Page 30 of Coyotes Ever After

“Right.”

The women’s turn continues like that, and they’ve scored eight points by the time the timer beeps.

“Must be nice to get words like ‘beach’ and ‘pizza’ when we get shit like ‘spelunking,’” Dom mutters. “I need a gummy.”

“Bring me one, too!” Cam calls after him.

“Me too!” Elle says.

“I’ll just bring the whole damn bag.”

“Why is losing at this game so hard for him?” Elle asks me, amused.

“He’s always hated losing. If our team was in second place, he said we were the first-place losers.”

“Gummies chill him out real quick-like,” Tess says.

“Do you ever have gummies?” Mila asks Elle.

“Yeah, sometimes. If I’m at home or I can’t sleep when I’m traveling.”

Mila furrows her brow. “You never told me that.”

Elle laughs. “It just hasn’t come up, I guess. I’ve got some in my room. Do you want one?”

Mila hesitates. “Maybe. But I don’t want to be passed out on the couch.”

“You won’t be. It just mellows you out a little bit.”

Colby interjects. “Babe, you don’t need a gummy. You’re naturally super mellow.”

Snickers sound around the room and Mila glares at him. “That’s really funny. Maybe you can do your little comedy routine in the guest room tonight.”

Elle pinches her brows together. “So, for example, if you had a gummy, that joke wouldn’t bother you. You’d laugh it off.”

“I am getting a little tired of beating their asses at Taboo,” Mila muses. “I’ll do it if you do.”

An hour later,Colby and I are trying not to burst out laughing. Mila and Elle are on the couch, Mila’s legs in Elle’s lap. Mila is looking intently into Elle’s eyes.

“I mean, like, Ireallylove you. I feel so bad for all the things I called you like...all those years ago.”

A smile plays on Elle’s lips. “I called you lots of things, too. It’s all in the past.”

“What was the worst thing you ever called me?”

Elle’s expression turns uncertain. “I don’t even remember. It was so long ago. You’re my best friend now.”

“Aww...you’remybest friend too!”

“Is it possible to die of amusement?” Colby asks me in a low tone. “Because this shit is hysterical.”

“I called you an opportunistic whore,” Mila confesses. “A lot.”

Colby cringes. “How strong are Dom’s gummies? This could turn bad.”

I wave off his concern. “Elle’s not like that. I promise you she’s as amused by this as we are.”

“Well, you’ve never been one to hide your feelings,” Elle says diplomatically.

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