Page 44 of Nerdelicious
She smacks him on the shoulder. “The point is abject terror?”
“The point is a slight amount of terror and abject fun.”
“Abject fun isn’t a thing.”
“Are we ready yet?” Reese asks.
“Well it is already entertaining,” I tell Beast. “But it will be over quick if Reese is set on losing.”
Beast shakes his head and points at Reese.
“You don’t think she’ll fall on purpose?”
An emphatic shake of his head.
“Why not?”
He starts signing a word letter by letter, and I track his fingers’ motions. C-O-M-P-E-T-I-T-I-V-E.
“So all this bluster about wanting to read is to lull Annabel into a false sense of complacency?”
A firm nod.
I laugh. “She’s smart, too. Dangerous combination.”
Drawn by the noise and excitement, Grace paddles her way back to watch the fight.
Jude counts them down and he’s barely utteredonewhen Reese pushes Annabel backward, and then without mercy or hesitation shoves her again—pushing her to the side hard enough that she slips off Jude and into the water.
Annabel comes up sputtering. “Reese! I thought we were friends.”
Surprised, I share a glance with Beast.
Told you, he signs.
“I want to play.” Grace heaves her inflatable on the beach.
Beast is already up, moving in her direction before she has a chance to ask. “Beast, be my partner?”
Annabel returns to her towel to dry off while Grace and Beast set up against Fitz and Reese. Jude stays near the water to referee.
Reese, still on Fitz’s shoulders with the bandana now hanging around her neck, flexes her muscles at Beast while Jude helps put the blindfold on Grace.
Beast moves down further into the water to match Fitz’s height so there isn’t too much disparity in the reach.
Once Grace is up on Beast’s shoulders, Jude issues a countdown to commence the fight.
Despite Beast’s secure grip, Reese is able to take Grace down by using one simple advantage: Grace is insanely ticklish. Reese secures both of Grace’s hands and then all it takes is a few pokes in her ribs, and Grace surrenders, throwing herself into the water.
“No fair, you’re bigger than me,” Grace complains.
Jude calls out to me, “Fred, you’re up. It’s you against Reese for the championship.”
“Bring it on, bitch!” Reese crows. Beast wasn’t kidding about her surprisingly bloodthirsty nature. She is really into it now. I might be concerned if she weren’t also laughing and smiling.
“I don’t have a partner,” I call back.
“Beast can be your base.” Jude waves me over.
