Page 99 of Dream Chaser
“An apology, and maybe some permethrin lotion,” I answer.
Everyone busts up. Yeah, including Iz.
That fucking laugh of hers is everything.
We’re passing around what’s left of the potatoes when Oz leans back in his chair, takes a long drink of water like he’s about to make a toast, and then drops the bomb with the kind of grin that says,“This is going to ruin friendships,”and he’s totally okay with that.
“So,” he says, real casual, “anyone feel like doing a guys’ trip again this off-season?”
All the chatter dips just enough for him to keep going.
“Last year’s was … what’s the word?” He taps his chin. “Oh right, legendary.”
I shoot him a warning glare. “Oz …”
But it’s too late. He’s got the floor. And a flair for dramatics.
“Let’s see, where’d we go again? Oh right, Turks and Caicos. Hart misplaced his passport before we even boarded. Grimes got stung by a jellyfish and insistedBoonepee on him—refused help from anyone else. Said he ‘trusted the hydration of an elite athlete.’”
Boone groans, dropping his head on the table. “You swore that story was sacred.”
“Oh no, no, this is just the opening act.” Oz grins.
Lo peeks up at Kolby, eyes shining. “Wait—Boonepeedon you?”
“Nearhim,” Boone mutters. “It was strategic splashing. I was trying to help.”
“And yet,” Riley adds, “you all still hang out.”
Hart leans back, arms crossed, clearly resigned. “He’s leaving out the part where Skinner got?—”
“—locked on a hotel balconynaked,” Oz finishes proudly, like he’s revealing a plot twist onReal Housewives: Pro Athlete Edition.“For two full hours.”
The entire table loses it.
“Oh my God,” Iz wheezes.
“I wasn’tnaked,” I grit out. “I had a towel.”
“Which blew away. That was God’s doing,” Oz says solemnly, hand on his heart. “Just Skinner, the sky, and one very traumatized cleaning lady.”
Lexi coughs, nearly choking on her drink. “Please tell me there’s video.”
“Just grainy surveillance,” Oz replies. “But it lives in my soul.”
“And your cloud backup,” I mutter.
“I call that folderhumbling reminders,” he says cheerfully.
Boone groans again. “Can we vote never to bring our significant others to dinner again?”
Grimes waves his fork like a white flag. “So what you just did was ensure we will never go on another guys’ trip.”
“Oh yes, you can. We had a girls’ trip coming up and have to reschedule due to Riley’s belly, but you bet your ass we’re on.” Lo laughs.
“Our next trip, I nominate somewhere withfewer cameras,” Hart says, side-eyeing Oz.
“And more clothing,” Boone adds.
