Chapter 6 Ping-Pong, Anyone?
WREN
Poppy, Lacey, Gray, and I can’t stop laughing as we walk off the dance floor toward the bar to refill our drinks.
“Y’all need another?” I ask Donovan and Enzo.
“We’re good,” Enzo calls back as he and his husband walk to meet the guys at the table.
“Tanner was sweet to remember what you liked to drink,” Poppy says as we find an empty place along the bar.
“I don’t know if sweet is the word I’d use,” I say, wincing a little at the thought of him bringing me my favorite cocktail.
“I think he’s trying,” Gray says.
“To get in my pants?”
“I thought you weren’t his type,” she claps back.
“What does that mean?” Lacey asks.
“Nothing. I don’t trust that his gesture doesn’t have an ulterior motive.”
“I think he’s just being your friend,” Poppy clarifies.
“Maybe, but I just don’t get it. It’s like a woman wrote Logan, Jacks, Donovan, and Enzo. Then there’s Tanner. And, well I don’t know, but he’s nothing like them. The flirting is out of control. I mean he fucking winked at me. I can’t.”
“So, I guess this would be a bad time to remind you he still needs a roommate,” Lacey says.
“Yes!” I shout, playfully shoving her shoulder. “I know y’all don’t get it because you have these super sweet boyfriends who literally worship the ground you walk on, but I’ve dated a Tanner before, and it’s not worth the trouble.”
“I don’t have one of those,” Gray laughs.
“Well at this rate, you’re probably next,” I say.
“With all my issues, I doubt that,” Gray says, her face falling a little.
“That’s not true,” I reply.
“We weren’t talking about me,” she says, trying to change the subject. “We were talking about how you were thinking about dating Tanner.”
“I was not.” A giggle bubbles out of me at the thought.
“You did bring up dating him,” Lacey laughs.
“She’s right,” Poppy says.
“Y’all are the worst. I was just trying to say that he’s nothing like your boyfriends, and that in my experience with dating a guy like him, I learned my lesson.”
“But no one is suggesting you date him,” Poppy reminds me.
“I know that, but I don’t think he would understand that. I’m not going to force myself to live with the world’s biggest flirt. I keep telling y’all I’ll find something, and I will. Stop worrying.”
“But we’re your friends,” Lacey says. “We’re supposed to worry about you, and in two and a half months, your apartment will be a pile of rubble.”
“It’s so sad,” I lament. “Did I tell y’all that I ran into my old landlords at the grocery store, and they said the new company kept them completely in the dark about demoing the building. They were devastated to find out that we’re all getting kicked out because of it.”
“It’s so slimy,” Gray says.
“So slimy,” Lacey adds. “Did you ever ask about the rent special they offered the current tenants?”
“I did, and it was two and half times my current rent.” I pretend to gag. “So expensive. I need somewhere cheap.”
“What can I get you ladies?” the bartender asks, interrupting our conversation.
“Another gin and tonic, a French 75, a cosmo, and a martini,” Lacey shoots off.
“Extra dirty,” Gray yells as he walks away, and he throws a thumbs up into the air.
“Have you looked on Craigslist?” Gray asks.
“Craigslist? No. I don’t want to be murdered.” I laugh. “I just need to find a place that’s decent and allows me to keep saving my money.”
“I could talk to Jace about you living with us for a bit,” Lacey offers.
“I can’t do that. We’re moving y’all in tomorrow, and I would totally kill the vibe.”
“Then Tanner—” Poppy begins.
“Nope, we’re done. Next person to bring him up is going to have to take tequila shots,” I warn.
“Fine,” all three of my friends say at the same time.
The bartender returns with four drinks, and we make our way back to the guys.
“Anyone up for a friendly game of ping-pong?” Logan asks, gesturing toward the table in the corner. “What do you say, Chatterbox, you and me versus Wren and Tanner?”
“I’m in,” Poppy says. “Wren, want to play?”
