Stevie crosses her legs and looks at me. More like stares me down, but I love the fierce look in her gaze. “What do you have in mind?”
Oh, I have lots of things in mind, but I go with the easy one. “Another night of cooking together.”
Stevie looks bewildered. “Seriously? That’s what you want? A night of cooking?”
I nod. “It means another date with you.”
She fights the smile, but it’s useless. It splits her face wide open. “What a smooth talker you are.”
“And if you win?”
“Can I wait and tell you?”
“I think that defeats the purpose of setting the bet before we play.”
Stevie picks a character and I settle on my usual guy. Mario Kart is an easy one, and whoever wins, I’m happy that I get to spend the night with her.
The game starts and I take off, leaving her in my dust. Other characters keep bumping into her or dropping banana peels to send her spiraling.
“Hit the X button to block them.” I let go of my controller to cover her hand with mine. “That’ll get you around the other players to move up. And try and grab the health things on the road so you can attack others.”
“Why are you helping me? Don’t you want to win?”
Stevie’s tongue is poking out of her mouth as her entire body turns with the controller. Fuck, if she isn’t the cutest thing ever. She slides up to fourth place.
“I can help you and still play.”
I have a solid lead as I kick my feet out onto the coffee table and steer my guy around the course. It’s an easy one, a giant oval.
“Alright, well take this.” I don’t know what she does, but it sends a rocket flying at me.
“What the hell?” I try to recover but she goes zooming by me on the final lap. “How’d you do that?”
“I don’t know. I did what you told me to do.”
“Damn it.” I pop up onto my knees, focusing on the game. I can see her pink car ahead of me as I dodge another player who flies by me. “C’mon, Bode. C’mon.”
“I can see the finish line.”
Stevie leans closer to the TV, but no matter what I fire at her, it’s to no avail. She crosses in second place as I move down to fourth.
“Damn it.”
“Yes!” She throws her arms up in victory. “I did it! Queen of the Road! Champion!”
It flashes for a second game, and I toss the controller next to me before tackling Stevie to the couch.
“Alright, Queen of the Road.” I drop my elbows on either side of her head. “What is it you want for winning the bet?”
Stevie links her hands behind my neck and brings my face closer to hers. “I have a feeling it’s something you might like.”
“Oh yeah? What might that be?”
Her lips drift up my cheek, brushing the shell of my ear. A shudder racks my body.
“Take me upstairs, Bode.”
“What?” That has me pulling back. “Are you sure?”
