‘Oh shit, yes. WipeOut 2097, legendary game. Ham, get in here!’
Josh returns with Hennie and Elliot in tow and we make ourselves comfortable with the queue of competitors waiting to play. Josh mutters under his breath about this being ‘a farce’ and that they have ‘never had to queue before’, which is behaviour from him that no longer surprises me. There are two worn sofas facing the television along with a handful of armchairs covered with dark-red velvet. I grab Hennie and try to drag her into the free armchair with me, but she gives me an affectionate pat and sits on the floor in front of it between my knees.
Elliot settles on the arm of my chair as I throw myself into it with a contented sigh. His arm rests on the top of the chair behind me, leaving my body surrounded by the edges of his. His woody scent immediately clouds my senses and I have to fight to not gaze up at him.
We wait for two more pairs to do their race, joining in with the crowds’ cheers whenever someone flies off the track or takes the win. Owen and Josh finally step forward, taking their place in front of the TV with their legs stretched out in front of them. There’s something wonderfully boyish about their chuckles asthey goad each other with taunts, quickly clicking through the vehicle selection screens.
Elliot lightly taps my arm, and I finally tilt my head up to see his sly smile.
‘Want to make things interesting?’ he asks, keeping his voice low.
‘How so?’
‘Bets are on, who do you think is gonna win?’ he asks. I narrow my eyes in scepticism.
‘What exactly am I betting?’
‘Hmm,’ he ponders, his eyes moving around the room before alighting with something mischievous. ‘How about a dare situation? You win, you get to tell me to do something – I win, vice versa.’
I purse my lips and scan his face for signs of trickery. The opportunity to challenge him to do whatever I want is an intriguing one, for sure. And I know he wouldn’t dare me to do something horribly humiliating, given what he knows about me now.
His gentle smile elicits a kind of warmth in my belly that temporarily renders me speechless, and I can’t think of anything to say to him other than, yes, of course, I’ll do whatever you like. I lift my chin up to him and nod.
‘Fine. I’m betting on Owen.’
‘Good. I wanted Josh,’ he says, leaning back behind me with a contented look.
I quickly wonder if I’ve made a mistake.
‘Go Ham!’ Hennie shouts, clapping loudly. Owen whips his head to her with an outraged glare and she responds with a rude gesture.
For the first time, I wonder if Hennie has been flirting with Owen all weekend and I just haven’t noticed it. I nudge her back with my knee to get her attention, and her blonde head spinsround to me. My eyebrows lift in a silent question, to which she just rolls her eyes and faces the TV again.
The race begins with a deep voice calling ‘Go’ and I exchange a quick glance with Elliot. But almost immediately, Owen’s craft bounces off the side of another racer and collides with the wall, leaving him facing the wrong direction. My eyes widen with horror.
‘Oh, shit,’ I whisper.
Elliot shakes with laughter next to me. ‘That’s tough luck,’ his voice rumbles.
‘You scammer,’ I snap, glowering at him. ‘You knew this would happen.’
‘Nope. They’re both really fucking good at video games,’ he says, that boyish grin lighting up his features.
I scowl up at him as the race continues and Owen spends the next lap desperately trying to catch up.
‘Come on, Owen!’ I call out.
‘Cool cool, thanks everyone for your support!’ Josh shouts back dryly, his body leaning forward at a deeply uncomfortable-looking angle.
Owen yowls with victory as he passes two more crafts. ‘I’m catching up to you, Ham sandwich,’ he teases.
‘I love you, but you’re never gonna pass me,’ Ham says plainly.
They enter the last lap with Owen hot on Josh’s tail, both of them screeching all the while. Josh’s body sways from side to side while Owen is totally still, his eyes laser-focussed on the screen.
My mind starts to rattle through potential dares that Elliot is currently devising. Will he make me jump in the lake to see the eels? I risk another quick glance up at him as he looks down with that predictable, impossibly beautiful smirk.
‘You’ve got this, Josh,’ he cheers.
