Page 36 of The Friendly Fall

I roll my eyes. “You would.”

“Oooh! Pleeeeeease.” Eliza grabs my arm, and for a moment,allI can feel is the softness and warmth of her fingers wrapped around my wrist.

And then she sticks out her bottom lip topout.

“Aw, look at that face,” Vanessa croons, framing her face with her hands. “You can’t say no to that, Nick. Treat the lady and get in the tank.”

The look on Daniel’s face is one for the books, though I’m not entirely sure how to interpret it. I can’t tell if he’s amused by the way his wife is egging it on, or the fact that I’mactuallyconsidering it.

I meet Eliza’s gaze one last time and let out a sigh. “Aw, what the heck. I’ll do it.”

“Oh. My. Gosh. Yes!” Eliza pumps her fist in the air in the most adorable way, and I can’t lie, the smile on her face makes it worth it.

But still, this isnotgonna be fun.

“Alright, alright.” Daniel chuckles as we head over to the tank.

“Have a happy time in the tank, Nick,” Roger Farris, an older man we go to church with, says with a grin. “I hope she’s got a heck of an arm.” He shoots me a wink as I climb up the ladder and get situated on the plank.

Glancing down, the water looks …cold.

“Okay, so, you know how the game works, right?” Roger asks Eliza, his eyes full of amusement beneath his bushy white brows. “You hit the target here.” He points to the bullseye. “And Nick hits the water. You got five tries.”

“Five tries?!” I gasp from the plank as my eyes go wide. “That’s a lot.”

“Yeah, well, it’s usually three, but I’m feeling generous.” Roger chuckles, before setting a bucket of balls at the red line on the ground beside Eliza. “And I’d kind of like to see her win.”

Vanessa and Daniel stand a few feet from Eliza, both watching the scene like it’s about to be fireworks.

I brace myself as Eliza shoots me a devilish grin and then rears back, throwing the baseball at the target.

She misses, but only byan inch.

I’m in shock.

“I thought you said you had a horrible arm,” I call out to her, still impressed with how much force she threw the ball with.

“I do have a terrible arm, but I never said I have a terribleaim.” She giggles, leaning down and picking up another ball.

“She’s gonna bring you down!” Daniel shouts, folding his arms across his chest.

“Get ‘em, Eliza!” Vanessa echoes, clapping her hands. “Keep your eye on the target.”

Great, it’s like Little League.

“Prepare to be soaked,” Eliza mutters just before slinging the ball at the target.

Clink.

The sound of the ball hitting the metal echoes in the air…

And then all I feel is the gush of cool water around me.

I come up and whip my head around, sending water droplets spewing everywhere. I’m drenched, and my friends are laughing their heads off…

But not Eliza.

She rushes to the tank to meet me as I climb out.

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