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Maybe. I think we’re past maybe. The smell of victory is alive in the air.

“I’ll give you whatever avenue you want,” I say. “But believe me, soul girl, I’m not boring and I’m definitely not vanilla.”

“Jesus Christ,” Bryce says, but his tone is weakening.

I’m still focused on Alice when he reaches for the bottle of De Chante and pours himself another glass. He downs it in one and lands the glass right back on the table.

“Jack, this is madness,” he says. “Utter madness.”

“Madness is fun,” I say to Alice, smiling at her like we’re two conspirators, in it together. And then I do a U-turn. I swing my attention right over to Bryce, still keeping my hand on soul girl’s knee. “Take the broom out of your peachy sweet ass,” I tell him. “Your walls are so fucking high, it’s ridiculous. Do you really want to be that boring?”

I’ve jabbed his self-restraint in the ribs on purpose, just like I did with hers.

“I’m not boring,” he says. “Just sensible. Responsible.”

“Blah, blah, blah.” I laugh. “You’re the one who needs to stop it, sweet thing. We’re having fun. Fun isn’t illegal, and it’s right here for the taking. Don’t be such a pussy about it and have a taste.” I pause. “You sure enjoyed it last night.”

He doesn’t reply.

I can practically hear the cogs of his brain whirring. Overthinker.

“You going to join us?” I ask him. “Gonna have some fun?”

He swallows. His eyes flit to Alice for just a second.

“Alice wants you to have fun with us, don’t you, Alice?” I say, squeezing her knee. “Come on, tell Bryce to stop being such a scaredy cat and join in.”

Another crux point, and I can’t believe it when I feel a lurch in my guts, because I want to win this game so bad. I want to take the pair of them back with me tonight, not just the one. One would be great, but two would be the utter jackpot. The tension between these two that must have been building for years is so tight, the explosion would be magnificent. All-consuming madness.

“Tell him, Alice,” I say with another squeeze of her knee, then brush my fingers higher, just a touch. “Tell BT you want him to come and have fun with us.”

“It’s up to him,” she says, wimping out.

“Nah,” I laugh. “It’s up to you.”

Bryce pours out the last of the champagne, cursing under his breath when it’s only a third of a glassful.

“Time’s ticking,” I say, and take my hand from her knee. I sit back in my seat, giving another laugh. An easy one. “This place is getting kinda dull for me. I’ve got plenty more champagne at home, so who’s going to be joining me?” I keep it light, with another chuckle. “Jesus, Alice, put Bryce out of his misery, will you? Tell him you want him to come and have fun with us. Let your crazy soul free.”

Another moment of silence.

Another lurch hits me in the guts at the beautiful tension. The moment before the cards are laid on the table.

I kick back, my heart thumping along with my dick as Alice looks dead on at Bryce.

The seconds tick by. The pot simmers until she breaks and shrugs.

“Come with us,” she says to him. “It’s just fun, ok? Just a bit of fun.”

Like hell it is, but I keep my mouth well and truly closed on that front.

She fakes an easy laugh. “It’ll be cool. No big deal.”

“And that’s what you want?” Bryce asks her. “You want to come back with me and Jackass?”

I could laugh out loud.

Bingo! They’re both in the game and I’m the fucking prize.