Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 113934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
“Joel Smith! No fudge for you!”
Laughing, I kissed my mother again and took Skylar’s hand. “Let’s get our coats on. I’ve got a snowball fight to win.”
***
The next hour was nothing but the guys huddling together and coming up with plays while the girls all jumped around, laughing and trying to eat snow. When it came time for the next few rounds of fights, they slaughtered us. Each. Time.
“How? How are you making them so fast?” I asked as I leaned over to catch my breath.
It had been snowing, but I’d already gotten rid of my jacket and hat. All the running around and trying to make snowballs had caused me to start sweating.
With an innocent shrug, Skylar smiled. “I don’t know what you mean.”
I shook my head and pointed at her. “You’re hiding something.”
“What? Why do you think I’m hiding something?”
“Because all you’ve done is run around, trying to catch snowflakes, while we’ve been coming up with plans. Then, somehow, you come up with endless snowballs.”
Michelle laughed. “Smith, I think you’re paranoid. Just admit, we’re winning, and y’all are losing.”
“Hey, guys.”
Michelle’s smile faded as Mitch walked up to us.
“Hey, Mitch,” Jacob Miller said as he shook Mitch’s hand.
A few other guys followed suit, and then a few girls came up and gave him a hug.
With a grin, Mitch turned to Michelle. “Hey, how’s it going?”
Michelle glanced. It was like she was thinking about if she was going to respond to Mitch or not. I was hoping she wouldn’t shun him, not here in front of everyone.
“Hey. It’s going good.”
Mitch nodded. “Good. I’m glad to hear that.”
A small smile formed on Michelle’s face. “Th-thanks,” she softly replied.
“All right, now that we’ve got Mitch here, we’re going to take y’all down!” Jacob yelled out.
The girls laughed and skipped off to their side of the field. When all the guys got into a huddle, I stayed out and watched the girls. My mouth practically hit the ground when I saw a bunch of little girls run up and dump piles of snowballs next to one of the slides.
Shaking my head, I said, “Son of a bitch.”
“What’s wrong?” Mitch asked.
“They’ve been playing us. They’ve had those little girls making snowballs for them the whole time. That’s why they never run out of them!”
Mitch laughed as Jacob came and stood next to me.
“Time to change the game, boys.”
Turning to Jacob, I smiled. “What do you have in mind?”
Jacob rubbed his hands together. “Flag snowball.”
“What?” Mitch asked.
“Huddle back up before they see that we’ve noticed their stockpile.”
We all huddled up and listened to Jacob’s idea.
“Instead of flag football, we’re going to play flag snowball. One person from each team will be assigned to tag a snowball out.”
“How do we do that?” I asked.
“Are y’all done yet?” Casey called out.
“Just go with me on it.”
We all clapped and yelled, “Break!”
We walked up to the girls.
“It’s time to change the game, ladies,” Jacob said with a smile.
“You can’t change the game in the middle of it!” Beth, one of Skylar’s and Michelle’s old friends from high school, said with her hands on her hips.
“We can. There are no rules, so we’re changing up the game.”
Michelle took a step closer. “Fine. If you’re that worried we’re going to kick your asses, change the game.”
Jacob stepped close to Michelle. They were face-to-face, and I couldn’t help but glance over to Mitch. He looked pissed. He must have walked up on the last game when Michelle and Jacob had been flirting with each other.
“One person from each team gets to tag an opposing team member out. So, if a girl is holding a snowball and our guy tags her out, her snowball doesn’t count and gets dropped to the ground.”
Michelle lifted a brow.
Jacob’s smile grew bigger. “What’s the matter, Michelle? You afraid?”
Squaring her shoulders, Michelle wore an evil smile. “Of you? Oh, Mr. Miller, you make me feel a lot of things, but afraid is not one of them.”
Jacob threw his head back and laughed as Mitch balled his fists.
Walking over to him, I hit him on the shoulder. “You’re not together, Mitch. Get that look off your face.”
“She’s flirting with him on purpose, Wyatt. She saw me standing there during the game, and that whole little show earlier was for my benefit.”
I sighed and ran my gloved hand through my hair. “Do you blame her, Mitch? Just let it go. I highly doubt Michelle and Jacob will be hooking up anytime soon…if ever.”
Mitch nodded his head and walked toward the other guys.
“Girls get to pick which guy on your team is the tagger,” Casey said.
“Fine,” Jacob replied. “Same here.”
Casey looked around before finally giving her pick. “Mitch.”
Michelle rolled her eyes as Skylar clapped her hands.
Jacob smiled and said, “Guys pick Beth.”
“The slowest girl?” Michelle cried out.
Beth stomped her foot. “Hey! I’m not slow.”