Page 44 of The Game

“But you invited your business group, right?”

Her smile lights up her entire face. “I did.” Then it falters a little. “Not sure if they’re going to be able to make it, though. It was kind of late notice.”

“I’m sure they’ll come. Who would want to miss out on this?” I glance around, and of course Beau and JJ are bickering in the corner again now that they don’t have tasks to accomplish.

She laughs. “Good point. You boys are not boring, that’s for sure.”

“True. Well then, event planner extraordinaire, what’s next?”

“I think you guys have earned your dinner.”

Beau didn’t look like he was paying any attention to us, but he proves me wrong, swinging back in our direction. “I got this. Everyone good with pizza?”

“Thank fuck! Yes. All the meat,” Grant says.

“What do you want on yours, Jazz?” he asks.

“Whatever is fine. I’m not picky.”

I shake my head at her. “That’s not the correct answer. What are your very favorite toppings?”

She scrunches up her cute nose. “My tastes are unusual, but like I said, I’ll eat pretty much anything, except sausage. Not a fan.”

JJ steps toward us, clearly eavesdropping on the conversation. “Oh, you don’t like sausage? Clearly, Cole is doing something wrong. I bet I can convince you.”

He gasps as if it’s a surprise when my fist flies out, smacking him in the arm and sending him stumbling back. “Don’t be a dick.”

“Tell me what you like?”

“Pineapple, hot peppers, and bacon.” She shrugs.

“Sounds delicious. Did you hear that, Beau? Get one with pineapple, hot peppers, and bacon on it.”

“Got it,” he’s typing away on his phone.

A shiver runs down my back as she toys with the back of my fleecy hood. “You didn’t have to do that. I know it’s weird.”

“It’s not weird. Don’t be ashamed of something you like.”

“Darryl said...”

My fingers tighten on those thick hips of hers. “What did Darryl say?”

“Nothing. He just didn’t like those things, so we always got the deluxe.”

“Well, I’m not Darryl. That guy sounds like a total moron. I will one hundred percent try your pizza, but even if I hate it, I wouldn’t stop you from getting the things you want. Especially not after you’ve done all this work to get the place looking great for the party. I haven’t even had a chance to look at the food you brought, but I can’t wait. I bet it’s amazing.”

I love the happy, smiling side of her. “Thanks.”

“No problem. You can always ask me for anything.” I lean in closer, dropping my voice so the guys don’t hear. “The dating thing might be fake, but I’d like to think that we’re friends now.” It seems like an inadequate name for what we’re becoming, but I can’t think of a better one.

“Break it up,” Grant steps toward us.

“Go away, Gigi.” I use the name JJ likes to call Grant.

Her strange pizza topping combination is surprisingly good, although my mouth is on fire. Especially after she snagged somehot sauce that I didn’t even know was in our fridge to dab on top.

I snag one last slice as Beau is snapping the cardboard box shut, jamming it into my mouth as we pull food out of the fridge, setting it up around the place.

---