Page 21 of Love Rewritten

Quickly grabbing a card, I read through it and immediately want to redraw. “What are the rules for drawing a new one?”

Meredith sits forward, answering quickly. “Absolutely not. You’re supposed to finish your drink if you don’t read out the drawn card. But as the only sober person in this room, you don’t apply to that rule. So read the card, scaredy cat.”

I feign offense with a hand on my chest and my mouth hanging open. “Fine.” I look around the room, pretending to choose who to ask, but I already know who I’m going to ask, especially because I don’t have any desire to know the answer to this card from the other two in this room. Problem is, I’m not sure this is the right setting to ask such a question. “Uh, Abby,” I start, drawing this out a little longer than necessary. “Name a sexual desire you’ve never entertained.”

She pales and blushes at the same time. And then takes a very large swig of her drink.

“Not going to answer that one, huh?” I ask.

She holds her drink up as an answer. I narrow my eyes at her as if I can read her mind but have no such luck. “Fair enough.” I make a mental note to ask her about that later, in a much more private setting, where maybe she’d divulge such secrets. She’s been pretty open through most of these cards, but anything more than second-base questions, she won’t answer.

Meredith grabs a card. “Oh, it’s a create your own.” She thinks for a moment before the question comes to her. “I know. Abby, if money wasn’t an issue, which dress would you have bought yesterday?”

I am curious about this one. She showed me the dress she bought. It’s simple, cute. She would no doubt look good in it, but she did mention there were a couple of other dresses she liked but didn’t buy because they were too far out of her price range, so I didn’t question it further.

Abby doesn’t hesitate when she says, “The black one.”

Meredith laughs and points a finger at her. “I knew it.” I catch Meredith’s eyes when they land on me. She smirks, wiggling her brows.

Abby draws a card this time. “This is also a create your own. Apparently, they’ve been bunched together this whole time.” It doesn’t take her long before she turns her body toward me. “Dallas, the day you and Meredith met, what did she run back to tell you?”

Meredith laughs loudly. The memory flashes through my head, and I smile, recalling those words she whispered to me. “She told me that if I wanted to keep my dick, I had better make you happy and not screw this up. Oh, and that she doesn’t mind going to jail over it.”

Logan snorts from his seat. "I wouldn't put it past her."

Abby rolls her eyes and turns toward Meredith. “You are ridiculous.” Meredith shrugs, and they both start laughing. “Who’s next?” Abby asks.

“Me,” Logan says, drawing a new card. “Ah yes. Such an important question. Dallas, boobs or butt.”

Abby eyes me curiously. I laugh but answer quickly. “Butt all the way.”

“You are also ridiculous,” she says.

I lean in closer, eyes meeting hers. “Maybe I am, but I could look at yours all day long.”

She smacks me on the arm and shakes her head.

“Okay. Final question, and then I say we watch a movie or something.” Meredith draws a card. “Hmm, this could be good. Abby, what’s the dirtiest dream you’ve had about someone in this room?” Meredith immediately looks to me like I might know the answer. Alas, I do not, but now I wish I did.

Abby doesn’t hesitate before downing the rest of her drink. But she elbows me discreetly. Another question for later, I suppose.

The girls pass out on the couch together, cuddled next to each other under a hoard of blankets. I would be dying of a heat stroke if I was under that much fabric. The last of the movie plays before Logan and I disappear into our rooms for the night. Tomorrow’s game might be rough on Logan if he drank as much as I think he did.

Chapter 9

Abby

Thebleachersarefullfor this game. They traveled to the opposing team's field today. The team took a bus, so I took my bike. It was a nice thirty minutes of free riding by myself. I pulled up shortly after the bus pulled into the lot. Dallas found me quickly, let me know where the best seats were, and scurried off with his team to get ready.

It’s been overcast all day. Storms threaten the skyline, but they’ve held off so far. Everyone’s praying the rain waits until the game is over for obvious reasons. They’ll play through the rain, but if thunder and lightning come, they’ll have to pause the game and may even postpone if it doesn’t pass quickly.

Of course, I didn’t think to check the weather before leaving this morning, but I don’t mind riding in the rain as much as most people do. It’s peaceful on the backroads as long as it’s not downpouring.

Players file out from the building behind the bleachers. The other team, dressed in black and green uniforms, takes their place on the right while Oxly takes their place to the left, their white and yellow uniforms a stark contrast to the other team. Warmups are quick. Dallas, Logan, and Connor stand in a triangle throwing to each other. A few other players practice their swings. It’s the same as at home, but the location is different.

Oxly is up to bat first. Logan sends one to center field and pauses on first. A few other players strike out before the top of the first ends. By the fourth inning, Oxly is down by one. From where I sit, I can hear Coach Charlie barking orders. When the ninth inning starts, the storm clouds look like they’re ready to open. Everyone seems to be a little rushed. Oxly is now down by two. Losing this game doesn’t disqualify them, but it would create pressure for the next game. They’d have to win that one to continue.

Dallas is up first this time. He readies his stance and swings, sending one low into left field. His feet carry him easily to second. Another player hits a home run, sending both players home.

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