Page 21 of One Pucking Surprise
I let out a dramatic sigh, casting a glance at Zach, who’s standing there with his trademark smirk. “Of course we will, right, Zach?” I say, giving Chloe a tight, overly innocent smile.
Zach raises his hands in mock surrender. “I’m nothing but nice.”
Wyatt laughs as he steps up beside Chloe, nudging her lightly. “See? They’re getting along just fine.”
Chloe shakes her head, clearly holding back a laugh. “Alright, alright. Let’s get to it.”
Wyatt drapes an arm around her shoulder as he surveys the course. “This is going to be fun,” he says with a grin.
“Sure, fun,” I reply, my voice light but tinged with sarcasm.
Chloe shoots me a look that’s half amusement, half warning.
As the tournament begins, the group pairs off into teams. I glance at Chloe, who’s already linking arms with Wyatt, her smile apologetic.
She gives me a pointed look before mouthing,Sorry. I narrow my eyes at her, then mouth back,Traitor, making sure to add an exaggerated glare for good measure.
Her lips twitch, clearly trying not to laugh as she grabs Wyatt’s hand as they walk away, leaving me stranded.
Zach chuckles. “Looks like you’re stuck with me.”
“Fantastic,” I reply, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “This day just keeps getting better.”
“Don’t worry—I’ll make sure we win,” he says, clearly enjoying himself as we head toward the starting point. “I’ll even teach you a thing or two while we’re at it.”
“Oh, please do,” I say, my tone light and playful. “Because the one thing I’ve been missing in my life is golf tips from Zach Darling.”
“Trust me,” he says, his smirk softening into something more genuine. “I’ll make this fun for you.”
Zach and I are teamed up with two other players—a pair of single women who look at Zach like he’s the last ice cream cone on a hot summer day. One of them flips her hair as she introduces herself, and the other giggles at every word Zach says, no matter how mundane. It’s nauseating.
“Looks like you’ve got a fan club,” I whisper as we head to the first hole.
Zach leans closer, his tone playful. “Jealous?”
I scoff. “Hardly.”
But as the game begins, I can’t help but notice that while the women try their hardest to grab Zach’s attention, he barely spares them a glance. Instead, his focus stays on me, his teasing and banter never letting up.
“You’re actually pretty good at this,” he says after my second shot lands just shy of the hole.
I straighten, smirking. “Don’t sound so surprised. I’m not as hopeless as you think.”
“Hopeless isn’t the word I’d use,” he replies, his voice low and amused.
I narrow my eyes at him but refuse to let him throw me off my game. As the round progresses, our rhythm becomes almost effortless. Zach offers tips here and there, guiding me on my stance or swing, but for the most part, he lets me do my thing.
“You’re going to kill it at the reunion,” he says at one point, his voice surprisingly sincere.
I glance over at him, startled by the unexpected compliment. “You think so?”
“Definitely. You’re a natural,” he replies, his grin softening.
The rest of the game is a blur of laughter, banter, and competitive energy. By the time we reach the final hole, I’ve completely forgotten about the two women trailing behind us, though their glares suggest they haven’t forgotten me.
When Zach sinks the winning putt, he throws his arms in the air triumphantly. “And that’s how it’s done!”
“Alright, alright. Don’t get cocky,” I say, but I can’t help smiling.
