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Mitchell’s gaze didn’t drop from hers and she swore his heated while they were locked like this. His eyebrows rose and she gave him a small nod. She was ready. When he pulled away, she held the card and turned immediately to Alistair. As she’d done with Mitchell, she leaned over to meet the man who was to take the card from her.
Unlike with Mitchell, she didn’t feel anything more than passing a card between two people. Alistair winked at her before he drew back and turned to move to the next person.
“He seemed more than anxious to have you drop the card.” Mitchell’s whisper skated along her ear and neck.
“No more than Collette did with you.” She didn’t look at him but followed the card as it made its way once more to Erick.
“Are you jealous?”
“No reason to be. It’s a singles mixer. And we’re both single.”
He stiffened beside her ever so slightly and she would have, should have, missed it but Hope acknowledged she was far more attuned to his body than she should be.
“Are we, though?”
His question was barely audible and she ignored it, determined not to make a fool of herself more than she already was.
“Good fun, good fun,” Sonya said, taking the card from Erick and returning it to the deck. “Next game is another icebreaker, of sorts.” She reached behind her and pulled out some dice. “We roll and the number we get correlates to a question we have to answer.” She dropped the dice in a mug only to reach in and pull out one, leaving only one in the container. “First time around we use one, second time, we add this other die and the questions get more personal.”
“Who goes first?” Wendy asked, standing. “And who wants more drinks?”
Drink orders fell fast and she nodded, taking them all in memory. Sonya looked at Hope and grinned.
“You’re up, Hope.” Sonya pointed at her.
“Wait, what? Why me?”
“Because we’re almost besties and that means I get to pick on you.” She rattled the mug, then stopped and picked up a small piece of cardboard which fit over the opening. “There, a makeshift table as well.” Sonya slid off her chair and walked the distance to where Hope still remained curled up in the soft seat.
“Well, almost bestie, I see we are going to have to discuss the parameters of our relationship.” She sent a wink to offset her words.
Sonya propped a hand on her hip, jutting it out as she stood there, a frown tipping down her bright pink lips. “No parameters. It’s an open relationship.”
She frowned. “Not that open.” Hope took the coffee mug along with the piece of cardboard and settled. “I’m waiting for Wendy to come back. Where are the questions?”
Erick waved a hand. “I have them. So once you roll, call out the number and I’ll read off the question.”
Her leg shot a twinge through her and she gulped down her whimper, shifting on the small loveseat to try and alleviate the pain.
Wendy brought the drinks and passed them out. Making sure she didn’t drop the mug with the die, she reached for her cup and took a sip of the hot toddy. Warmth spread up from her chest and out.
Oh, this was delicious.
“Ready whenever you are, Hope.” Erick flicked the sheet of paper in his hand and grinned.
Mitchell took hold of her cup and she gave him a small smile as she shook the mug with the lone die in there. Flipping it over, she lifted the cup and stared at the number peering up at her.
“Five.”
“If you could spend the day with one fictional character, who would it be?”
She grinned as she glanced at Sonya and Wendy. “Besides Aragorn, of course?”
They both nodded and returned her grin. Beside her, Mitchell grunted and pushed her drink at her.
Curving her fingers around the mug, she tried—and failed again, but hey, she tried—to ignore the flipping her belly did at the brief contact with Mitchell’s hand. “Easy. Falkor.”
“The NeverEnding Story?” Shock colored his tone.
She grinned up at him. “That movie is a classic and anyone worth their salt would know it.”
“Not Atreyu?”
“Falkor could fly me anywhere and he looks so fuzzy. I wouldn’t say no to visiting with Atreyu but no, I want Falkor.”
He grunted. “Just when I think I have you figured out.”
“Alistair,” Erick said. “You’re up.”
She passed the items to him and leaned against the arm of the seat, not wanting to admit it brought her closer to Mitchell.
Partially listening to Alistair, she struggled not to pay attention to how close Mitchell was.
“How’s your leg? I saw you wince.” He shifted, his arm brushing against hers. “Do I need to check it?”
Yes. Yes. A thousand times yes!
Hope gave a small shake and replied, “I’m fine.”
See, look at me, I’m being good and not taking advantage of this situation. Right?
