triathletes have entered. The shift from challenge to competition has blogs blowing up. There’s talk of increased security to keep participants safe from overzealous competitors. I’m trying to not think of all that. I want to do something that will make me stronger, more capable, and the mudder seems a good fit.
Nessa’s face lights up. “Yeah! Are you thinking about doing it? That would be perfect. The guys did it last year. It’s pretty hard-core though. They came back looking like hell, except for Lewis. The mud somehow added to his hotness. He looked all rugged and shit.”
My throat constricts and I blink off a wave of emotion. Lewis can’t be in the race this year. I need the Alpine Mudder to toughen me up. I can’t do that if I’m stumbling around, my concentration impaired. Putting aside the fact that his presence zaps my coordination, Lewis has seen some of my weakest moments, and that makes me emotionally exposed.
None of which I can explain to Nessa. “Cool, yeah, so I’m doing it, but I’m looking into how to train.”
“You should talk to Zach. He and Lewis trained together last year. Lewis ended up doing really well.” Her face scrunches. “He finaled, or won—something like that. Anyway—” She grabs my cup and sets it on the counter, gently pushing me toward the casino floor. “—go see Zach while it’s slow. I’ll cover for you.” She rests her elbow on the edge of the bar, as if there’s no doubt I’ll leave my station to seek advice about a rogue triathlon.
So of course I go.
I glance back nervously. Nessa flitters her fingers above her head and saunters toward the bachelor party. “Say hello to Zach for me.”
I speed walk across the casino, determined to make this quick and return to my station.
Zach glances up as I near. “It’s the hot dog girl!”
So not how I want to be remembered.
The customer in front of him turns and does a full body scope. Excellent. Really don’t want to know what that guy is thinking.
“Hey,” I say quietly, attempting to dampen the attention, “Nessa says hi.”
A wide smile spreads across Zach’s face as he clears cards.
So weird; why don’t these two just date? Zach obviously has a thing for her, though I’m not sure about Nessa … Shit, who am I to judge? I have a history of going after guys I’m not attracted to in order to avoid emotional involvement.
Zach deals a new hand. “How are things in the sports bar?”
“There’s a bachelor party perving on Nessa. Other than that, it’s slow.”
Zach’s gaze goes flat and he stretches his neck as if he’s suddenly tense.
That was an immediate reaction. If he really likes Nessa, he should do something about it before another guy swoops in. She’s too pretty and wonderful to stay single forever. “Do you have time to chat about the Alpine Mudder? Nessa mentioned that you participated last year.”
Zach’s dark look dissipates, his cheeks tightening into a deep grin. It’s not natural for this guy to be angry, which solidifies my belief that he has a thing for Nessa. “That was a blast. I electrocuted my ass off.”
Yeah, I read about that online. Supposedly, there’s a field of electrodes. Nothing that could seriously harm, but still, what the hell?
Stepping out of the box, I remind myself.
The pit boss lays three new decks on Zach’s table. His only customer glances warily at them and knocks back a watered-down drink before leaving. Gamers hate it when new decks come into play, or when a dealer is replaced. They think it ruins their luck.
“So, yeah, I signed up for the race. It takes place in a few weeks and I’m trying to figure out how to prepare.”
Zach’s gaze cuts eagerly to me. “That’s rad. Some other guys and I are doing it too. We’ll help you train.” He grins, then cocks his head. “To start, you could probably get information on this year’s obstacles from Sallee Construction. On the down low, of course. You know who—”
The pit
Nessa’s face lights up. “Yeah! Are you thinking about doing it? That would be perfect. The guys did it last year. It’s pretty hard-core though. They came back looking like hell, except for Lewis. The mud somehow added to his hotness. He looked all rugged and shit.”
My throat constricts and I blink off a wave of emotion. Lewis can’t be in the race this year. I need the Alpine Mudder to toughen me up. I can’t do that if I’m stumbling around, my concentration impaired. Putting aside the fact that his presence zaps my coordination, Lewis has seen some of my weakest moments, and that makes me emotionally exposed.
None of which I can explain to Nessa. “Cool, yeah, so I’m doing it, but I’m looking into how to train.”
“You should talk to Zach. He and Lewis trained together last year. Lewis ended up doing really well.” Her face scrunches. “He finaled, or won—something like that. Anyway—” She grabs my cup and sets it on the counter, gently pushing me toward the casino floor. “—go see Zach while it’s slow. I’ll cover for you.” She rests her elbow on the edge of the bar, as if there’s no doubt I’ll leave my station to seek advice about a rogue triathlon.
So of course I go.
I glance back nervously. Nessa flitters her fingers above her head and saunters toward the bachelor party. “Say hello to Zach for me.”
I speed walk across the casino, determined to make this quick and return to my station.
Zach glances up as I near. “It’s the hot dog girl!”
So not how I want to be remembered.
The customer in front of him turns and does a full body scope. Excellent. Really don’t want to know what that guy is thinking.
“Hey,” I say quietly, attempting to dampen the attention, “Nessa says hi.”
A wide smile spreads across Zach’s face as he clears cards.
So weird; why don’t these two just date? Zach obviously has a thing for her, though I’m not sure about Nessa … Shit, who am I to judge? I have a history of going after guys I’m not attracted to in order to avoid emotional involvement.
Zach deals a new hand. “How are things in the sports bar?”
“There’s a bachelor party perving on Nessa. Other than that, it’s slow.”
Zach’s gaze goes flat and he stretches his neck as if he’s suddenly tense.
That was an immediate reaction. If he really likes Nessa, he should do something about it before another guy swoops in. She’s too pretty and wonderful to stay single forever. “Do you have time to chat about the Alpine Mudder? Nessa mentioned that you participated last year.”
Zach’s dark look dissipates, his cheeks tightening into a deep grin. It’s not natural for this guy to be angry, which solidifies my belief that he has a thing for Nessa. “That was a blast. I electrocuted my ass off.”
Yeah, I read about that online. Supposedly, there’s a field of electrodes. Nothing that could seriously harm, but still, what the hell?
Stepping out of the box, I remind myself.
The pit boss lays three new decks on Zach’s table. His only customer glances warily at them and knocks back a watered-down drink before leaving. Gamers hate it when new decks come into play, or when a dealer is replaced. They think it ruins their luck.
“So, yeah, I signed up for the race. It takes place in a few weeks and I’m trying to figure out how to prepare.”
Zach’s gaze cuts eagerly to me. “That’s rad. Some other guys and I are doing it too. We’ll help you train.” He grins, then cocks his head. “To start, you could probably get information on this year’s obstacles from Sallee Construction. On the down low, of course. You know who—”
The pit
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