Page 28 of Fortunate Misfortune
My head pops up to find the man I can’t seem to escape standing beside our table, looking right at me.
“No, no, no,” I say, hoping the redhead smiling at me is a figment of my imagination.
“Hi, ladies,” Kenneth says, and my best friends don’t ignore him like I mentally beg them to. When his attention returns to me, he smirks. “Eddie. Feel free to prove me wrong someday, but does everything you wear have to be so bright?”
His eyes glide over my newly thrifted sweater and bright green pants, and my cheeks heat. Being the center of Kenneth’s attention is like having a spotlight shining on you.
An annoying spotlight with freckled cheeks that’s hellbent on bothering the shit out of you.
“Just because your last name is the worst color doesn’t mean you have to be dull, Gray. A little color never hurt anybody.”
“Well, it’s killing my retinas.”
I groan, already exhausted. The Brain Bowl has nothing to do with trivia night. It’s for me and the girls. Not Kenneth.
“Why are you here?” I ask.
“I like trivia. But it’s my first time here, so I don’t have a team.”
I sip my beer. “And how does that affect us?”
“Knowing you, I’m sure you have the rules memorized, Ed.”
He’s not wrong, because I do. Teams can’t have less than three people or more than six. However, there’s no way in hell he will be joining us tonight.
“Find someone else to take you. We’re not accepting applications for teammates currently.” I turn to Shay for support, but the weird look on her face says it’s clear she has already fallen for his bullshit misery.
“If we don’t let him join us, he can’t play,” Shay says with a shrug. For someone who almost strangled the man over a fried Oreo, I assumed she would be on my side and send him hightailing it home.
I look at Jo, who is generally the voice of reason, but I’m betrayed by the uncharacteristic gentleness in her eyes. “At least he’s smart. He could be useful.”
“Oh my god,” I breathe, pointing at them. “Judas. You’re all Judas!”
“Alright, Cap. Let’s make it fair and vote,” Adri says diplomatically, sipping her pink concoction. The twinkle in her eye tells me she’s ready to play trivia and play with me. “Those against Kenneth joining us, raise your hand.”
My hand is alone in the air.
“Those for Kenneth joining the Goal Gals, raise your hand.”
My three best friends raise their hands, followed by Kenneth’s.
Son of a bitch. I’m surrounded by traitors.
He slinks onto the chair beside me before I can put my feet on it. I don’t understand why he’s so keen on hanging around. He could have sat anywhere or invited Cade and his teammates to play.
Nope. Like Adri, I’m also his favorite target.
Leaning in close, he drops his volume. “I really wanted to play tonight, so thanks for being okay with this. It means a lot.”
I’m the total opposite of okay with this. I hate that everyone else is.
“Whatever. Since we can’t use this as a point for the Brain Bowl, we better win as a team, or I’ll shave your head to make myself feel better.”
“So competitive.” A rumble from his chest shakes me when he laughs. “And who said we can’t play for a point? Just because we’re on the same team doesn’t mean there can’t be a winner tonight.”
Excitement creeps into my voice. “Whoever answers the most correctly and also the quickest?”
“You know it.”
