Page 17 of The Chemistry Coach
Daisy stood and opened her bag.“I also got some items to participate, if you guys are okay with it.I was curious if I could do it.I’m only confident about one though.”
Hazy clapped.“Yes!Free snacks!Show us what you got!”
“Do you want me to show you first, or do you want to show what you got yourself?”
Lover fisted his mostly empty bag and raised it in the air, bouncing in his seat in a way that couldn’t be healthy for Daisy’s furniture.
“Ooo, let’s do ours, and then we can do yours!See how well the fan sites know us!”Lover upended his bag, and a pack of Sour Patch Kids fell into his lap.
Hazy took offense at Lover’s snack choice.“Bruh!I’ve never seen you eat those.Ever.You like Charleston Chews way more than those!”
Lover shrugged.“I didn’t see the Charleston Chews.I like these fine.”
Connor pulled his bag of mixed nuts out and showed them off like a used car salesman.Hazy whooped.“I win!”
Lover nodded.“I accept defeat.What did you get for yourself?”
“I got myself White Cheddar Cheez-Its, obviously.They’re the superior snack food.”
Daisy did an adorable little happy dance.“Uh-uh, Hazy!You don’t win.I do!”
She yanked a pack of Cheez-Its from her bag and thrust them toward him.For Lover she presented a Charleston Chew.
When she got to Connor, her dancing ceased.She looked into her bag and then met his eyes.With her attention on him, the boys faded into the background.She seemed nervous, hesitation clear on her face.He raised an eyebrow and held out his hands.
“You seemed convinced you’d won a second ago.Prove it.”
He’d meant for it to sound light and teasing, but it came out more accusatory.Twice now, he hadn’t gotten his tone right with her, and he hated himself for it.
Her gaze hardened, and instead of showing off what she’d chosen for him, she shoved the entire grocery bag into his chest and turned to fiddle with a gaming console on her bookshelf.
“Maybe I didn’t win.”
She flipped to an input channel.He peeked into the grocery bag; the snack inside was his absolute favorite.One he hadn’t had in years.He cleared his throat.
“You won.”
Lover ripped the bag from his hands and dumped the contents onto the coffee table.He side-eyed Hazy, confused.
“Circus cookies?”Hazy asked.
Connor tore open the bag and stuffed a pink-frosted cookie into his mouth.Sprinkles spilled onto the coffee table, but that added to the experience.He dug around in the bag for a second pink cookie.The pink ones were better.
“Circus cookies,” he agreed around his full mouth.
He washed the cookie down with a swig of water.His linemates followed suit, and they stared at Daisy together, waiting for instructions.Bright cartoon characters waved at them from the TV.She handed them each a controller.
“This is all I have planned for the day.I’m obligated to keep you until the end of your session.All you have to do is play this game.”
Lover grinned at her.“I’ve never played this game sober.It’ll be way easier.”
Daisy snorted.“I’m willing to bet that’s not the case.”
The screen prompted them to pick their avatars.He chose a blue monkey before he noticed there were only three players listed.
“You aren’t playing?”Connor asked.
Daisy climbed onto a corner seat of the sectional, her socked feet stamping down the cushion before she sank into a crisscross position.
