Staring at her in disbelief, I think to myself that she may be the most high-maintenance woman in existence.
I roll my eyes at her ridiculous statement. “You know what’s a bigger waste of time? Someone who obviously plays games like you. Playing hard to get is so cliché.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “I don’tplayhard to get. Iamhard to get.”
She looks me up and down as if just now noticing my attire. “What the hell are you wearing?”
I take in my colorful Hawaiian shirt with a repeating pattern of Vance’s face. “I’m supporting my bestie. You should understand that more than most.”
Kennedy practically tackled a player who shoved Sulley tonight. She was ejected from the game for doing so, but the hometown fans gave her a standing ovation on her way back to the locker room. The problem was, without Kennedy on the boards, they couldn’t get a single rebound. I would never admit this to her, but she’s extremely valuable to the team. She’s not flashy like Sulley, dropping three-pointer after three-pointer, but her contributions are undeniable, and they couldn’t win without her.
She sighs. “Why did I get stuck sitting next to you…again?”
“Getting stuck in bad situations is the worst. My penis got stuck in a zipper yesterday,” I offer. “That’s the last time I’m zipping up someone’s dress.”
She shakes her head. “I feel like I’m in Oz and you’re all the characters in one. No brain, no heart, and no courage.”
I nod toward Champ, who’s walking toward us along with Layla and Presley. “There’s yourcrush. Go fangirl over him, Cruella.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “Why don’t you think I can get him?”
I raise an amused eyebrow. “You think you’re such hot shit, and you’re not. You’re right, I don’t think you can get him.” I inwardly laugh. She’s got no clue he’s gay. I’m gonna fuck with her as long as I can over this.
She scowls as she crosses her arms. “Why don’t you put your money where your mouth is, bigshot?”
I nod enthusiastically. “Happily.” I run my fingers through my facial hair. “Hmm, what can we wager? If you can’t get him to come home with you, I get to join one of your postgame interviews, saying and doing whatever the hell I want.”
“Home with me tonight?” she asks.
I shrug. “No. I’m a reasonable man. Let’s say by the end of August, right before my season starts. That gives you the rest of the summer to work your so-calledmagic.” I air quote the word magic. “I don’t think your ugly ass can get him,” I taunt.
Okay, she’s not ugly. She’s fucking hot…on the outside. With great tits.It’s the inside I hate.
She narrows her eyes at me. “And if I win?”
I pop a fried pickle into my mouth and purposefully chew with my mouth open because she mentioned it as another red flag of hers. “You can join my first postgame interview, also saying and doing whatever you please. It will be seen bymillions more than yours. Great PR for you. I imagine it will help your image.”
Her green eyes light up. She likes that. “He doesn’t have a girlfriend, does he? It doesn’t count if he does.”
I hold up my right hand. “Scout’s honor. I swear on my life he doesn’t have a girlfriend.”
“And you can’t interfere by saying something to him about this bet.”
I nod. “Agreed. I honestly don’t think you can seal the deal with him. You’re not as hot as you think you are,” I lie.
Steam practically shoots from her ears as she holds out her hand. “Deal. No limits. The winner can say and do anything they want.”
I smile as I happily shake her hand in return just before Champ, Layla, and Presley reach the table. Presley shakes his head in exasperation. “Sorry we’re late. When a woman says five minutes, it’s more like five minutes left in a game and both teams have all their timeouts.”
I look his sexy wife up and down in her tiny dress. Knowing she’s a little insecure about the last few pounds of baby weight, I want to make her feel good about herself. I let out a loud whistle. “Wow. Totally worth the wait. Are you a Beaver, becausedam…”
Layla giggles, but Kennedy snorts in annoyance. “You truly have a way with words. Shakespeare walked so you could run. Good lord, I hate your sense of humor.”
I bring my index finger to my pursed lips. “Shhh.” I look up. “We need to see if flying fucks fall from the sky.”
I stand, needing to get away from Kennedy’s vitriol for a few minutes. “I’m going to drain the dragon. I’ll stop by the bar and grab a round afterward. Anyone want anything?”
Kennedy glares at me. She hates my bathroom references. “I’ll take a drink. Watch out for the woman running the cash register. She was a real bitch earlier.”
