Page 24 of Glamour & Gumballs

No one spoke to me for more than a few seconds.

When the sun finally set, I was more than ready for one of the guys to leave.

The council area had been simple and bland in the first season, but we discovered that ours was nicer when we arrived. There were large wooden logs for benches, a massive canopy over our heads, and a fire burning in the center. The floor was some kind of wood planking, keeping us off the wet sand.

There were two comfortable-looking chairs across from the logs.

I sat down in one of them when Jordan gestured me toward it, and immediately lifted my soaked, wrinkled feet up toward the fire.

Dry, warm toes would feel amazing.

Jordan didn’t waste any time with pleasantries, just passing out the voting papers and markers. When he said the word, everyone voted, and he collected all of the papers.

I watched, silently hoping a fight would break out or something, just so I could stay beneath the canopy and near the fire a little longer.

But, there was no fight.

And reading the votes didn’t take long at all.

Jim.

Reid.

Jim.

Jim.

Jim.

Jim.

Jim.

Jim.

Jim.

Jim.

Jim.

The dragon bastard winked at me and blew a kiss before he sauntered out from beneath the canopy.

I wasn’t at all sad to see him go.

And despite the blood and bruises I’d caused, one thing was clear:

I could influence the game through chaos while figuring out which of the men could stay controlled despite it.

And I intended to do exactly that.

The mood was dark as everyone made their way back to the shelters. That was my fault, but I didn’t feel bad about it.

They were playing a game for their lives, yes, but they had been given the opportunity to choose to play.

I hadn’t.

When we called it a night, I followed Rhett back to the place we’d slept the last time. He hadn’t snuggled to keep me warm that evening, but I hadn’t needed him to. It hadn’t been quite as cold as the night before.

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