“Congrats again,” I tell him, clapping him on the shoulder.
“Thanks. Sorry about your finish,” Chase says.
I shrug. “Yeah, what can you do?” I say, nonchalantly. All three of them just stare at me, wide eyed and in shock. “What?”
“Who are you and what have you done with Dean Dixon?” Taylor asks with a laugh.
I scan all of them. They all look like I just told them I have a tail. Is it really that weird that I’m not angry about it? I didn’t realize that I get angry about losing so much. I just prefer the feeling of winning. Who doesn’t?
“I don’t know. I mean, it sucks, don’t get me wrong. There are plenty of races left and time to catch Brady. I also wantedto keep a level head while Daniel and his family were there today, I guess.”
“Okay, Dixon. We’ll let it slide this time,” Chase says with a sly grin. “But we’re watching you.”
“Always watching,” Taylor says, using his best Roz voice fromMonsters Inc.
I toss my head back and laugh. The front door opens and people start to pile into the house, all carrying some kind of snack or drink for the evening.
Soon, the counters are full of food that everyone is snacking on, and the coolers are full to the brim with every kind of drink you can imagine.
The party is in full swing, and I’m outside playing cornhole with Ian, Drew, and Greyson. Ian and I are killing them. I’m so focused on my next shot that I don’t notice that anyone else has come outside until Drew calls for Regan and Leslie. Most of the party is still inside since it's a bit humid out tonight, but that hasn’t stopped us.
“Hey! Brady, Leslie, wasn’t expecting y’all tonight,” Drew says.
I pause mid throw, watching as Leslie and Regan pad down the deck stairs and into the yard. Regan looks stunning in a green summer dress that stops mid-thigh and hugs every inch of her perfectly. It dips a little low in the front, showing the swell of her perfect breasts. Shit. What am I even saying right now? A six pack of Modelo dangles from her fingers with one already opened.
“Yeah, we were invited by Chase,” says Regan a little timidly. Almost like she isn’t sure about being here.
In that dress, she should definitely be here.
“Dixon! Throw the fucking bag already!” Greyson shouts from the other side of the cornhole boards. I forgot we were even playing. I throw the bag with ease, and it slides into the hole with a swoosh.
“That’s game,” Ian says, pumping a fist of victory into the air.
“Anyone call next game?” Leslie asks. Regan give her a slight glare. Clearly, she doesn’t want to play, but agrees anyway.
“You can be on my team, Brady,” Ian says, scanning Regan’s body. The look he’s giving her is gross, like she’s a piece of meat and not a person.
Regan crosses her arms over her chest like protective armor from Ian’s gaze.
“Don’t stare too long, Hicks, you may turn to stone,” she snips at him.
“My bad, Brady.” His sneer returns and I know he’s thinking something he shouldn’t be. I’m disgusted by how Hicks is acting with her.
“Grow up, Hicks,” Leslie quips before I have a chance to say something myself. She’s usually not one to snap back, good for her.
“No need to get snippy, Leslie,” Ian says.
“Shut the fuck up and stand over there. You’re on my team,” I tell him, mainly so he can stay the hell away from Regan. “Leslie, you’ll unfortunately have to stand over there across from Brady.”
Everyone takes their places and the game begins. It’s not a very long game. Turns out, both Regan and Leslie are terrible at cornhole. It’s not like they are even too drunk to play. It’s like watching a toddler play t-ball for the first time—torture.
“Come on, Dixon. One more and we win!” Ian shouts from the other side of the boards.
“Shut up, I got it.” I focus on my shot and throw the bag, arcing high across the dark sky. It lands right through the hole in the board with a whoosh.
“Yes!” Hicks celebrates.
“Thank god!” Leslie says, relieved. “Got any liquor in this place?”
