Jordan snorts. “Youlanded a cheerleader?”
“Yep. Hard to believe, I know. But I happen to have a lot to offer women, if you know what I mean. They just have to make it to third base to experience it in all its glory.”
“You mean once they get past your dull personality and cheap dates, there’s a pot of gold at the end?” Ben asks, and everyone chuckles. “Seriously, though. Holly is like the entire package. I have been with girls who are fun but can’t commit. I’ve been with women who want commitment but don’t know how to have a good time. It’s like everything is on a checklist and they never stray from it.”
“Sticky note girls,” one of the guys nods.
“What’s wrong with sticky notes?” I ask.
“Nothing if you want your whole life bulleted out for you,” Jordan says.
Ben agrees, though I’m feeling a little annoyed. “The last girl I was with…Charlie, was beautiful and sweet, and organized. So, so organized. She folded my socks. By color and warmth level. It was too much.”
“I don’t see what’s wrong with being with a girl who is grounded,” I say. “Sometimes they’re the most fun of everyone when they finally let loose a little.”
“I wouldn’t know,” Ben says. “I never got that far with her.”
“Maybe that was the problem,” I say. “You didn’t know what she needed, and you never gave her a chance.” I don’t know why what they’re saying is pissing me off. Not long ago, I would have agreed with everything they’re saying. I guess that was before I met Charlotte.
“Trust me, Pops,” Ben says. It’s what he calls me when he’s being a little shit and he knows it. “I gave her plenty of time. She never changed.”
“Women aren’t supposed to change for us,” I say.
“Which is why she was wrong for me,” he states, and everyone else in the room goes quiet. “If you like that type, go find an uptight girl. But she wasn’t for me.”
I open my mouth to blurt something else when suddenly the door flies open.
“Hey boys, think fast!” Holly says.
It takes all us guys a second to realize what’s going on. But once the snowball hits Ben square in the chest, we know exactly what’s happening. The girls are crashing our party, and they’ve come armed.
The next thing we know, the rest of the girls are flooding into the room. With snowballs in hand, it turns into a one-sided dodgeball game. The guys are blocking themselves while encroaching on the girls who quickly run out of ammo.
“Retreat!” Holly shouts right before Ben reaches out to grab her. She slips from his grasp, and all of them take off into the night like a bunch of kids in an all-out war.
I walk to the door, grinning at the chaos of it all. Shadows move around in the snow while everyone is out for themselves. And then, a snowball hits me in the shoulder.
I look over to see Charlotte standing about fifteen feet away with a smile on her lips. It’s a small smile, but I see the challenge in it.
“That wasn’t a good idea,” I tell her teasingly.
“Oh no? And what are you going to do about it?” she asks.
“I suggest that you run…” I say, and she takes off. A split second later, I run after her. As soon as I hit the snow, I bend down and build up a ball in my hand. Meanwhile, she makes a break for the trees. Laughter and shadows fill the night, and I realize that as much as I thought everyone was being ridiculous earlier, Charlotte has a way of bringing the kid out in me. She brings a lot out in me. Things I thought had died a long time ago.
Chapter 33
Charlotte
A snowball whizzespast my face, and I stop just in time not to get hit. Despite the craziness of it all, I’m laughing. Taking part in an adult snowball fight is not something I usually do. At least not before I met Gavin. Considering everything, it feels like a very new me thing to do. Chill Charlotte can also be competitive Charlotte, and competitive Charlotte is going to win a snowball fight against Gavin.
Despite the bodies running every which way, I can pick out his shadow amongst the rest. The only light source is the moon, but it makes the snow very bright. I can make out his broad shoulders, defined chest, wavy hair, and sharp jawline. He’s closing in on me, but I’m ready.
As he gets closer, I throw a ball, but it misses him. He throws one, and it hits me. I shriek and throw another. It hits him in the thigh, almost hitting him somewhere else.
“Wow, I see how it is,” he says, and I laugh.
“I didn’t mean to,” I giggle.
