Page 63 of Lassoed Love

Olivia eagerly suggests, “Alright, but it’s girls vs. boys.”

Imogen adds, “Oh, that’s not fair—the boys are going to beat us.”

She laughs, and Isla surprises me by chiming in, “That’s if we let them.” I catch her eyes, and we share a look that says ‘game on’.

Olivia beams. “Alright, ladies, let’s do this.”

And with that, the games begin.

27

In the centre of the long pool, a makeshift net is set up for our ‘volleyball’ match.

The boys, including Xavier, are on one side, and us girls are on the other. Laughter echoes around as the game unfolds, with heated arguments breaking out between Imogen and Harrison, who seem to be getting alongreal well. Olivia, who I’ve realised is very competitive, seems to be in her element—which is to be expected being surrounded by older brothers all her life.

Bradley, Xavier’s brother, remains mostly silent, watching everyone intently, chiming in occasionally—he’s a real quiet one. Very reserved. I wonder what he does for work? As my eyes drift toward him, I note the contrast between the two brothers. While Xavier is tall, like really tall and lean, Bradley looks to be more muscular. They both share the same attractive, tanned, rugged features. His hair is lighter compared to Xav, cut shorter on the top. It’s a subtle difference that gives him a distinct allure.

Much like Bradley, Michael is also quiet, yet a bit more outspoken than Xavier’s brother, but he seems like a real chill guy. Unlike thesetwo, however, Harrison never shuts up. I like him; he’s so outspoken and loud. He gives off those real golden retriever vibes—goofy and incredibly friendly. His appearance, however, is contradictory to his personality. He’s got a scruffy beard, dark hair shaved on the sides and longer on the top, tattoos covering both of his arms—undoubtedly attractive, I must admit. His brother, Michael, and he couldn’t be any more opposite.

Xavier just laughs at the chaos, and Michael rolls his eyes at the ongoing banter. The dynamic is like a sitcom, and I can’t help but be entertained by the contrasting personalities.

Despite the initial nerves, I find myself thoroughly enjoying the game. These people, once strangers, are turning out to be a really fun bunch. Xavier, while not saying much, engages in friendly arguments about the rules, often involving Michael, who proves him either right or wrong.

Every now and then, Xavier glances over at me, and my pulse quickens. Warm tingles spread over my body each time his gaze meets mine, and his winks make my craving for him inevitable.

He’s like a forbidden drug that I can’t help but want more of—a single taste, and I’m hooked. Conflicted thoughts swirl in my mind.

With a tumultuous relationship with my father and the scars of my past relationship still fresh, my guard is high. Uncertain about what to expect from others, the familiar feelings of pain and doubt linger. Yet, as Xavier’s eyes lock onto mine, I feel that guard dropping, if only for a moment. Now up close near the net, Xavier moves over to me, from the other side of the net.

“You’re pretty good at this, Doc,” he remarks, flashing a mischievous grin.

“I could say the same about you, Cowboy. Seems like you’ve got a few tricks up your sleeve,” I reply, a playful glint in my eyes.

His laughter ripples through the water. “You have no idea,” he says, low enough for just me to hear, and I blush, my face now probably fifty shades of red.

Harrison repeats my words, “Oooo cowboy, huh? That’s a new one.” He teases Xavier, who responds by splashing him in the face. Harrison shakes off the water with a deep laugh.

I catch Olivia’s eyes lingering on us. She smirks knowingly, and I clear my throat, shaking off the subtle survey. Returning my focus to the game, I dive back into the water, leaving the unspoken connection with Xavier lingering beneath the surface.

As the game progresses, Michael announces that the score is now 2-1 in favour of the girls.

“We’re smashing it,” I exclaim to Imogen, who gives me a high-five in celebration, our teamwork shining through in the poolside match.

When it’s my turn to serve, I muster all my strength, ready to make a splash—quite literally. However, my aim goes awry, and I accidentally smack the ball too hard, sending it careening into Xavier’s unsuspecting face. The pool erupts into laughter as he turns, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“Oh, that’s how it’s gonna be?” he teases, water dripping down his face.

Innocently, I retort, “It was an accident. Maybe you should paymore attention.” He shoots me a playful glare.

“It was a friendly fire.” I add, with a mischievous grin.

Our banter continues, the back-and-forth exchanges making the game even more enjoyable. Before it escalates, Harrison interjects with a snarky comment. “Now, now, love birds, settle down.”

I feel a flush of embarrassment rising, but Xavier, sensing my discomfort, retaliates by splashing Harrison and playfully dunking him underwater. Imogen laughs heartily, and Olivia, ever the observer, comments with an amused smile, “Boys.” I share a laugh, shrugging off the playful chaos in the pool.

Xavier, ever the provocateur, mouths words that tease curiosity and heat into my cheeks. ‘Game on,’ he mouths slowly, his eyes locking onto mine.

A shiver runs down my spine as I decipher his message, leaving me both intrigued and flushed. The question lingers: what does he have in mind, and what does ‘game on’ entail? A spark of anticipation dances in my eyes.

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