dibs by Kristi Pelton Page A

much to bargain against.
    ***
    Walking down the ramp, holding her hand, my heart was doing that same shit as last night, and it was starting to piss me off. We’d kind of become a six-pack—Cody, Kat, Blake, Juls, Sam and me.
    After taking a shuttle down to the market area, we came back with a butt load of souvenirs and hit the tiki bars for Kat. I had a sneaky suspicion this was going to be an every island event.
    The waitress was clearly local, exotic and hot as hell. Blake disrespectfully looked her up and down, but I noticed her eyes on me. I, respectfully, kept mine on Sam. We ordered our drinks, and thankfully, she disappeared.
    “How about a game of truth or dare?” Cody threw out, rubbing his hands together.
    “I’m sorry, are we twelve?” Sam asked.
    Cody didn’t miss a beat. “No I’m the one who is sorry. Clearly, you ladies are too old for a fun game like that.”
    Closing one eye, I braced myself for Hurricane Sam. With my open eye, I saw her teeth grit together as both nostrils flared. I reached for her hand, but she swatted mine away. A slow grin crept across my face.
    Kat covered her face, probably preparing for Cody’s upcoming lashing.
    “I’m sorry. What’s your name? I’m so OLD I can’t remember,” Sam said.
    Cody grinned, taking a drink from his beer bottle.
    “No, really. I’m so old…my memories are in black and white and it’s difficult for me to remember shit.”
    “Sam. He was kidding,” Kat defended.
    “Wait! There’s a sign that says Happy Hour. Surely that means we all get to nap for an hour, right?” Sam sarcastically laughed.
    Cody took in a deep breath as regret floated over his face. I glared at him, shaking my head. Dumbass.
    “I’m sorry! I don’t think of you all being older at all. I was totally joking.”
    “Truth or dare, Cody?” Sam asked, and obviously game was on.
    “Dare,” he challenged right back with a grin.
    “I dare you to stand up and yell, I am so young, I still think sex is about the man rather than the woman.”
    Cody sputtered on his drink, swiping at his nose. Shaking his head, he rose to his feet.
    Sam shot to her feet quicker and shouted, “Can I have your attention please? My friend Cody has something he’d like to say.”
    The bar quieted and all eyes were on Cody. Blake and I chuckled as we watched him chew on his cheek.
    “Cody!” some guy on the other side of the bar shouted holding up his beer mug.
    “I am so young, I still think sex is about the man rather than the woman!” Cody yelled.
    Some woman threw a pretzel at him as a broad smile broke out over Sam’s face.
    “Cute,” I whispered.
    “You want to make an age comment too?” Her brows cocked high on her forehead.
    “No ma’am.” I winked.
    The guy who gave a shout out to Cody stumbled over to our table looking about six months pregnant—all beer belly I’d guess.
    “Yeah, partner,” the youngster said to Cody. “These bitches need to know it’s a sprint not a marathon, and if I finish first the game is over,” he laughed.
    “Let me guess, you aren’t here with a girl?” Sam chimed in.
    “Why’s that sweetheart, you want a piece of this?”
    The humor in the situation was lost on me the moment he addressed Sam, but I took into consideration that she was a grown woman who could take care of herself, so I hesitated.
    Sam’s nose crinkled up. “I’m trying to understand things from your point of view, but it’s hard for me to get my head that far up my ass.”
    Gripping the hem of her dress, I tugged, trying to get her attention.
    “What’d you say?” the man asked.
    She rose to her feet. Shit…
    “I said, I’d slap you but that would be animal abuse.”
    When his belly turned in her direction, I stood. “So you like it rough?” he asked her.
    “Hey buddy,” I interrupted, towering over him and eyeballing his belly. “When’s the last time you saw your dick?”
    His eyes widened as he glanced down to where his dick should be. He rubbed