Page 68 of Coincidentally Kismet

Cheering breaks out from the designated “pong area,” indicating the winners have finally claimed their victory. For a group of people who play enough to have a set up permanently installed in their apartment, these guys aren’t very good. I can win in far less time and with far more style.

“We have next!” shouts Lo.

Pulling myself off the couch to join her is far harder than it should be. My body is tired from all the worry, anxiety, and sexy time. Not to mention, standing all week at work; that doesn’t help either.

Will saunters up, all charming and swoon-worthy, trying to throw me off my game.

“Wright, don’t think I’ve forgotten how much you practiced this game with Elliott. No funny business,” he whispers softly in my ear.

“Please, Rambo, would I dare pull one over on you?” I give him my most innocent puppy dog eyes.

“Yeah. You absolutely would, and I know you’re up to something.” He smiles as he says this matter-of-factly.

“What’s going on you two? No trading secrets...she’s your enemy right now, soldier,” Smith chimes in, wrapping an arm around each of our shoulders.

“Don’t worry, Smith. Will’s just trying to woo me into going easy on him.” I give Will a little shove away from me and toward the table.

He knows I would never go easy, but it’s nice to have a little witty banter back and forth. Keeps things interesting. Smith looks appalled at the idea that anyone would have to ask Lo and me to take it easy, which is going to make beating him that much more fun—he still thinks the last time was beginner’s luck. Willeyes him cautiously, giving him thedude, you don’t know what I knowlook.

Lo steps up to the table, grabbing a ball for herself and handing me one. We wait patiently as Smith and Will refill the cups; if I didn’t inherently have the drive to always win, the low-end domestic light beer would have done it.Gross!

The table is set. I toss one little wink at Will, draw my hand up, and with a flick of my wrist, I sink the ball directly into the first cup. He chuckles a little at me and then tosses one our direction while drinking his cup. It’s a perfectly placed ball, landing in the cup directly in front of me, causing beer to slosh out at just the right angle, spraying my shirt. Arrogance and sass are written all over his face. He actually thinks I might let him beat me. The audacity!Game on, buddy. I’m coming for you now.

“That was cute, Rambo. Too bad your friends will all be able to see through my white shirt now.” I turn toward Lo and throw the ball without even looking. Before I can finish downing the beer in my hand, Will is at my side pulling his hoodie over my head.

“Not anymore.” He races back to his side, challenging me with a look to take it off. I won’t and he knows it. If this helps him feel more secure, then fine. But it’s a tad dramatic seeing that the only part of my shirt that actually got wet was below my belly button. Not much to see, but a part of me likes the protectiveness he’s displaying.

We continue tossing balls at breakneck speed. Lo is playing so well, neither of us has missed. Smith is completely confused; he was so sure we were horrible, but as of now, he’s the only one who can’t sink a ball. As for me, my competitive streak has given me precision-level focus. I could make any ball in any cup I wanted right now.

We each have three cups remaining, and since Lo and I threw first, we’re going to win, as long as we don’t miss. I’m trying to decide which cup I want to aim for when there’s a knock at the door.

Okay, seriously, everyone is here. Who could be showing up when I’m about to win?

“Hey, Butler, get the door wouldya?” Smith shouts across the room while I sink another ball.

Instead of drinking, Will immediately walks away toward the door, leaving the rest of us to stand and wait. Lo tosses me a skeptical look, and even though I know where we stand, my skin is covered in goose bumps and my stomach starts to churn. It’s a woman’s voice I hear first; greeting Will and Butler like she’s known them for years.

Finally, they round the corner, and I see her. The girl from Patty’s Patties. Bri. She’s wearing a casual pair of jeans that are rough cropped at the bottom, exposing just a tad of her perfectly skinny ankle. She has on a pale teal tank top that hugs her slender curves, and her luminous hair is flowing down her back in perfect waves. She’s breathtakingly beautiful, just as she was the other day, and she makes it look effortless. It’s incredibly unfair to be that magnificent.

Jealousy should be the furthest thing from my mind, because I know who she is. I know what she’s been through and what she means to the guys. It’s not rational, but I can’t help wondering why she’s suddenly back in Will’s life right when we’ve reconnected.

“Hey...you ladies must be the ones who’ve swooped in and stolen these knuckleheads’ hearts. I’m Bri,” she says sweetly. Her voice is slow and smooth, like dripping honey.

“Umm...yeah, I guess so.” I’m not able to contain my nervous smile. “I’m Cam.”

“Oh Cam, I’ve been dying to meet you! I’m sorry Davenport is such an idiot and didn’t tell you about our lunch the other day. I kicked his ass over it. I swear, men aresooodumb sometimes.” She pulls me into a hug, and while I’m a very physical-touch kind of person, it startles me a little.

Just going with it, I squeeze her back.

Have you ever hugged someone and just known instantly that they’re a good person? Like you could just feel their soul, see and know everything about them from something so simple?

I have now. Hugging Bri back, the mixed feelings about her swooping in to Will’s life unexpectedly from a minute prior vaporized and vanished. There wasn’t anything particularly spectacular about it, it was just a hug, and yet it felt like being in the arms of a best friend I didn’t know I had.

“It’s okay...about the other day, I mean. I’m very glad to meet you.” I stumble over my words a bit, still shaming myself for being such a raging jealous bitch on the inside. He made me this way, though, this is the result of me still not fully trusting him.

“Same. This one hasn’t shut up about you in years.” She nods toward Will while giggling to herself.

“Years?Really? Tell me everything!” I smirk at Will, raising an eyebrow.

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