“Where are you going?” I don’t need to look up to know who’s asking.
“Back to Zach’s room, we grabbed a movie.” I finally look up despite myself and catch Dane’s eyes staring into me.
“Go tell him to get his pretty ass in here, Laney! Ya’ll play me and Bennett!” Sawyer yells from the game.
Whitley snickers. “I’ll play you guys, Sawyer. Dane, come on sweetie, let’s play them.”
Sitting on my bed—I probably could’ve let it go. But dismissing me in my own room—so not gonna fly. Calling Dane “sweetie” to purposely drag him away and antagonize me—challenge accepted, girlfriend.
I give Bennett a look across the room. She tries like hell to hide her smirk; she knows what’s up.
“Set it up, I’ll be right back with Zach.” I run down the hall like I’m on fire, adrenaline coursing through me.
I bust into the room, out of breath, and Zach looks at me quizzically, pulling on his shirt. “Where’d you go? And why are you out of breath?” I dart my eyes away quickly while he gets the shirt completely in place. Nice abs there, Zachary.
“Change of plans, big boy. You good at beer pong?”
“I’m in college and I’m good at everything.” He grins. “Need you ask?”
“Zach, I’ll do your laundry for a month if you help me win this game, okay? Come on.” I drag him through the door.
“Well, hold up there, hot rod, do I need shoes? Keys?”
“No, nothing, you’re great, just come on,” I plead, pulling him even faster now.
I don’t make eye contact with Dane when I walk back in my room. I do however, stare directly at Whitley. “Me and Zach versus you and ‘sweetie,’” I challenge, the last word acidic. “Let’s go.”
Bennett snickers as she, Tate, and Sawyer settle in for a good view of the show. Bad news, Whit—I am a hollaback girl.
“You don’t have to do my laundry, girl. This is gonna be fun. Let’s get ‘em,” Zach whispers in my ear, giving me a fist bump.
“Oh, hells yeah! Kick their asses, Laney!” I love Sawyer.
Dane is trying everything he can to avoid Whitley’s roaming hands. He’s standing so far away from her he may as well be in another room. Zach and Sawyer start throwing out the smack talk, but when Bennett cranks up her phone for Jock Jams “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble,” we all burst into mad laughter.
“Ladies first,” Zach says, handing me a ping pong ball.
“I’m a lady, too,” Whitley pouts, “how come she gets to go first?”
“Good point, Whitley. I think you and Laney should arm wrestle to see who goes first.” Bennett says it with the most serious face she can muster.
I cock an eyebrow at Whitley, telling her I am so down with that plan.
“N-no, that’s okay,” she sputters nervously, “she can go ahead.”
All the guys in the room are hanging on each and every word. What guy doesn’t like good ole cat fight foreplay?
I sink my first ball and stare holes through Whitley as she downs the beer in the cup. Zach steps up and makes it. We do a chest bump and Sawyer slaps my butt. I jump a bit, almost shocked, but in a millisecond it changes to an aura of comfort. I belong here! I’m just one of the guys!
“Nice shot,” Dane mumbles as he hands me the ball.
Why is he handing me back the ball? I scrunch my brows in confusion.
“Your team goes again since you both made it,” he explains.
Ah.
We’re down to four cups and just as I’m about to throw again, Zach grabs my arm. “Hold up, you like the cups like that?”
Again—first time I’ve played. “I don’t know what you’re asking me, Zach. I’ve never played.”
“We can re-rack if we want. They have to rearrange the cups like we want, but we can only do it once. I like a square, or we can wait and do a straight line at three cups, your call.”
Well obviously there’s only one person to answer such a difficult question for me, I consult the expert. Sawyer’s already holding up three fingers when I look to him. He knew I’d seek his infinite wisdom in all that is college party games. “Wait for three cups?” I ask him.
“Yup,” he says with a nod.
“Uh, no fair,” Whitley’s whine is barely worse than her regular voice. “You’re not in the game, Sawyer, you can’t help her.”
I roll my eyes and turn my head, Bennett snaring my attention. Covertly, she acts out her evil little plan. I finally figure out what the hell she’s trying to tell me and shake my head no at her with a laugh. Pegging Whitley in the head with my ping pong ball is probably a bit much. Love the way your mind works though, Bennett!
“It’s no big deal, Whitley, she’s never played before,” Dane tells her with an exasperated look on his face.
Now that all that’s settled, I step up to throw and swoosh it right in the cup again. This time I look at Dane and he’s beaming. I give him a smirk in return; how ya like that, mister? He winks.
“You got this,” I encourage my partner.
Zach misses his shot and drops his head on my shoulder in defeat.
I giggle and pat his back. “Next time, killer.”