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“Thanks,” Jason said in a tense voice.

“Anytime, man. What are friends for?” Max said all casual-like, as if he wasn’t the reason for global warming or, at least, for Jason’s chaotic state.

“So…” Milo cleared her throat, “…you four need to go clean up the back yard.”

“Four?” Max crossed his arms. “There were five of us.”

I shook my head. “Traitor.”

“That rock alcove looked mighty fun…” Max grinned while I let out a horrified gasp.

Before I knew it, a fork was flying toward Max’s face. He ducked, just before it stuck into the wall behind him. “Jason Caro!” Max yelled. “You nearly beheaded me!”

“It slipped.”

“MY ASS!” Max surged to his feet.

“Let’s use all this energy for clean up,” Becca said cheerfully, slapping Max on the ass and pointing him toward the back door. “Off you go, or I’m canceling naked time.”

Max pouted. “But—”

“One, two—”

“I’M NOT A CHILD, BECCA!” Max roared, then stomped out of the house.

The rest of the guys begrudgingly followed.

“Huh,” I wondered aloud. “Does that work on all men?”

“Oh, the countdown?” Milo answered for Becca. “Colt says it gives him anxiety in his balls.”

“Reid likes it when I’m dominant like that.” Jordan just sighed into her bottled water.

“You never know though,” Becca piped up. “Jason might be all over that. I used it once on Max. One time, and he did the dishes for a week naked because he was afraid of what happened after three.”

We all fell into a fit of laughter as the back door opened and Max poked his head around the corner. “I HEARD THAT!”

“THREE!” Becca yelled.

Complete silence.