Gwen’s cheeks flush. “It was a work efficiency exercise.”
Leo laughs. “It was a duel.”
Gwen glares at him. “It was one time.”
He looks at me. “She said, and I quote, ‘If you beat me, you get one dare.’”
My mouth falls open. “Gwen.”
Gwen points at me. “Don’t you start. I didn’t think he’d win.”
Leo looks personally offended. “Wow.”
“You’re a freak of nature,” Gwen snaps. “You fold boxes like you were raised by cardboard.”
Leo’s grin is pure menace now.
“So,” he says, leaning forward slightly, “I dare you to add your name to the bowl.”
Gwen’s eyes widen. “No.”
“Yes,” Leo says.
“I will literally die,” Gwen says.
“You will literally ice skate,” Leo corrects.
Gwen looks at me, pleading. “Boss.”
I cross my arms. “You made the dare.”
“I was emotionally compromised,” Gwen argues.
“You’re always emotionally compromised,” I tell her.
Leo’s voice goes soft, coaxing. “Come on, G. It’s community. It’s fun. It’s not even guaranteed your name gets pulled.”
Gwen stares at him with betrayal. “How do you know that? I will break every bone on the ice.”
Leo shrugs. “You’ll be fine.”
Gwen scoffs. “No, I won’t.”
Leo looks at me like he wants backup.
I’m supposed to be the responsible adult here. Instead, I feel my mouth twitch.
Gwen sees it immediately. “No,” she says, horrified. “Absolutely not. You are not siding with him.”
I shrug. “Add your name to the bowl, Gretzky.”
Gwen lets out a noise like a dying animal. “Traitors. Both of you.”
Leo holds his hands up. “Hey, you agreed.”
“I agreed because I didn’t think you could be both rich and competent,” Gwen snaps.
Leo pauses. “That’s fair.”
