They both smirked at me and were quick to each grab a chip from the bowl in front of them and throw it at me. I caught both chips, one in each hand, which, by the looks on their faces, annoyed them.
"Conversation over," I said smugly, before biting into one of the chips. I made my way over to the couch and sat next to Slate, reaching to grab more chips.
"So, how was the interview yesterday?" he asked.
I shrugged. "Fine." I didn’t really know how to answer that, since I wasn't sure if it had gone good or bad.
"Olivia says Scarlet's been quiet since the interview," Wilder piped in. "And we all know that Scarlet is not known to be quiet."
I let out a huff of air. "Like I said, it went fine, but I started asking her questions too, and things turned personal. I think I took it too far."
"What do you mean, personal? What did you take too far?" Slate asked.
I ran a hand through my hair. "I brought up her dad."
"Whoa," Wilder said. "That's not a good topic to bring up with her."
I leaned back on the couch. "Yeah, I figured that out real quick."
"I guess I didn't need to worry about preventing anything from happening between you two." Slate slapped me on the shoulder. "You did that all on your own."
"Shut up."
Wilder looked toward the door. "And look who just showed up."
All three of us watched as Olivia let Scarlet in, giving each other a quick hug before heading into the kitchen that was attached and open to the living room.
It was too loud to hear what they were saying, but when Olivia softly put her hand on Scarlet's arm in a consoling way, it took more self-control than I wanted to admit to stay in my seat. I wanted to be the one to console her, to be there for her.
The back of Slate's hand hit my chest. "Easy there, cowboy. She's not yours to run after."
I must have made a move as if I was going to get up before I mentally stopped myself.
"I know," I said, but it still didn't take away the annoyance of not being able to go to her.
I leaned back into the couch and tried not to look at her, but it was futile. This was the first game night that she hadn't had Mick glued to her side, and I hadn't realized before now that him being here had been a huge help for me, even if I hadn't liked seeing him with her.
She wore a form-fitting long sleeved shirt and jeans that hugged her hips. I wondered if she wore outfits like that to torture me, to taunt me with what I could never have. Although, she probably didn't think about me at all and especially not about what to wear. She hadn't even looked my way since she'd walked in.
Instead of joining the group that was surrounding the coffee table, she walked down the hall, her curly hair disappearing around the corner.
"Okay, everyone," Olivia's voice rang out. "It's time to start. I have a fun night planned, if not a little childish. But Wilder said I needed to break up the brain games, as he likes to call them, and mix it up with some other types of games."
Wilder came up beside her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders pulling her close to him and placing a kiss on her temple. "Not all of us are as smart as you, babe."
"Well, smarts will have nothing to do with tonight's activities," she said. "First, everyone needs to find a partner. It doesn't have to be a significant other, it could be a friend or teammate or whatever. But Wilder's mine, so no one eventhinkabout asking him to be your partner," she added, but looked directly at Slate.
Slate laughed. "Like he would pick me over you, when you can give him—"
"Don't finish that sentence," Wilder warned.
Slate raised his hands up in submission.
I was about to ask Slate if he wanted to partner up, but a girl had already sidled up next to him on the couch.
Looking around the circle of people I noticed that everyone had already decided on their partner, and I was the only one left.
"Does everyone have a partner?" Olivia asked.
