Page 49 of Raine Out (Grand Slam 2)

“What’s up, Savannah?” Alex says, sitting up. He turns his body sideways to try to block her from seeing me.

“And who are you hiding behind you?” she says, taking a few steps to the side so she can look around him. “Oh look. It’s my friend Raine. You’re so small that I almost didn’t see you.”

“I think I’ve already warned you what kind of damage this small body can do,” I say, starting to stand up. “Any time you’re ready.”

“Really?” Alex grabs my arm and pulls me back down. “Who are you right now? Put your butt back on this chair.”

“Fine,” I say, sitting back down as I keep my eyes locked on Savannah.

“Do you need something, Savannah?” Alex says as he turns back toward her.

“Yes, we need you,” she says, trying to grab his arm. He pulls it back. “Alex, you promised you’d play beer pong with us. Allie needs a partner.”

“Uh, maybe later. I’m good here for now,” he says, glancing back at me.

“Don’t let me keep you,” I say, smiling. “Beer bong awaits.”

“Pong,” he says, laughing. “It’s called beer pong. Have you never played?”

“She has not,” Butch says, closing in on us from the other side. “And neither have I, but we’re game.”

Alex looks up at him and shakes his head. “Again, why are you everywhere? Do you just appear whenever you sense you can cause the most trouble?”

“That’s pretty much my job description,” Butch laughs. “What do say, Sandra? Do you have room for another team? Raine and I would like to play.”

“I thought I told you I didn’t want to see you for the rest of the trip,” Savannah hisses at Butch.

“And I don’t want to be this beautiful,” Butch says, grabbing me under my arms and pulling me up. “So we both have problems. Let’s go, Alex. Get your ass up. We’ve got games to play.”

“I’m not really in the game-playing mood right now,” Alex says, staring at Butch.

“But I am,” Butch says, grinning broadly. “I justloveto play games.”

Alex stares at him for another second and then looks at me. “Fine. Raine, do you want to be my partner? I’ll teach you how to play.”

Butch puts his hand over Savannah’s mouth as she starts to protest. “Raine’s my partner. I think Susanna said Allie’s looking for a partner, though.”

Alex glares at Butch. “You’re looking for a beat down, brother.”

“Come at me,” Butch laughs as he pulls me away from them. “We’ll meet you up there.”

“Why are you making me play a drinking game?” I whisper. “What about our five years of friendship makes you think I would enjoy that?”

“It’s a good way to flirt without having to think about it too much,” he says. “Alex is your target for the bet, by the way.”

“What?” I say, pushing him away from me. “No. I don’t want him to be a part of our bet.”

“I get to choose the target. It’s him,” he says, putting his arm around my shoulders. “He’s into you, Raine. Maybe lean in a little bit and encourage him. Let’s play a stupid drinking game and let him see your fun side.”

“Have you ever played beer pong?”

“I don’t play games when I want to drink, but it’s called beer pong, how hard can it be?”

He grabs my hand and pulls me to the table where Seb’s friend Ricky is yelling at someone to chug. He gives Serena a double high-five. They must be partners.

“I guess we have to throw the balls in the cups or something?” I whisper to Butch. “Are you a good shot?”

“Are you really asking me that right now? Do you think any of these idiots are a better shot than me?”

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