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She sipped her beer. “I am. Do you want to invite your friend to play too?”

Jace snickered next to her.

John didn’t even look over his shoulder when he answered. “Nope. Me and Alyssa on one side against you and Ford.” he said to Jace. He acted as if it wasn’t a big deal which only got under her skin even more.

“Fine by me, but it’s really me and Alyssa on the same team since we’re on opposing sides,” Jace smirked, still holding on to Alyssa.

John gave him a blank stare.

Jace snuck a grin at Alyssa. “Let’s do this.”

“Told you he didn’t care,” Alyssa whispered to Jace.

“Trust me, he cares,” he winked.

Breaking away, John placed the cornhole boards nine feet apart, counting by nine large steps. He distributed the sacks and then went to stand near Alyssa as Ford walked up.

“Just in time for a game, you’re over there with Jace.”

“Alright, just let me crack another beer open. Need one?”

“I’m good. You?” he asked Alyssa. She shook her head. Ford grabbed another bottle from the cooler. He placed the bottle in his mouth, bit down and popped the top off. Horrified, she asked, “Aren’t you afraid of losing a few teeth?” He just looked at her and l

aughed then walked to stand with Jace.

“Do you know how to play,” John asked, turning toward Alyssa.

“Can’t say that I do.”

“Alright, so the goal is either to land a sack on the board and keep it there, or to make it in the hole. Don’t throw too hard or too light. If you arc it high enough, and lightly, it will land and slide up. Hence why the boards are elevated and smoothed down. You can stand behind the board or next to it, but not in front. I’ll go first so you can see, and then Jace will go, then you and then Ford. Ready?”

“Yes.”

John took one last swig of his beer and placed it on the rail of his truck. He stood next to the board swinging his arm back and forth before he let go of the sack. It flew through the air and landed on the board, sliding up to stop right before the opening. A smug smile splayed across his face.

“Nice,” Jace said. “But watch me sink it.”

Surprised, Alyssa looked to John. “Can he really?”

With the beer pressed to his lips, he said, “Oh, yeah. We’re a competitive bunch.”

And just like that, Jace took three swings and let go. It slid up the board and dropped into the hole. He yelled and threw a fist in the air.

“You’re up.”

Alyssa picked up the beaded sack and stood next to the board. She was never really into sports, so this should be interesting. She began swinging her arm back and forth aiming for the hole. She silently counted to three and then let go, watching the sack soar through the air … and land off to the side … not even close to the board. Defeated, her shoulders dropped as Ford and Jace cracked up at her landing. Alyssa glanced over her shoulder and found John’s back to her. He too was laughing so hard that his back was rattling.

“Oh, sure, laugh at the city girl for never playing your hillbilly games.”

“I’m sorry,” John put his hands up, “but that was horrible!”

“Well, what do you want from me? I have no aim, and I’ve never played a sport in my life.”

“Ford,” he yelled over to the other side. “Throw it back and let her have another shot.”

Ford threw the sack back and John caught it. “I’ll teach you. Come stand behind the board instead of off to the side.”

As Alyssa stood behind the board, John came up close behind her. Hyperaware of his proximity, she could feel the heat of his chest on her back. “Here, take the sack. Roll it around in your hand and get used to the feeling.”