“Oh, um, I think I’m going to sit this one out,” I say.
“Come on,” Poppy begs. “I’m not very good, but it’ll be fun.”
“Yeah, pretty please,” Tanner pleads.
“Gray, why don’t you play,” I suggest.
“No, I’m good,” she says, her mouth forming an evil grin. “You should play.”
“Fine,” I groan, downing the rest of my cosmo in one go.
“Hell yeah,” Tanner yells, putting his hand up for a high five, but when I try to meet his hand with mine, he moves it, and it just ends up being an awkward brush of our fingers. His cheeks heat, and he heads to the bar to collect the paddles without a word.
They seriously want me to live with him, yet we can’t even high five without being weird.
The rest of us head toward the ping-pong table, and I try to push my feelings aside.
“So, what are we playing for?” Tanner asks, handing each person a paddle.
“Losing team has to share a dance,” Poppy says. “And the winning team gets to pick the song.”
“That was the bet last time we played,” I say. “Remember the night Jacks and Lacey hooked up in the bathroom?”
“Scared you’re gonna lose?” Poppy teases.
“No, I was just thinking we could come up with a different bet.”
“I’m good with that being the bet,” Logan says, shrugging.
“Me too,” Tanner agrees.
“I’m sure you are,” I say under my breath, walking to my side of the table.
“What does that mean?” he asks.
“Nothing,” I retort, annoyed. “Let’s play.”
The game begins, and with every hit, it’s apparent that once again Tanner and I are the better players. In no time, we are up nine to three, and I send a silent thank you to the universe that this game is moving fast. Two more points and we win.
“I honestly thought y’all would be better competition than Jacks and Lacey,” Tanner yells at our opponents.
I giggle and send the ball flying back over the net.
“We’re not that bad,” Poppy argues, missing the ball.
“That’s our point,” I shout. “10-3.”
Tanner sends the ball straight at them. Logan returns it, but Tanner doesn’t even try to hit it.
“10-4,” Poppy calls out.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were trying to throw the game with hits like that,” Logan yells.
“You better not be,” I yell, cutting my eyes in Tanner’s direction.
Poppy serves the ball, and she and I return it back and forth a couple of times before I send it flying over the net toward Logan, who misses.
“Shall we pick a song?” I ask, turning towards Tanner.
“After you.” He puts his hand out, and I move past him toward the DJ.
“We make a good team,” he says.
“Hard not to when the people you’re playing against suck.”
“I guess so. Do you play often? You’re really good.”
“We need to pick a song,” I say.
“Oh, um. Okay. Maybe ‘Love In This Club’? Everyone thought it was funny last time.”
“No, that’s what they were going to pick, plus they’re obsessed with one another, so they’d love it to be a hot song. It has to be something dumb,” I say. “Like I don’t know, maybe—”
“‘The Hokey Pokey,’” we say at the same time.
“Ha! I told you we make a good team,” he says, flashing me a smile that takes up his entire face.
My stomach flips, and I feel a small smile form across my lips.
I try to hide it, but it’s too late. He catches it, and a larger one erupts across his.
“Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran pours through the speakers, and couples sway all around us, wrapped in each other's arms. He takes a step towards me, and my stomach does another swoop when his blue eyes find mine.
“I know we won, but do you want to dance before you tell the DJ to play the song for them?” he asks.
The cosmos and the music must be messing with me because there is no way I’m falling for whatever is happening right now.
“Oh, um…” I stammer. “I told Gray I’d share an Uber with her after our game.”
“Yeah, you’re right. It’s late. No worries,” he says, pushing his hand through his hair, and fuck, my stomach does it again when his bicep flexes.
“Sorry. I’m just gonna go tell the DJ,” I say, more panicked than I intend.
Shit. Get it together. It’s Tanner for Christ’s sake.
“Yeah, for sure.”
I walk toward the DJ, trying to shake off whatever the hell that was because I know better, and if my judgment is failing, it’s definitely time for me to go home.