Page 9 of Wicked

Did I hear a growl from across the room? I slant my head and cup my ear. “Come again?”

Did the kid chomp at the bits? I face him, giving him the full force of my stare-down. The kid stands his ground.

“Harper, can he be on your team? I want my chance at him.”

The kid has the balls to rub his hands together. Harper’s not having it.

“Not nice. Apologize.”

I shoot the kid a toothy grin.

The kid glares but apologizes. He’s been making googly eyes at Harper since we walked into this joint.

My sight never leaving the kid’s face, I begrudgingly end Harper’s and my bantering and assume a spot next to the disgruntled kid with my arms crossed.

Why couldn’t Harper have said yes? I would’ve loved my shot at showing the kid who the king of dodgeball is.

“What do the winners get?” April asks with her hands on her hips.

In it to win it, that’s what I’m seeing on spunk’s face.

“What would you kids like to do? Movie, bounce house, zoo—”

The disgruntled kid interrupts Harper. “Water park.”

“Water park, water park, water park!” the other kids chime in.

Harper laughs. “Water park it is. The adult on the losing team pays.” Pointed stare in my direction.

I return the challenge in her eyes.Bring it.

“Let’s plan for two weeks from now. Sunday. Does that work for everyone?”

Screams of excitement.

More laughter from Harper. “It’s a plan.”

With extra bounce in their steps, the kids line up the balls in the middle of the room, then skitter back until they’re against the wall.

“Tell Ryker the rules, Collin,” Harper says.

Collin. So that’s the name of the skinny dirty-blond punk with a shit ton of attitude. He puffs out his chest at being picked to tell me what I can and can’t do.

“No face shots allowed. It’s an automatic out. But the back of the head is fair game. Three rounds. No time limit. We play each round until only one person is left standing. Questions?”

The disgruntled turd has the nerve to glance up at me with a satisfied grin. I cock a brow and give him a terse, “Not from up here, short stuff.”

I say it loud soeveryonecan hear. The kid’s face turns a deep shade of red. He looks away. I don’t feel bad at all, not one bit, for knocking him down a few pegs in front of his crush.

My attention slides to Harper. Disapproving expression followed by a ruthless gleam in her eyes as she glances from the balls to my—oh, fuck—my crotch.

April’s eyes do a sweep from right to left, and I’m not liking the maniacal giggle slipping from between her upturned mouth. Damn, that kid can be one scary-ass little girl.

“Okay, is everyone ready?” Harper raises her arm. “On the count of three. One, two, three.”

Her arm slashes downward. I scram to the center of the room. What a fucking bad idea. I’m hit first. Of course I’m smashed first. Myteamhas the good sense to stay put.

Those little shits.

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