Page 133 of No Rings Attached
Kyle pumped his fist and cheered, all fake bravado. “Yes! Let’s get this party started. I’m the king of lawn games, so watch and learn, everyone.”
I swear I heard a few people snort at once.
“Ellie, we must play together,” Celia’s wide grin put me on edge. “You and Drew against me and Kyle.”
At least I didn’t need to be on her team. We broke off into groups of four and spread out among the cornhole games set up.
Kyle grabbed a beanbag and pulled his arm back like he was pitching a fastball. “I’ll go first. Set the bar.”
He launched it. The bag sailed straight into the hydrangeas.
I laughed, not even bothering to hide it.
“Must’ve been the wind,” Kyle muttered.
“Thereisno wind,” Drew said mildly, and sent his beanbag arching clean through the hole.
I cupped my hands around my mouth, “That’s my man!”
Drew’s grin was wide, his eyes locked on mine. Kyle, on the other hand, scowled so hard I thought his face might crack.
“Best two out of three,” he grumbled.
Three games later, Drew had quietly sunk every bag, and Kyle even had managed to hit the refreshment table.
Twice.
Next, we moved on to Jenga. This time people were discreetly—and not so discreetly—watching the four of us. Drew wasn’t strutting or boasting, but somehow his calm made Kyle look more unhinged as we took turns removing the wooden blocks from the tower.
“Steady hands make for steady wins,” Wyatt called from the sidelines, earning himself a glare from Kyle.
Grace snorted into her champagne. She and Wyatt had snuck in and were our unofficial hecklers. I loved them even more for their support—and snarky commentary.
I leaned toward Drew, teasing, “Are your hands steady?”
“Always, unless I’m touching you.” His finger trailed down over my hip.
Thank God it wasn’t my turn. I’d have fumbled it for sure.
Kyle ruined the moment. He yanked out a block dramatically, nearly toppling the tower. Then he raised his arms in victory and puffed out his chest at the camera.
Drew stepped up, calm and steady, sliding a block free as if he were carefully setting a diamond into a ring. Half the bridal party cheered for him.
Celia went next and gave us a triumphant grin when she succeeded in pulling out a piece. She jumped into Kyle’s arms and squealed.
I went next, and my stomach was in knots.Don’t knock it over,I silently prayed, willing my hands not to shake as I pulled out a wooden block.
Drew’s quiet encouragement steadied my hand. “You’ve got this, buttercup.” I focused on his gentle words of support and did my best to tune out the huffs coming from my mother in the background. I’m sure once again she thought I was trying to steal the show.
The tower leaned, right, then left, then settled with a little shimmy.
“Yeah, babe!” Drew yelled out and hugged me. “I knew you could do it.”
I reached up and tugged his face down to mine. “Thank you.”
He grinned, his hands going to my waist. His lips met mine, and the game and Kyle’s antics were forgotten as his tongue swept into my mouth and made me moan.
It wasn’t until I heard Kyle swearing that I even realized he’d taken his turn and had knocked down the tower.
