Opening my eyes, I watch Em looking between us, so composed that it’s driving me insane on the inside. I think I might be sweating. I don’t know. Maybe I pissed my pants a little bit. I’m not gonnacheck. Just glad I’m wearing black denim.
“To uphold fairness,” she finally says, “I’ll ride with one of you to the picnic location.”
My heart kicks hard.
“Then I’ll ride back home with the other,” she continues, like she’s explaining a perfectly reasonable hypothesis, and it’s doing things to my dick. “That way, no one feels excluded.”
Lix looks at her. I look at Lix.
Em lifts her glasses up. “You may determine the order by playing rock, paper, scissors.”
There’s silence. Then Lix snorts. And I burst out laughing, the tension snapping loose.
“Goddamm,” I say, squeezing her shoulder. “You’re an evil genius, Em.”
She smiles up at me, lookin’ mighty proud.
Rolling our shoulders, Lix and I square up like this is a serious event. Which, to be fair, it totally is.
“Best two outta three,” I tell him.
Lix glances at me. “Pretty sure only one’s needed, Stan.”
“I don’t do what’sneeded,” I say with gusto. “I do what’sdramatic. Ever heard of suspense, babe?”
He gives me a look, but he’s smiling, so…
“One round only,” Em cuts in. “Please refrain from sabotaging the process.”
I scoff. “I wouldnever.”
Lix raises his hand, all calm, centered, and annoyingly attractive about it.
Since I’m aprofessional, I stretch my fingers and shake out my arm like I’m about to throw a championship pitch instead of scissors.
My heart’s pounding way too hard for this.
“On three,” Em says.
“One,” I startearly.
“Two,” Lix says, voice deep and sexy, and clearly trying to distract me.
“Three,” Em finishes.
Hands fly.
I throw scissors.
Lix throws rock.
I stare at our hands like maybe—just maybe—if I glare hard enough, reality will change its mind and let me win.
“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me,” I mutter when reality refuses to take my side.
Lix lets out a laugh, soft and surprised, then looks up at Em. He walks over to her, one hand sliding around her perfect waist, and taking her away from me.
“Guess she’s riding mine first,” he says with a smile.
