Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
“We won’t, Briar,” he says, reassuring me as he answers for the two of them. My fears fade away into the twilit air. “We’ll just keep our eyes and ears open for an opportunity. How does that sound?”
My body answers first in a rush of heat that settles low in my belly. Then, in my words. “It sounds great.”
“Good.” He nods to the house. “You ready to play?”
Rhys is talking about Candy Land, but either way my answer is yes.
37
HOW TO ARRANGE A TABLE FOR FOUR
Rhys
I’m not sure engineer an orgy is on the list of how to be a great boyfriend.
But maybe it should be.
As we play Chutes and Ladders, my radar’s on. Hollis and I flank her on the couch with Gavin parked on the floor, barely touching his wine. As he moves his piece around the board, eating up spaces, attacking the game, my mind whirs.
There’s the direct approach. Hey there, mate. Want to join the fun? Our girl’s keen on you too.
Too easy though for him to dismiss a spot-on question, though, with a growly what the fuck. The other issue is I don’t want to pressure him. That’s a shit thing to do to a friend. Don’t want him to feel uncomfortable, like he has to jump in the water, even though the water’s really, really nice.
I simply want to give him…an opportunity. Like I’d do on the ice in a game. Then, he can take it or leave it.
As we roll onto Operation, I noodle on how to do that. With humor? Sarcasm? A subtle hint?
When we shift to Candy Land, Gavin quickly pulls ahead while Briar’s lagging. She flips the card, then groans when she lands on another licorice space in the board game. “Lord Licorice hates me,” she says, since she’s now stuck there for another turn.
That’s as good a chance as any.
“Imagine if we were playing Adult Candy Land,” I muse, keeping it nice and simple as I toss some bait in the water.
That catches his attention. His eyes swing to Briar and stay fixed on her. Yes, there we go.
“Is that a real game?” she asks, doubtful.
“Of course it is,” Hollis offers, grabbing a handful of popcorn from the bowl on the coffee table.
Briar shakes her head. “You’re pulling my leg again.”
“Everything’s an adult game if you just take off your clothes,” Gavin suggests, his voice dry, giving nothing away. Except the fact that the words he’s said give everything away.
Oh, Gavin, I can see right through you. And I can help.
“Is that your way of telling us something, mate?” I ask as I move my gingerbread pawn around Lollipop Woods, settling on an orange space.
He shrugs, but his gaze strays to Briar once more with something like longing in his eyes. “I was just saying I bet that’s how it’s played.”
What a fantastic answer of a non-answer. And I know exactly what play to make now.
38
SHOW-OFF
Briar
Tonight, there’s been a certain ease between Rhys and Hollis and me, but also a delicious tension as to how the night might unfold.
But when it comes to Gavin, I have no clue what’s next or how Hollis and Rhys are going to figure out the third man.
Gavin has made the occasional remark, like the naked Candy Land one, but otherwise he’s been quieter than usual. When he flips a card and moves three spots to an orange space dangerously near Candy Castle, he then clears his throat and looks my way. “When do you start writing the column?”
He sounds a little awkward, like he’s not entirely sure what to say to me. But it’s an easy enough question to answer, and I can do my part, too, in helping Gavin feel comfortable. “I started it earlier today before my brother came over.”
“And what did you decide makes for a good boyfriend?” Rhys asks as he lifts his glass of wine and takes a drink.
“A good boyfriend listens,” I say, remembering chatting with Rhys on the walk this morning. “But a good girlfriend should too,” I tell him. Rhys’s eyes spark, like he enjoys the memory too. I turn to Hollis by my side. “Making plans that she likes and sticking to them.”
“Hell yes, Pretzel,” Hollis says, then like the bold, outgoing man he is, he drops his hand to my thigh in front of everyone. My skin tingles from his touch.
Words gallop away from my brain for several seconds. Once I wrangle them, I nod toward Gavin, locking eyes with his hazel ones. “And a good boyfriend helps her with work.”
He swallows roughly, looks down, then back at me. “Glad I was useful.”
“Aww, did our guy help you?” Hollis asks.
“A leg on my tripod broke, so he played the role of the tripod.”
Rhys hums knowingly. “Just like when we helped save the cat.”
My smile brightens at his analogy. “Yes! Exactly.”