Bedroom Games
Page 25

“Sure,” he said with a yawn. “Holding that thought.”
I tiptoed out of the room and shut the door behind me and then made my way out to the back door, sliding it open. I winced at every creak and groan, but managed to make my way outside, pocket the recorder, and sneak back to my room without anyone seeing me.
When I returned to the Queen room, Brodie was asleep, sprawled face-down on the bed. His face was soft in the low light of the room, and I moved to cover him with a blanket before I headed to the antique couch on the opposite end of the room to listen to my tape recorder.
Even as I rewound the tape, I glanced over at Brodie. Would he remember what he said to me tonight? Or would it be lost with the morning hangover? I certainly didn’t need a romantic complication in the game, not if they were already targeting couples. And certainly not if one half of that potential romantic complication was notorious Brodie Short, the villain of last season’s World Races. People would think I was an idiot for hooking up with him.
Heck, I’d probably think the same thing about myself. How could I possibly trust a man that used people to push himself ahead? So far, he hadn’t gone against me, but the proof was in every episode of The World Races from a few months ago. He’d screwed over his own sister in that game—and turned around and hosed her again in this game.
Brodie couldn’t be trusted.
It was just a shame I liked him so much. Why couldn’t I be all fluttery and distracted over Jendan? He was trustworthy, handsome, strong, and he always had my back. Brodie hit on all the women, wasn’t trustworthy, and probably didn’t have my back.
My taste in men needed a tune-up, that was for sure. I lifted the recorder to my ear and began to listen.
 
 
~~ * ~~
 
 
“Toast please,” Sunnie whispered as she came into the kitchen and promptly bent over the granite countertop, laying her head on the counter. “I think I’m going to barf. Again.”
I shot her an amused look and dropped two more pieces of bread into the toaster. One by one, the house guests had trickled into the kitchen late in the morning, hung over and needing toast. Since we didn’t have TV, this was the closest thing to entertainment we had, and I’d parked by the toaster with a cup of coffee to watch the show. “How’s your head?” I asked sweetly.
She just moaned and squinted at the fluorescent lights overhead.
“That good, eh?” I swung my feet, thinking. “Sure would suck if we had a Power challenge today, wouldn’t it?”
Her red eyes widened at the thought. “You don’t think they would, do you?”
Man, I sure hoped they would. I didn’t say that, of course. I simply plucked the toast from the toaster, put the slices on a plate, and brought it over to her. “Considering that they gave you the alcohol, I don’t think they would, unless they’re going for comedic effect.”
Sunnie picked up a square of toast and nibbled on the corner. She immediately turned green and bolted for the bathroom.
I watched her go. “Yeah, or maybe not,” I said to myself. “Not much of a challenge if six people are busy puking their guts out while the other two run wild.”
I hummed to myself as I cleaned up the kitchen, my mood terrific. The tape recorder was in the pocket of my jeans, and I was just waiting for Marla and Jendan to sober up so we could talk strategy. My partner needed to sober up, too, though he was currently sawing logs in our bed.
As time passed and no one seemed in any particular hurry to wake up, I started to get a little more nervous. My plan wouldn’t work if I didn’t have time to put it into action. Deciding to take the bull by the horns, I went into the attic room to visit Marla and Jendan. They were both still in bed, pillows stuffed over their faces.
I knocked on the door and stepped inside. “Hey, guys? Do you have a minute?”
Marla groaned and tugged the pillow against her face tighter. “Right now?”
I might not have more time later, I thought, but didn’t speak it aloud. “No time like the present,” I said, keeping an upbeat note in my voice as I approached the side of their bed. “It’s important.”
That got Jendan’s attention. He sat up and rubbed his eyes, focusing his gaze on me. “Something wrong?”
“You could say that.”
Marla sat upright and squinted at me, her short mom hairdo spiky on one side from the night’s sleep. “What is it? Not the Power challenge?”
“Nope, but something you need to hear before we go into the next vote. It impacts everyone’s game.”
That got their attention. “What is it?” Jendan asked.
I gestured at the door. “Can we get Brodie? I want him to hear this.”
Five minutes later, Jendan and Marla were somewhat awake, so I steered them back to the Queen room, where I’d left Brodie. As soon as they filed in after me, I checked the hall to make sure no one else was around and then shut the door and locked it. In the room, Brodie was still snoring, flat on his back this time, arms sprawled wide. I moved to his side and gave him a gentle shake. “Hey, wake up.”
He immediately wrapped his arms around my waist and tried to drag me down next to him. “Mmmm. Come back to bed.”
“Brodie, don’t.” I pulled out of his arms, shooting an embarrassed look at Jendan and Marla. “You’re still drunk and we have company.”
“I’m not drunk, baby,” he murmured, and one eye cracked open.
“You are if you’re calling me ‘baby.’ Wake up.” I ignored the suspicious looks Jendan and Marla were giving me. Shit. If they thought I had a relationship with Brodie, this could make things difficult. “Don’t be weird.”
“Weird, huh?” He scrubbed at his face and peered at the two standing behind me, as if just now realizing we weren’t alone. “Hey guys.”
“I brought them in here because we all need to have a discussion,” I told him, moving to a corner of the bed—away from Brodie’s arms—and sitting down, a leg curled under me. “I found out some interesting things when you guys were drunk last night.”
“Oh?” Marla glanced around and grabbed the nearest chair. Jendan continued standing, arms crossed, though he stood near Marla’s chair. “Good interesting or bad interesting?” She looked uneasy.
I forced a laugh. “Isn’t all ‘interesting’ bad in this game?”
Brodie sat up, yawning. “So what is it?”
I took a deep breath and then laid it all out on the table. “I had a long talk with Casper last night. He’s going to talk Jayme and Fido into nominating you guys because he wants to make a big move and stir things up. Once you guys are up on the block, Marla’s going to be the one to go.”
Marla’s gasp was audible. “Me? What did I do?”
“You’re the stronger player,” I said simply. “You have kids, so you’re more approachable, and you’re less of a threat in competitions, so he’s worried you’re going to fly under the radar to the very end.”
She looked at Jendan, frowning. “Should we…”
He shrugged at her. “Tell them. Won’t hurt anything at this point.”