Epilogue- Part 2 #3
Keith spread his legs wide and slouched in his chair.
“Not a scientist or an academic. Foster system kid. Joined the military as soon as I turned eighteen. Went through BUD/S training and became a SEAL. Have three deployments under my belt. All classified.” He cast a look toward Reed and Daniel, who I’d learned were also some kind of soldiers with classified missions.
“Specialized and trained in hostage negotiations. Since leaving, I’ve been a medic and deep-sea diver working with scientists.”
“You’re a badass.” Viktor whistled.
“That work for you, brother?” Keith asked Adrien with a smile.
“Yes. Thank you for your service.” Adrien ducked his head.
Keith gestured at the board. “Let’s go with one for now. We can revisit if, after discussing other couples, it still feels unfair.” Though he spoke casually and was slouching, the unmistakable weight of command in his voice was hard not to notice.
Everyone agreed with his ruling and we moved to the next column Dexter had labeled. It was Sam and Viktor.
A bowl of mixed snacks passed within Garrett’s reach. He took it and set it on my thighs, then began picking through it with concentration.
“What are you doing?” I whispered.
“Findin’ the good ones.”
I watched him with amusement. He chose a small cheese cracker. Rather than handing it to me, he brought it to my mouth. I blushed but opened obediently, biting it from between his fingers.
When I turned to the scoreboard, Viktor had written:
Sleeping bag inside a tent-- 2
Penguin Island -- 3
Total = 5
“Any disputes?”
“A sleeping bag is basically a bed.” Grant scowled.
“No, it’s not. Otherwise it would be called a sleeping bed.”
My shoulders shook in silent laughter at the two friends arguing.
“Fine.” Grant waved a hand and pulled Adrien toward him.
Viktor turned to Sam. “We’re so gonna win this.”
Poor Sam looked as red as Adrien, but not once did he disagree with his boyfriend. They were adorable together.
Viktor moved to the next column. “Okay, Daniel, I understand that reckless behavior is not something you normally enjoy, so there is no pressure. However, since you and Reed were together in a war zone, I am willing to consider that and award you a respectable score.”
War zone -- 4
Daniel looked at him calmly. “Would the cockpit of a chopper count?”
I choked on the cheese cracker Garrett had just fed me.
Dexter’s eyes went as round as saucers while Viktor’s marker fell to the ground. The room erupted.
Reed just laughed while everyone began talking at once.
“How the fuck did you guys do that?”
“Weren’t you flying?”
“Wait, the entire station was on the radio!”
“That is truly bonkers,” I giggled.
Eventually, everyone agreed on the score. Viktor stared in dismay at the board before he erased the score and rewrote it.
Chopper cockpit -- 10
While flying the fucking chopper -- 40
Total = 50
He stared at the number for a moment before turning toward Sam.
“Shit, babe, we gotta think of something.”
“Okay.” Sam was laughing.
“Umm, okay, Nate and Garrett are left.” Viktor sighed. “You are the newest couple, and you have spent most of the past two months separated. No worries—”
“Excuse me,” Daniel interrupted rather uncharacteristically.
“Da?”
“You forgot to add the four points from the war zone.”
The room erupted again while Viktor mumbled in Russian as he erased and rewrote one more time.
Chopper cockpit -- 10
While flying the fucking chopper -- 40
War zone -- 4
Total = 54
Viktor wiped his forehead. “This was not how I thought it would go.” He turned toward Sam. “We need to do something completely crazy. I still think we can win this. I mean unless someone has sex on Mars—”
Daniel and Reed exchanged another loaded glance.
“Oh my God, man, don’t give them any more ideas.” Grant groaned.
“Right. Sorry. Umm, so Nate and Garrett…”
I squirmed in Garrett’s lap. “Would the bottom of the Southern Ocean in a submersible count?”
The room fell silent as everyone stared at us. Garrett hid his face in my sweater as his brother gaped at us with the most comically shocked expression.
“We had time to kill.” I shrugged, which was futile given how furiously I was blushing.
“I fucking can’t believe you, Nate.” Keith was laughing at me. “Wait till Birch learns.”
“You cannot tell him!” I squeaked. “It is in the charter. You took an oath.”
The rest of them were debating whether the bottom of the Southern Ocean deserved more points than a helicopter cockpit.
“Hmm. I can still use this. Good blackmail material.” Keith grinned.
“You’re not harming a hair on his head,” Garrett growled.
In the end, the group awarded us fifty points too.
Submersible at the bottom of the Southern Ocean -- 50
“The official challenge begins now,” Viktor announced in a trembling voice. Then he dropped the marker, grabbed Sam’s hand, and made a mad dash as he dragged poor Sam out of the room. “See you next season!”
The rest of us dissolved into peals of laughter.
* * *
Thank you for reading my book.