Page 59 of Counter Bet

She smirks knowingly and pours us all shots.

I accept mine and throw it back, wincing. “What Ben said.” I nod to him. He lies on the floor, smoking deep drags of his joint. “Groundwork.”

Ben’s lips quirk.

Steph necks her own drink. “Whatever. You’re both full of shit!”

Nina and Josh both laugh. Well, fuck them.

“Dell, you’re not even trying. Fuck, I’ve killed you five times now!” Matt groans in exasperation.

He’s right. My character is lying in a pool of blood.

“Here,” April says, reaching for the controller in my hand. “I’ll kick his ass.”

I hand it to her as Steph joins me on the couch and drops her phone in my lap with a mischievous smile. I quirk an eyebrow.

*Emily Brooks joined the group chat*

Steph: Hey, girl!

Emily: Hi, how’s it going?

Steph replied to her question with the photograph she took of Ben blowing smoke into my mouth earlier.

Steph: Why don’t you join us?

I snap my head up, staring at her.

She smirks and taps the phone in my hand. “Keep reading.”

Emily: Are you sure?

Steph: Fuck, we can do with your crazy. Ben looks like a sad puppy. Dallas has hearty eyes and is staring at her phone every five minutes. Don’t tell me you haven’t got anything to do with that…

I laugh. “Fuck you, Steph! I don’t have hearty eyes, and I don’t stare at my phone every five minutes!”

She suppresses a smile. “Maybe not in the last half hour.”

Ben shoots upright, scrolling through his own phone. He glares at Steph. “A sad puppy, Steph? Really?”

Matt grins. “You do kind of look like a sad puppy.”

“Shit!” Ben gets to his feet. “She’s on her fucking way.” He walks to his bedroom and closes the door behind him.

“What was that about?” I ask.

Matt leans forward in his seat. I’m surprised the controller in his hand doesn’t break with how aggressively he presses those buttons. “He’s probably rubbing one out before she gets here, so he doesn’t shoot his load too soon.”

Steph groans. “Urgh! Gross, Matt.”

I chuckle and bring my attention back to the group chat.

Emily: Okay, sure. I’ll be there soon. What’s the address?

I look at Ben’s closed bedroom door. This thing between us is about more than a dare. We can’t deny it anymore. Why else does the thought of her spending the evening with us make my hands clammy? What if she doesn’t have a good time? What if she wishes she could spend the evening with her rich football friends instead of our little group of misfits.

It feels like forever while we sit and wait for Emily to arrive.

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