Page 61 of Out of Bounds

She shot me a look. "If you throw in the towel, I’m keying your car."

"We’re not losing on purpose," I promised, the first time I’d ever strung those words together in my life.

The main table was pulled to the middle, and everyone grimaced at each other. Every action was a formality. June was fun but when she dug down into the games, the fun went away, and she was out for blood. She took her seat next to Kingand picked up the hand-sized hourglass. With a little smile to everybody around the circle, she flipped one of her cards.

"Your sister wants to do this when she grows up?"

King’s answer was automatic. "President."

"Your mom’s dog’s name?" June asked.

"Boxer."

"Your high school mascot?"

"Which one?"

"Fourth one."

"Roadrunners."

"Mm." June stopped. "Fifth one."

"Wolf."

Question after question, June and King dominated. It was an off-the-field drill, and I knew without a doubt, there was no way we could beat that.

They ended their turn with fifteen cards, which was great considering their round only lasted a minute. Each of the couples took their turns. Nobody came close.

Kassie’s going to be wearing my jersey.

The thought put a grin on my face.

"Are you having fun?" I dipped down to Kassie, grinning as much as I was. "I have an extra jersey in the car. I want to see you put it on in front of me."

"Still don’t think we’re going to win?" Kassie asked out of the corner of her lips.

"I know we’re not going to win."

At the end of the line, everybody’s eyes swiveled to us. Kassie’s smug smile didn't budge. She picked up a stack of cards and carefully patted them down in her hands. With a single swipe, she had the hourglass prepared.

"You ready, Cross?"

I shrugged. "Always ready, Ragar."

With a thump against the table, the hourglass’s sand sprinkled down. Kassie twisted the first card so fast it snapped in the air. Her words flew out. "What do I call your choice of breakfast?"

The answer was automatic. "Kitchen ingredients. Ingredients."

It took me exactly two seconds of precious sand to realize she’d tossed the card to the table without another glance and yanked up the next one. We aced the card.

We aced the card?

I was still stuck on the kitchen ingredients question when Kassie furrowed her eyebrows.

"Something you won’t let me touch in your car?"

"Volume. Dial." Each word shot out of me. "Radio."

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