Page 63 of Puck Happens

He was a competitor in his prime. Of course, I got it. I just didn’t have to like it.

“Of course, I get it,” I said, letting him off the hook. Maybe too easily, but it was becoming clear to me I was a sucker when it came to Dillon Le Coeur. “Look, this doesn’t have to be a big deal. Let’s pretend we’re just two people here to play some games, and that’s all.”

His dimples showed up and then vanished. “Some friendly competition,” he said.

I shrugged. “What’s wrong with that?”

“Not a damn thing.” This time the dimples came out and stayed out. “The three-legged race is about to start.”

“Race?” I tilted my head like one of those TikTok dogs he’d accused me of being. I really had to stop that.

“You’re unhinged, you know that?”

I was. He was. This whole situation was completely unhinged. Someone was probably going to get hurt.

Unfortunately, I bet it was going to be me.

* * *

Dillon

The only way tosurvive last week had been to implement a whole new plan.

It was very aptly named:The Ignore Liv Plan.

It was comprised of several different components.

Don’t Look at Liv.

Don’t Talk to Liv.

Pretend Liv Doesn’t Exist.

I knew I was pissing her off, and worse, hurting her, but my plan had been working.

Ron stopped watching us. Novek was pulling together with the team and not shooting his mouth off every damn minute. What I’d told Liv was the truth.

I’d had to make the choice – the team or Liv.

I stood by my choice.

The three-legged race, however, rendered theIgnore Liv Planuseless.

We were tied together from our hips to our feet. I could feel her breathe. I could feel her breasts against my arm. Her hair against my neck. It was like going from ice cold to on fire.

Do not get a hard on, do not get a hard on.

“Hey brother, I’m going to kick your ass!”

I looked over to see Wendy had partnered up with her bartender Dave and was already smack-talking us. Dave was tall and Wendy’s speed would be to their advantage, but they didn’t know I’d tied myself to a Tasmanian Devil.

“Bring it!” Liv shouted back to her. “No mercy for family.”

Then she looked at me a little nervously.

“That’s true. Right? No mercy for family?”

“No mercy,” I agreed, and then shouted over Liv’s head, “I’m going to bury you, sister!”

---