The crowd parts like the Red Sea as Lanie drags me ahead. I dig in my heels and try to halt her progress, but the woman is stronger than she looks.
“Make way,” she shouts over the clucking and chirping of the women griping about being interrupted. “Alyssa is here for revenge.”
My head snaps to her. “What on earth?”
Nick chokes out a laugh. “Revenge? Dare I ask what I did?” He doesn’t meet my eyes, because the guy knows exactly what he did.
Nick places a hand over his heart as his pecs shift with every movement.
Look away from the thirst trap.
“No matter. Give it your best shot, Alyssa.”
There’s a challenge in his words, and I can’t help but gape at the man in response.
“Are you insinuating that I can’t hit that massive target?”
The big black circle with a red dot in the middle is the size of Ava’s head. If I can’t hit that, I’ll give up ice cream.
He shrugs, biting his lip in an attempt to not smile.
“Oh my god! He’s flirting with you,” Lanie whispers out of the side of her mouth.
“No, he’s not. He’s mocking me.” I twist to the side, holdingout my hand to the busty brunette with the lowest V-cut shirt I’ve seen. “The ball, Harley.”
“No,” she snaps. “I only got to throw one ball. I paid for five.”
Lanie reaches around me and grabs the ball from her hands. “Too bad. Beat it, hussy. I mean, Harley. You can finish your turn after Alyssa drowns him.” She glances up at Nick. “I mean, dunks him.” She offers a sugary-sweet smile to Nick, who can’t contain his laughter.
“I’m so sorry. Do you mind if I just throw this one?” I ask, to be kind. I may not like her, but I don’t subscribe to being rude.
She rolls her eyes. “Just throw the freaking ball, Sally.”
“Oh, it’s actually Alyssa.”
She blinks. “I don’t care.” She waves her hand in front of her nose as if she’s smelling something foul.
I turn back toward the dunk tank. Nick looks smug atop his watery throne, and I can’t wait to swipe that arrogant grin from his handsome face.
“You are so going down.”
“Let me make a deal with you, blondie. You dunk me with one shot, I’ll make things right and buy you an elephant ear.”
Game on.
I make a show of stretching, sticking my tongue out the side of my mouth, eyes never leaving Nick’s. Mischievousness shines brightly back at me. He’s enjoying this.
“Are you gonna throw the ball or stall all day?”
“Yeah, throw the ball already,” someone yells from the crowd.
I take my stance, cock my arm back, eyes now trained on the target, and let it rip. The whole crowd is silent as the ball whizzes toward the target. I wait with bated breath until the ball hits square in the center of the target.
I don’t miss the surprise on Nick’s face as he plummets into the ice-cold water.
I turn to Harley, brush off my shoulder, and say, “Tell him I don’t want his elephant ear, or anything else for that matter.”
Lanie cackles as she follows behind me.
