaylee. Before allowing me to answer, she pulls away from me, linking her fingers with mine and leading me toward the patch of dirt we dedicated to the dance floor. “I didn’t know you guys had this many friends,” she says, looking over the sea of people at the party.
“We don’t.” I laugh. “Word apparently just traveled beyond the crew and at the shop. I don’t know who more than half these people are. Ain’t seen any of them until today.”
She beams back at me and I lean in to give her a kiss. Her scent is sweet like candy, fitting for the occasion, but also a contrast I’ll never get over from her much tougher, less sweet, outward personality when she doesn’t know someone. Her teeth graze my bottom lip and I try to remain controlled, to not take her immediately into the bunk house and forget the party all together.
