Page 3 of Freestyle
“Hey, Rowyn,” a voice says, and I turn to see Remy standing next to me. His smile is friendly, but I can see the curiosity in his eyes.
“Enjoying the party?” he asks.
“Yeah, it’s great,” I reply, forcing a smile. “Just needed a break from the dance floor.”
Remynods, his gaze flickering toward Gray and the green-eyed guy.
“Those two can be intense, huh?” I nod to his friends.
“Don’t let them get to you. They’re harmless, really.”
I nod again, taking a sip of my drink.
“Oh, I’m sure. But I’m just trying to keep things simple tonight.” I shrug as Remy laughs.
“Good luck with that. Simplicity and the Sharks don’t usually go hand in hand.”
I let his words sink in as he walks away with his drink. Yeah, I know all about the Sharks and their need to dominate everything in their path. We learned that when Fallon met Remy at the beginning of the school year.
“Come on Row! Let’s go play beer pong!” Fallon shouts over the music, dragging me out of my thoughts. I follow her to the backyard where there’s a giant pool glistening in the lights, and people jumping in from the roof with cheers that blend with the music.
“Are you okay being out here?” I ask her as we pass the water.
“Yeah, I’m good. I have you guys and I’ve been practicing my breathing, like you suggested. I think it’s helping.” She smiles and squeezes my hand. As we approach the table, I see Remy setting up the cups. He winks at Fallon, makingher blush like a ripe tomato. It’s cute seeing her response after all the time they’ve been together.
“Hey, babe. You ready to lose?” He laughs, clearly enjoying teasing her.
“Not a chance, psycho. We happen to have a secret weapon.” Fallon nods towards me, causing me to flush as a crowd begins to form.
“Game on, little fox,” he responds, placing a kiss on her lips. She turns a brighter shade of red and I giggle, shaking my head.
“Stop, Row. He’s a bad influence. Don’t encourage him!” she scolds playfully.
I raise my hands in surrender, laughing. “I didn’t do anything!”
Fallon grabs the ping pong ball, her eyes determined. “Alright, let’s do this!” Remy smirks, as she lines up her shot.
“Prepare to be amazed.” The crowd cheers as the game begins, and I can’t help but feel a rush of excitement. Fallon and I work together seamlessly, laughing and teasing each other as we play. The tension from earlier in the night seems to melt away with each shot, and even more with every cup we have to drink.
“Nice one, Fallon!” I shout as she sinks a ball into one of Remy’s remaining cups. He feigns annoyance, but I can see the amusement twinkling in hiseyes.
“Not bad, little fox,” he says, taking a drink. “But we’re just getting started.” The game continues, the atmosphere growing more intense with each round. Fallon and I manage to keep up with Remy, matching his skill with our own, even with my head swimming. The crowd around us cheers, making us feel invincible.
At one point, I catch sight of Gray and the friend watching from the sidelines. Their presence sends a chill through me, but I force myself to focus on the game. Tonight is about fun, not distractions. As the final cups are left on the table, Fallon lines up her shot, her face a mask of concentration. She takes a deep breath and releases the ball. It arcs through the air and lands perfectly in the cup, sealing our victory. The crowd erupts in cheers, and Fallon turns to me with a triumphant grin.
“We did it!” I laugh, pulling her into a hug. “You were amazing!”
Remy shakes his head, laughing. “I have to admit, you two make a great team.” Fallon blushes again but smiles proudly.
“Thanks, babe. Maybe next time you’ll put up a better fight.” He laughs, giving her a playful nudge.
“We’ll see about that.”
As the cheers and laughter die down, I glance at my watch and feel a pang of guilt. It’s already past midnight, and I have to be up early for work. The thought of draggingmyself through a double shift on just a few hours of sleep makes me groan inwardly.
“Hey, Fallon, I just realized how late it is. I have to work tomorrow,” I shout over the music.
Fallon’s face falls, and she pouts. “Oh, come on, Row! You can’t leave yet. The night is still young, and we just won our game!” She grabs my arm, giving me her best puppy-dog eyes.
