Page 31 of The Art of Falling in Love with Your Enemy
Taking it from him, I place it on the counter beside me and cock my head to one side quizzically. “Am I making origami?”
“Sometimes I can’t tell if you’re being serious or kidding,” he says, eyeing me. “You tend to use a touch of sarcasm to highlight your sentences when you speak to me.”
A little tiny tug happens in my tummy. It’s not the first time I’ve been told I have a sarcastic edge. “Really? Do I come off a little too hard?”
Zac adjusts the blue flag on his belt loop as he tilts his head to one side and looks at me, a tiny smile twitching at the corners of his mouth. “Are you worried?”
“I mean…well, yes.” I feel my cheeks flush hot with heat. “I’ve been told my tone can be biting, and I try to keep a lid on Esther, but she’s my defense mechanism.”
“Esther?” Zac’s mouth swings open. “Who are you talking about?”
“My other personality,” I sigh, pulling out a selection of red, orange, yellow, and green paper. “I don’t know how to explain it. Esther shows up when I’m in defense mode; she’s a little bit short with her temper and not one to suffer fools.”
“What makes you be so defensive?”
“Well, not sure if you’re aware, but I was arrested recently…”
He grimaces. “I’m really sorry about that.”
“Hey, the DMV let me keep my license since the ticket has been paid. My lawyer has already spoken to the judge, says the charges will be dismissed and I won’t have to go to court.” I look pointedly at Zac. “However, since I spent most of the day in jail, my lawyer thinks it would serve you right to have to pay me for my time that day.”
“I was doing my job, Etta. Come on, silver looks good on you,” Zac teases me.
“I’m a law-abiding citizen, Zac Wright. I err on this side of Lady Justice….and yes, I know silver looks good on me, thank you.”
Glancing up at him, I find Zac watching me with this look on his face. His eyes search mine, and I feel my insides dip. I’m revealing more than I want to. Scolding myself, I bite my tongue—next thing you know I’ll be sharing my social security number with the guy.
Covering my nervousness, I grab at the cardboard box, thrusting it between us.
“So, what are my instructions?”
“This little ditty is my favorite—it’s called Random Acts of Kindness.”
I hold up a piece of paper. “Are we writing random acts of kindness on these?”
He shakes his head no. “Everyone has to write something nice about someone else who’s here. I’ve put everyone’s name in a hat, which we’ll pass around and have everyone pull out a slip of paper. The name they get is the person they have to write nice things about.”
“That’s a good idea. I take it you want me to cut these pieces of paper in half?” Zac nods, and I grab the scissors. “How many sheets do I need to cut in half?”
“Not many, I overdid it on the paper.” He shrugs. “I figure I’ll donate it to the local school after we’re done.”
“Do-gooder,” I tease.
“Esther the patience tester,” he teases back.
“Not that I’m complaining about the games you’re doing, but why don’t you have more competition style games lined up? I think I saw on the agenda that the relay you did this morning is the only one.”
“Well,” Zac begins, clearing his throat. “I did that on purpose. I didn’t want to have too many events that required winning. It can be disappointing if you’re not the winner and it can cause rivalry that we don’t need on a team retreat.”
“Fair point, but you’re all adults. I’m sure you can keep it friendly.”
“Actually…” Zac sighs, turning his head slightly toward mine. “It was more designed this way soIwouldn’t get uber-competitive and try to win everything.”
“Wait—you?” Stepping back, I look him up and down. Not bad, not bad at all, but I fight my face from letting it show my pleasure. “Okay, you could win a race, I’m sure…”
“See, don’t do that.” Zac cracks up, poking my side with his finger. “It’s tormenting and taunting that gets me riled up. I’m not sure why, but I can go from zero to one-eighty in a matter of two seconds when it comes to competing.” Emerald green eyes flash my way. “I blame my brother.”
“Trauma always seems to come from a sibling. Younger brother?”
