Page 26 of The Way We Score

“Don’t be grumpy!” Dylan nudges her side. “You know I love finding new pepper recipes. I think it’s very sweet of Logan not to complain.”

“He is sweet.” Rachel waves her hand. “Now it’s time to play! I’ve got some good ones tonight.”

“Tell me about this game.” I take a sip of my drink, and Raven scoots closer to the bar.

“I’ve played it before,” she says. “It’s Fuck-Marry-Kill. You get three options, and you have to sort them.”

“Only we make it harder.” Rachel digs in the bag and pulls out a little plastic hourglass. “You only get one minute to decide. No flailing.”

“A minute should be plenty of time—” I start.

“You’d think so, wouldn’t you?” Allie’s brow arches, and she nods, knowingly. “I’ll go first. Ready?”

Dylan passes out slips of paper, and Rachel is right behind her with pens. “Write it down, so you don’t forget when everyone starts talking.”

“Ready?” Dylan’s eyes flash, and our pens straighten. “Blind guy, deaf guy, mute guy. Go!”

Rachel slams the hourglass over, and the sand starts sieving through the narrow bit.

“Wow.” I sit back on my stool. “That’s a tough one.”

I look around, and all four of them are quickly scribbling their answers. I can’t believe it. Chewing on the tip of my pen, I start to write when Allie shouts. “Time’s up!” and my heart jumps.

“Damn, you scared the crap out of me!” I huff a laugh. “I didn’t even get started.”

“Decide as we go. Dylan, you’re up first.”

Dylan chews her finger as her nose wrinkles. “Fuck the blind guy, marry the mute guy, kill the deaf guy.”

“That’s exactly what I put!” The other three cry at once, and I sit back.

“Seriously?” Crossing my arms, I frown at my empty sheet. “I hadn’t even started!”

“Here, let me show you.” Dylan puts her hand on my arm. “You’d fuck the blind guy because he can’t see, sohe has heightened sensory perception, which makes him really good in bed.”

“But why not the deaf guy?”

“Deaf guy can’t hear you moan.” Allie nods, as if that’s so obvious. “How would he ever know if he’s hitting the right spot?”

“You’d marry a mute guy?”

“Oh, lord, if only there were more mute guys in the world.” Raven deadpans. “Imagine!”

All three of us look at her, and then we burst out laughing as Allie pours more purple drink.

“I’ll drink to that!” I hold up my cup, and we all cheers. “Are we going again?”

“Duh!” Rachel wobbles her tipsy head. “We’re just getting started. Mine are the best.”

Digging in her bag, she pulls out a notebook. “Ready? 2000s TV stars… Adam Brody, Jared Padaleki, Chad Michael Murray. Go!”

My nose wrinkles. “Can we throw them all back and try again?”

“Your turn is coming.” Rachel sniffs. “Now go!”

“I’m done!” Allie cries.

My pen is still hovering over the paper, but I shrug. “I don’t guess I can go with kill, kill, kill?”