Page 80
Story: The Wrong Bachelor
Laurie shot Willow a glare. “It was big. Okay?”
Willow lifted her hands up in defense. “I know, it was huge. I saw it.”
Laurie nodded, like she felt content she was understood. She walked toward the fire and started rubbing her arms. It didn’t take a genius to see how cold she was. I couldn’t understand why she wasn’t wearing a jacket. All the other girls were dressed for a night of camping. How had Laurie missed the memo?
“It’s cold out here,” Laurie said as she came to stand beside me.
I wasn’t surprised. “Why don’t you put a jacket on then?”
“Because I didn’t bring one.”
“You didn’t bring a jacket camping?” Madi asked. “Angus told us to pack one in the email.”
“Like anyone got to the end of that list. Not all of us are as perfect as you, Madi,” Laurie spat in reply.
Madi frowned but didn’t fight back. I didn’t blame her. There was no winning when it came to a fight with Laurie. Even if you won the argument, you usually wished you’d lost.
“Maybe I can borrow your jacket, Cole?” Laurie said, looking up at me. “You’re such a big guy, I’m sure you don’t feel the cold like me.”
Giving her my jacket was the last thing I wanted to do because then I’d be the one who was cold. But I couldn’t exactly say no in front of the cameras. I didn’t want to look like a total dick.
I grunted and took my jacket off, passing it to her. Thankfully, I had another sweater in my tent. Plus, it wasn’t nearly as cold as Laurie made it out to be after a few minutes sitting by the fire.
Laurie snuggled herself into the jacket, and all I could think about was how many times I’d have to clean it before her intrusive smelling perfume was gone.
“Alright, team,” Angus said, coming to stand before us. “As you can see, tonight’s group date is camping. We’re going to be playing a few campfire games to start off the evening before Cole gets a little alone time with a lady of his choosing.”
My heart skipped a beat. Angus hadn’t mentioned anything about his plans for the evening until now. It wasn’t hard to guess who I would be choosing for alone time though. Madi gave me a small smile as I glanced in her direction. I really loved being on the receiving end of those smiles. The night suddenly didn’t seem so bad.
“First game for the night is truth or dare,” Angus announced, to several groans from the girls.
“Seriously, Angus? What are we, twelve?” Teagan asked.
He shrugged off her question. “So if everyone can take a seat by the fire, we’ll go around the circle, starting with Cole. And remember to make it interesting. No playing it safe.”
In my mind, I was groaning as much as the girls were. It was one thing to play this game at a party when we were younger, but it was something else entirely in front of cameras.
I was seated between Willow and Teagan. I would have liked to be next to Madi, but at least I got a good view of her across the fire. We waited for the camera guys to get into position with their tripods before I got the nod to begin.
I turned to Willow, who was sitting on my left. “Truth or dare?” I asked.
Willow chewed on her lower lip for a brief moment before answering.
"Truth,” she muttered, somewhat reluctantly.
I sat back in my camping chair as I considered what to ask before grinning. “What is the strangest place you have peed?”
“Behind a tree about ten minutes ago,” she replied with a scowl.
I laughed. “Sorry Will,” I mouthed at her.
She shrugged and looked to the person sitting on her left, Laurie.
“Truth or dare, Laurie?” Willow asked.
“Dare,” came Laurie’s immediate response.
Willow tapped her fingers against her lips as she considered her dare. She then smiled. “Dance for everyone without music for one minute.”
Willow lifted her hands up in defense. “I know, it was huge. I saw it.”
Laurie nodded, like she felt content she was understood. She walked toward the fire and started rubbing her arms. It didn’t take a genius to see how cold she was. I couldn’t understand why she wasn’t wearing a jacket. All the other girls were dressed for a night of camping. How had Laurie missed the memo?
“It’s cold out here,” Laurie said as she came to stand beside me.
I wasn’t surprised. “Why don’t you put a jacket on then?”
“Because I didn’t bring one.”
“You didn’t bring a jacket camping?” Madi asked. “Angus told us to pack one in the email.”
“Like anyone got to the end of that list. Not all of us are as perfect as you, Madi,” Laurie spat in reply.
Madi frowned but didn’t fight back. I didn’t blame her. There was no winning when it came to a fight with Laurie. Even if you won the argument, you usually wished you’d lost.
“Maybe I can borrow your jacket, Cole?” Laurie said, looking up at me. “You’re such a big guy, I’m sure you don’t feel the cold like me.”
Giving her my jacket was the last thing I wanted to do because then I’d be the one who was cold. But I couldn’t exactly say no in front of the cameras. I didn’t want to look like a total dick.
I grunted and took my jacket off, passing it to her. Thankfully, I had another sweater in my tent. Plus, it wasn’t nearly as cold as Laurie made it out to be after a few minutes sitting by the fire.
Laurie snuggled herself into the jacket, and all I could think about was how many times I’d have to clean it before her intrusive smelling perfume was gone.
“Alright, team,” Angus said, coming to stand before us. “As you can see, tonight’s group date is camping. We’re going to be playing a few campfire games to start off the evening before Cole gets a little alone time with a lady of his choosing.”
My heart skipped a beat. Angus hadn’t mentioned anything about his plans for the evening until now. It wasn’t hard to guess who I would be choosing for alone time though. Madi gave me a small smile as I glanced in her direction. I really loved being on the receiving end of those smiles. The night suddenly didn’t seem so bad.
“First game for the night is truth or dare,” Angus announced, to several groans from the girls.
“Seriously, Angus? What are we, twelve?” Teagan asked.
He shrugged off her question. “So if everyone can take a seat by the fire, we’ll go around the circle, starting with Cole. And remember to make it interesting. No playing it safe.”
In my mind, I was groaning as much as the girls were. It was one thing to play this game at a party when we were younger, but it was something else entirely in front of cameras.
I was seated between Willow and Teagan. I would have liked to be next to Madi, but at least I got a good view of her across the fire. We waited for the camera guys to get into position with their tripods before I got the nod to begin.
I turned to Willow, who was sitting on my left. “Truth or dare?” I asked.
Willow chewed on her lower lip for a brief moment before answering.
"Truth,” she muttered, somewhat reluctantly.
I sat back in my camping chair as I considered what to ask before grinning. “What is the strangest place you have peed?”
“Behind a tree about ten minutes ago,” she replied with a scowl.
I laughed. “Sorry Will,” I mouthed at her.
She shrugged and looked to the person sitting on her left, Laurie.
“Truth or dare, Laurie?” Willow asked.
“Dare,” came Laurie’s immediate response.
Willow tapped her fingers against her lips as she considered her dare. She then smiled. “Dance for everyone without music for one minute.”
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