Page 135 of The Genius
“No, they’re admiring your moves,” I shouted back.
Raven came from the side with leaves in her hair. “Hey, I wanna dance too,” she said and put down a bow and arrow. “Plato and I almost got a squirrel, but it was too quick.”
The men playing cards looked up. “I’ve never met a squirrel too fast for my gun,” Nathan said. “Why are you messing around with a bow and arrow? This is fucking 2447, not the medieval ages.”
“You went hunting too?” Rochelle gave Raven a pointed look that Raven missed because she was pulling off her shirt, leaving her in only a tank top.
“Geez, it’s hot,” she said and wiped her forehead.
Willow waved her hand to Raven. “Come join us if you want.”
“Hey, Raven,” Nero grinned at her. “If it’s so hot, why don’t you slip out of the rest of your clothes?”
Raven gave him an exaggerated smile and with a sway in her hips, she moved closer to him. “Let’s make a deal, Nero. If I slip out of my clothes, you’ll slip into something more comfortable too?”
His smug smile grew and his voice deepened. “Now you’re talking. What would you like me to slip into? You?”
Raven gave a mischievous grin. “Nah, I was thinking you could slip into something relaxing like… well, I don’t know, maybe a coma.”
The men exploded in laughter. “First she kicks your ass this morning and then she whips you again. When are you going to learn not to mess with Raven?”
Nero crossed his arms. “I had to let her win. She’s a woman and women have sensitive feelings.”
Raven had already moved away and was now following the directions of Willow when Mila came carrying a basket.
“Who wants to play some party games?”
“Sorry, Mila, we’re in the middle of an intense card game – maybe later,” Storm lied. “Why don’t you join Willow’s dance class? I’m sure they could use another fairy.”
Mila’s shoulder sank. “Oh, okay. I guess I can do that.”
It wasn’t until three hours later, when Lord Khan and Magni had returned, that Mila had her chance again.
“Now that we’re all here and dinner is over, I thought it would be fun to play some of the party games that I’ve prepared for us,” she said and looked around for support.
“I’ll play.” Nicki and a few other Motlander women volunteered.
“How about you?” she asked Hunter and it occurred to me that she was taking a big risk. If Hunter said yes, the other men would most likely go along. But if he said no, there was no chance they’d play.
“Hunter will play,” Marco said and got up. “And so will I.”
Like ten birds taking off from a branch at the same time, my stomach was all aflutter. This was one of the reasons I loved Marco. He was willing to ridicule himself to save the face of someone else. I’d seen him let boys win against him when they needed a confidence boost, and now he was seeing Mila’s struggle to get the Nmen onboard with her party games and gallantly coming to her rescue.
Hunter rose from his seat so slowly that it looked like he was lifting not only himself but a heavy pile of internal resistance to party games as well.
“We need four men and four women for this game,” Mila instructed.
“I’ll help,” I said, inspired by Marco’s good deed.
“What about you, Dad, will you play?” Mila blinked her eyes at Magni, who stiffened.
“Ehh… I think this is a game for younger men.” Magni pointed to Plato and Sultan, but they got busy drinking beer.
“Please, Dad.”
He sighed. “Okay, I guess Boulder and I can do it.”
Boulder, who was sitting next to Magni, slammed down his glass of beer. “Why do I have to suffer just because you can’t say no to her?”
