Page 38 of Theirs

The guys are sitting across from each other at the table, chatting, and they’ve left me the spot at the head of the table. Alex gets up, and pulls my chair out for me, and pushes it in for me to sit. I’m shocked by this change in Alex. I wonder if Mac talked to him, or if he’s had a change in heart. Whatever it is, I’m not going to push him. The ball is in his court, he can take things as slow as he wants.

“This looks fantastic, Lavender,” Benjamin says, dishing out some pasta on my plate, and then onto his before passing it around the table.

“You can thank Gwen,” I tell the guys. “She did most of the work. But now I know how to cook it myself next time.”

“Don’t sell yourself short,” Colin says. “Gwen told me you were a natural. She was raving about you when she called me her way home.”

We all settle into a conversation about their jobs, and I smile as the guys talk about how delicious dinner is, a couple of them going for extras. I wonder if Gwen would let me help with dinner more often, I like the guys praising the meal.

When we’re done eating, they insist that they clean up, and Mac pours me another glass of wine. I lounge in the sitting room, Mr. Snuffy has made himself at home on the couch across from me, and watch the guys load up the dishwasher, and wipe down the countertops and table. I smile into my glass of wine while I watch Colin try to figure out the soap pod for the dishwasher.

He hears me chuckling and looks over at me with a smile. “I don’t need to hear your sass, young lady.”

“What are you going to do about it,” I mock. “Get Mac to punish me?”

“It can be arranged,” Mac tells him, smirking before he turns to me. “I do enjoy taming brats.”

“That better be singular now,” I tell him as a flare of jealousy courses through me. I place my feet up on the coffee table, and cross them at the ankles.

Mac gives me a wink, as he ties up the garbage bag and heads outside to take out the trash. Colin goes into the pantry, and comes out with a stack of plastic cups and a smirk on his face. I watch as he tosses a ping pong ball up in the air.

“Anyone up for some beer pong?” Colin asks.

I roll my eyes. “Safe to say you guys peaked in college?”

Mac appears behind me, using his right hand to flex around my neck, I jump at the touch. “Do you actually believe I peaked in college? I think I’m just getting started, Kitten.”

“I’m in,” Ben says, washing his hands and drying them on a towel. “What are we wagering?”

“How about me and you, against Mac and Alex,” Colin says. “Winner gets to have our lovely girlfriend’s attention for the rest of the evening.”

“Hey!” I protest, but Mac’s still holding me to the chair. “Don’t I get any say in this?”

“Okay, Lav,” Ben says. “What do you think the winners should get?”

All eyes are on me, even Alex’s. I wonder if he would throw the game in order to get out of having two-on-one time with me. His eyes betray him, he looks just as hungry for attention.

“Okay,” I say, removing Mac’s hand and standing up. “Whoever wins, has to then play me two-on-one in order to either get all my attention or if I win, I get a fivesome.”

“I don’t think you’re ready for that, Kitten,” Mac warns, standing behind me and wrapping his arms around my torso, leaning his chin on my head. “But if that’s truly what you want to wager...”

“It is,” I say, pulling out of his arms. “Let’s get to it!”

***

Never make a beer game wager with ex frat boys. Ever.

Ben and Colin dominated Alex and Mac in the first round. I was shocked to see Alex actually trying to win, and looking pissed when they lost by one cup, maybe he’s just overly competitive. Now I’m up against the winners, and I’ve been trying to sink it in the same, final cup for three turns now. I had a three cup lead, but now the guys have caught up to me. They’re both smiling with cocky looks on their faces.

I aim for my shot, and miss by an inch. Ben lines up his shot, and it lands with a splat in the cup. The guys high five each other, and I roll my eyes as I take my final sip of beer. No fivesome for me yet.

“Well, a deal’s a deal,” I say, looking apologetically at Mac.

He shrugs. “I still get you to myself this weekend.”

Alex walks off to the fridge to grab another beer.

“Swimsuit time!” Ben says, waggling his eyebrows at me. “Whomever gets in the pool first, gets to kiss whoever they want!”

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