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“But you said…”
“I asked what Caleb would say if Liam couldn’t compete. I never said he wasn’t competing.” She snorted a laugh.
“So, Liam is playing?”
“Definitely.” She nods as the sun pierces my eyes as soon as we walk outside. “He’s already out there practicing his serve.”
“Why even -”
She interrupts me, “Psychological warfare, Cate. Now Caleb is going to be all on edge and run through all sorts of scenarios of how they can win without the most athletic guy they have on the team. Then when he sees Liam, he is going to be flooded with more emotions. Imbalanced. That’s they way I need Caleb to play today.”
“Wow, you’re probably the most competitive of all the Bennetts.”
Tess stops and gives me an unexpected hug. “Thank you. That is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
I pat her back. “You’re welcome?”
She pulls away from me. “Cate. Do you want to wear a coconut bra and grass skirt to perform a hula dance at my brother’s wedding?”
I put my sunglasses on and shake my head. “Not at all.”
“And do you want Theo to be all smug about Team Groom winning?”
I feel the fire of competitiveness rising within me with Tess’s pep talk. “Absolutely not.”
“Then we win by any means necessary. I use psychological warfare and when needed, I give Liam the cross-me-and-there-will-be-no-sex-for-a-month look. You hit the genetic jackpot with big boobs and a nice ass. Use it. At least we know you will keep Theo and Isaac distracted. With our combined powers, that’s three men down.”
“And the last two?”
Tess cackles like a Disney villain. “The only sports Caleb and Drew excel in are chess and bowling.”
I start walking when she does. “You aren’t concerned they might get lucky?”
She tips her sunglasses down to reveal her rolling eyes. “Cate, do I look concerned?”
“Not at all.”
“Just consider me the captain of this ship and do what I tell you. We’ll be armed with our phones recording their hula dance, ready to blackmail and mock them for the rest of their days if I have anything to say about it.”
I could cry. I finally found my soul sister. “Let’s crush these boys.”
Team Bride consists of Sarah, Tess, me, and Sarah’s sisters, Ruth, and Leah. Team Groom consists of Caleb, Theo, Liam, Isaac, and Drew. Separated by a volleyball net, the sand between our toes, it feels like the calm before the storm.
I should have known this was going to get competitive quick when Caleb, who still seems a little rattled from Tess’s psychological warfare, declares Team Groom will play shirtless. I scoff. Like that is going to throw me off my game. But then Theo takes his shirt off.
Not one freaking tan line on his body. Just smooth, beautiful, tattooed skin. My eyes scan up and down his torso and suddenly I feel weak in the knees. I want to rub my fingers across those washboard abs of his.
I snap back to the present when Tess steps between me and my line of sight of her brother. I jump, her presence startles me.
“Cate.” She plants her hands on her hips. “Don’t be sucked into their game of skins. It’s nothing you haven’t seen before. Now get your head in the game. I’m counting on you.”
I nod. She would have a valid point if I had actually seen all Theo had to offer but that is still a mystery I have yet to solve. I lick my lips and throw my hair up in a ponytail. No matter what happens, I cannot dance that hula. No way. No how. I have to win this if for nothing else than to spare myself further humiliation.
Athena, Steven, and Sarah’s parents, Mark and Elizabeth, sit on the sidelines, under umbrellas sipping beers and Mai Tais. They are here to watch, and apparently heckle whenever the opportunity presents itself. Athena gives me a quick wink and I nod my head. It is understood. Crush Team Groom.
We all take our starting positions. I played volleyball in high school and was decent. I at least know the fundamentals and can hold my own. My competitiveness will carry me the rest of the way.
I crouch by the net, waiting for Sarah to serve. I can sense Theo on the other side of the net. I glance up and he is a few feet away from me, grinning.
