“It sounds ridiculous,” I quietly argue back.
“I like it.” His look is pointed as he shoots his hand into the air.
“Yes, Sawyer.” Darian points at him.
“I’d like to add another rule, please.”
Darian nods, and I curl my fingers into a fist. I am not writing this shit down. If he says?—
“I’d like to officially name this house Basketball Base.”
I dip my chin with a soft sigh.
“It works, because we all play basketball, the alliteration isbeautiful.” He emphasizes the word to my face, then turns hischarming smile on everyone else. “And it’ll be cool to give this place a nickname.”
“I don’t give a shit.” Mac leans back in his seat. He’s been looking bored since about five seconds into this thing. “Call the house whatever you want.”
“I like it.” Charli bobs in her seat.
Of course she does.
Jimmy shrugs, then murmurs, “I probably won’t be referring to it that way when I talk to people, but you can call it that if you want.”
Always so agreeable.
I shake my head again.
“Ben, you don’t like it?” Darian asks.
“I think it sounds lame, but I’m only one person.”
“Let’s vote.” Darian slaps the table with the side of his fist. “All in favor of christening this house Basketball Base, raise your hand.”
Four hands shoot up, and I cast a side-eye at Mac, who’s smirking at me.
He doesn’t give a fuck what we call this place; he’s just voting this way to piss me off.
“Basketball Base it is!” Sawyer punches his arms into the air, then taps my computer screen again. “Write that down.”
With an irritated grunt, I type it onto the screen, then look at Darian. “Anything else?”
“I think we’ve covered it. I don’t want to get all hung up on rules and shit, but I want each of us to be happy here. If something’s going down that you don’t like, you need to be able to tell us. This is only going to work if we’re all honest with one another without getting offended at every turn. We all have a right to our opinions, but that doesn’t make them facts. And if we disagree on something, that doesn’t make us enemies. We can all live in this place together if we have that understanding.”
We all nod in agreement. Sawyer gives him a thumbs-up, and I think that’s a wrap, right?
“Oh, and one last thing…” Darian crosses his arms. “What’s the deal with girls sleeping over? Everyone cool with that?”
“Yes, sir.” Sawyer grins.
Charli gives him a side-eye and murmurs, “And guys, I’m assuming.”
“Whatever you’re into.” Darian tips his head. “Just want to make sure we all agree on how this plays out.”
“I’m cool with one-nighters but don’t think anyone should be sleeping over on the regular,” Mac murmurs. “Not unless we’ve met the person and agree that we like them.”
“Good point.” Darian flicks his finger at him, then runs it around the rest of the group. “So… we agree?”
Jimmy’s expression wrinkles, but he doesn’t say anything. I can’t imagine the guy bringing a plethora of girls home—unlike his buddy, who’s sitting there smirking and obviously thinking about all the hotties he’ll be inviting into this place.
