Chapter 27 #2
“Experience,” Sebastian murmurs. “Grady and I are good players”—how the hell does he know that?—“Zach is middling. Lake and Avery have never played a game of chess in their lives, but Quinn and Felix know what they’re doing.”
Avery’s mouth drops open. “How the fuck did you know that?”
That’s what I want to know.
“Lucky guess.”
“Bullshit.”
Sebastian raises a smarmy eyebrow and doesn’t elaborate. I bet the asshole can read minds. Or is too damn good at reading people. It’s why I hate being in a courtroom with him. He’s a walking nightmare in a suit.
He nudges my hip with his. “Looks like we’re partners, partner.”
“The universe has a sick sense of humour.”
“Zach has the lanyards,” Felix continues.
“Close your eyes and pick one at random. What you get is final. No swapping, and I won’t negotiate.
If you try to negotiate, the first round of drinks at the bar is on you.
If you try to argue with me, the second round of drinks is on you.
If you’re feeling really argumentative, you might end up paying for drinks the whole night.
” He grins, and there’s a hint of madness to it. “I love free drinks.”
What the fuck have I agreed to be a part of? Is this a kind of sick psychology experiment? Because it feels a lot like one.
Lake’s hand shoots up eagerly.
“Yes, Lake?” Felix answers patiently.
“Do I have to pay for drinks?”
Felix pauses, deliberating. “No. You and Grady will have free drinks all night. If you argue with me, you’ll owe me a boon instead.”
Based on where we are, with chess pieces that are usually locked up tight during the night, I’d say a lot of people in Sydney owe him one.
“I’ll be good,” Lake promises. “Time to pick what pieces we are?”
Quinn gets a knight—there’s a funny irony to that, considering he likes to be a knight in shining armour way too much.
Sebastian is a bishop—I laugh out loud. Lake is also a bishop.
Zach gets the king piece—has to be rigged.
Felix gets a rook—also scarily accurate.
I get the queen—I’m not going there. Avery picks a pawn.
“What the fuck?” Avery sputters. “Why is this even an option? I want a different one.”
“Avery is buying the first round of drinks,” Felix says casually as he puts his own lanyard over his head.
“Why did you put a pawn in the picks? How many are in there?”
“One of every piece for each team.” Felix tugs on a strand of Avery’s hair and trails his fingers down his throat. “Are you going to keep arguing with me? After the second round you buy…” He trails off and then leans in, whispering something in Avery’s ear.
Avery goes bright red and then tugs his lanyard on with jerky movements. “No.”
“I can only move one square too,” Zach offers, glancing curiously between them.
That’s a terrible consolation prize. Not sure what he was hoping to accomplish with that.
“In any direction you want, and the whole point of the game is to keep you safe!” Avery bursts out. “I’m meaningless fodder.”
“Pawns are important,” Felix says, kissing his temple. “Everyone, set up your board and get into position.”
The game is ruthless from the start, and I’m not understanding the “no biting” rule.
“Move off that square, Avery, and you forfeit the game,” Lake says, poking his tongue out at his younger brother.
Avery pokes his back. “That wasn’t in the rules!”
“It is now. It’s my party, I get to change the rules.”
“It’s Grady’s party too.”
They both turn to me, and I instantly say, “No.” I’m not getting in the middle of an argument between these two. Not for every dollar in the world.
Quinn rubs his forehead in amusement. “I believe it’s your turn, Grady.”
I’m not surprised that Sebastian is as good at this as he said he is; he’s a lawyer used to being multiple steps ahead of everyone else. I am surprised by how well he takes direction, and how well we work together when we have a common enemy.
Somewhere deep down, there’s a grudging respect. His stupid brain is helping me win this game. That’s worth a little give, I guess.
Zach moves this time, getting into position to conduct a pincer move with Sebastian. The other team won’t see it coming, and they’ll walk right into the trap.
Avery bends a knee and wiggles his ass, like he’s about to jump.
“Don’t you dare move,” Lake says. “I’m trying to protect you, dork. As a pawn, you don’t make it easy, you know?”
“I don’t need protection. I’m ready to kick some ass. Put me in, coach.”
And the bloodthirsty game continues.
Lake ends up right in front of me. “Hello there, fiancé for one more night,” he says cheekily.
“What are you doing? I’m a queen piece.”
“You sure are,” he says, grinning.
Little brat. “You’re leaving yourself wide open.
” He’s literally just put himself into a position where I can easily take him.
He hasn’t even set it up so that someone else is lying in wait, stopping me from making a move towards him.
“Do you think I’m going to take it easy on you just because you’re hot? ”
He leans closer, hand playfully tapping my chest. “Yeah, kinda. And the whole ‘we have sex together’ thing.”
“Hey, no fraternising with the enemy,” Avery calls out.
“You have to use every advantage,” Felix says. “All’s fair in love and war.”
“I’m inclined to agree,” Quinn adds.
Never knew he was so cutthroat. Board games show you the real person behind the persona, every time. Monopoly shows you who they really are. Apparently so does chess.
“Don’t let them distract you,” Sebastian says. “Be strong, Grady. We’ve got this.”
A pep talk from the demon lawyer himself. Hell has officially frozen over.
Quinn laughs. “Are we distracting?”
Lake leans in even closer to me, our breath mingling. He smells good, like fresh berries and a woodsy scent that’s familiar. He’s wearing my cologne. Fuck, that’s hot. “Do you think they’d notice if we went off to play hooky?” He nips my bottom lip.
“Probably,” I mumble, swaying towards him.
A smile plays on his lips. “We should hurry up and beat you so we can go and get naked at home.”
“Think you’re going to win, do you?” I palm his nape and drag him into the kiss I’ve been thinking about since we left. Before that. I’m always thinking about it.
He opens his mouth instantly, letting me in. Not a second of hesitation.
“Thought we were playing chess, not watching a show,” Zach says, cackling.
Flipping him off, I reluctantly let go of Lake.
“Dissention in the ranks,” Avery declares excitedly. “Time to strike!”
In the end, we win, and I have to admit that Sebastian was a big part of that.
I’m not telling him that, but I can think it.
Unless he is a mind reader, in which case, I’m fucking screwed.
From the look on his face, I’m still going with mind reader because he definitely knows it, the smarmy bastard.
“I’m feeling generous,” he says, putting an arm around my shoulders like we’re friends. “First round is on me.”
“Second round,” Felix corrects as we all line the pieces back up for Felix’s friend to come collect. “Avery is getting the first.”
“Dammit.”