Page 70 of For Pleasure Or Worse

“No they’re not.” I rolled my eyes. “Mateo told them you guys were like sisters and sisters are off-limits.”

“The forbidden fruit tastes the sweetest.” Bella shrugged. “If you think walking around in shorts that short, hanging that low, baking us muffins, and doing it shirtless isn’t flirting, I worry how you bagged a husband.”

“Tyler made these muffins for me,” I pouted.

Mateo finally filed in from the deck, shoving his cellphone into his pocket and walking over to the couch. “Morning.” He leaned in to kiss me. “How are you feeling?”

“Good.” I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth. “Little banged up, but I’ll definitely manage.”

A retching sound came from Bella and I swatted her arm.

Frankie and Phee joined us from the kitchen, followed by the Swans wiggling themselves onto the couch in the tight, open spaces. Angelo brought a plate full of food into the living room and bent over the coffee table, inhaling it like a garbage disposal.

“It’s our only full day in Vegas, and we’re going to need every minute of it.” Phee hopped up from the couch and retrieved her clipboard. “Who’s up to hike the Red Rocks early?” An awkward silence followed, and O pulled a pink disco ball pen out and scratched the top item off the page forcefully. “I guess we can go straight into the scavenger hunt.”

The energy shifted and both Swan brothers sat up eagerly.

“We’re listening,” Sam spurred her on.

Frankie went to Ophelia’s side with a stack of paper like a pop quiz was about to be handed out.

“We’re going out to the Strip today, and while we’re there I have these curated lists of scavenger hunt items to check off. It’s supposed to befun,” she stressed. “But there are definitely stakes at play here.”

Frankie passed each of us the list that was typed and printed on graphically designed, full color paper. There were cactuses and flamingo clip art, pink lettering, framed check boxes—the whole nine.

“You’re fucking adorable, O.” Tyler Swan grinned from his tight spot on the couch. He kicked his feet up onto the ottoman and got comfortable reading the items on the list.

“I know there's a few of these that some of us can’t exactly partake in,” she admitted. “But that just means the rest of your team will need to pick up the slack. Since it's even on both sides, that shouldn’t be an issue.”

“So it’s bridesmaids versus groomsmen?” Camilla asked.

“Yes.”

Mateo was already focused on his list when I started reading mine.

Photo with a street performer.Easy enough. There were hundreds of those walking up and down the Strip at any given moment of the day.Blow Job shot.I smirked and looked around at everyone else with their noses buried in their paper.Switch clothes with a stranger.Interesting, and not as simple as the first two. I was impressed with Ophelia’s creativity.Lap dance.Mateo and Frankie wouldn’t be caught dead. Similarly to the itemkiss someone you just met.

There were several others.Gather a crowd, sing karaoke, find an Elvis impersonator, find another guy with the groom’s name, blow on dice at a gambling table, andget a DJ to play your song requestwere just a few. I loved how much thought had been put into all of this. It was clearly planned for several weeks, months probably, knowing Ophelia. Mateo and I struck gold with our best friends, and it was the cherry on top when they also fell in love. It was honestly a matter of time before our roles were reversed.

There was a buzz of excitement around the room. “Some of these are…”

“Out of the question,” Matty finished for me.

“Someone's gotta do it, so I’ll take one for the team and get the lap dance, boys,” Tyler said regretfully.

Sam shook his head. “These are pretty good, O. Sounds like a challenge, and I love those.”

“What does the winner get?” Angelo asked.

“It’s not what the winner gets, it’s what punishment goes to the losing team,” Frankie explained.

“Losers will have to choreograph a group dance to perform at the wedding reception,” Phee announced.

“Oh fuck no, I do not dance,” Mia spat.

“Then you better win,” Angelo fired back.

Tyler stretched his arms across the back of the couch. “Ladies, I hate to break this to you, but there is absolutely no wayin hell you can win this thing. Not even with tape over my mouth and my hands tied behind my back.” Bella stood, taking her list with her. “You’d look even prettier like that, though.”

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