Page 49 of Love is a Game
“Sure,” he told Kimura.
They went to the back of the yard where the boards were set up. Webb and Kimura stood by one, and Andrew followed Julie to the other. Andrew had only played the game a few times, but it was simple enough to figure out; toss the beanbags into the hole on the opposite board.
Andrew picked up his beanbags and turned to Julie. “Ladies first?”
“Are you talking about Kimura or Julie?” Webb asked, then ducked to avoid a smack to his shoulder.
“Go ahead,” Andrew told her.
Julie’s beanbag landed with a thud on the corner of the board, one point for her team. She jumped excitedly, pumping her fist as she let out a delighted squeak. Andrew chuckled. She and Sadie looked alike, but their personalities were very different.
Andrew tossed his beanbag too hard. It hit the board and slid off the back end.
“Whoa man, we’re not trying out for the NFL here,” Webb laughed. “It’s like a woman, you know? Requires a gentle touch.”
Kimura shook his head. “Like you know anything about women.”
“I learned a lot from your mom,” Webb shot back.
“Not as much as I learned from your sister.”
Julie scored another point and turned to Andrew. He felt wary under her gaze. What had Tyson told her about the night before?
“So how are you?” she asked as he threw his beanbag. It fell short of the board by a few inches.
“I’m fine,” he answered evenly. There was no reason to be afraid of Julie, he reminded himself, no matter how she looked at him.
“Are you sure?” she asked, scoring another point. “You seem agitated.”
Maybe she was right. He was suddenly aware that his heel was bouncing. He stood up straighter and forced himself to be still.
“You were agitated when you came over for poker night too,” she went on. “It’s not like you.”
“Games can bring that out in me.” He gave her a wry smile. “I’m a bit competitive.”
Julie rolled her eyes. “Yes, I’ve heard. You’re a lot like Sadie; you know that?”
He snickered. “Are you saying your sister is competitive?”
“Well, yes. But that’s not what I meant. Sadie doesn’t do well with boredom. She gets really . . . well,” Julie laughed, “agitated.”
Boredom. Why did she think he was bored? He had his job. Sure, it didn’t provide a lot of mental stimulation, but it gave him something to do. Outside of work he had the hotel paperwork to keep him busy. He knew his social life wasn’t anything to brag about, but he was at the barbecue, wasn’t he? Playing a game even. Not very well, unfortunately, but at least he was participating. His next beanbag hit the board but slid off the back end.
“That was so close! You’ll get the next one,” Julie said. He knew she was trying to be encouraging, but her patronizing tone did nothing to ease his frustration.
“If you’re trying to set me up for a big comeback, there’s no need,” Kimura assured him. “Go ahead and score whenever you’re ready.”
Julie missed her last shot. Andrew had only one beanbag left to redeem himself. One point wasn’t going to win the round for them, but it would be something. He took a breath, trying to focus, and then tossed his beanbag and watched it sail over the board and land a few feet beyond, against the fence.
“Oof.” Kimura winced. “Come on, man!”
Webb laughed. “That’s what you get for teaming up with the librarian.”
“Don’t listen to them,” Julie said quietly. “You’ll do better in the next round.”
He managed a smile in spite of his clenched jaw. “Thanks.”
It wasn’t what Sadie would have said to him. She would have teased him worse than what he was getting from the guys, and he knew it would have made him more determined to win. Julie was sweet, but sweetness didn’t motivate him.