“I wonder,” came another male voice. “How many times he’s said that in his lifetime? Hmm? Get down on your hands and knees and—”
A loud thump sounded and then a female voice chimed in. “Really, Jason, you should talk.”
“Burn.” Another male voice laughed.
And then the people belonging to the voices stepped out from behind the hut and waved.
“Really?” Max sighed and looked heavenward. “I go to synagogue.”
“He does,” Reid piped up. “You’d think he’d be given more grace or something.”
“Max!” Milo put her hands on her hips. “It’s our last night together. They’re sending us home after the ceremony tomorrow.”
“Ceremony?” we both said in unison.
“Yeah, for the final choice.” Jason made quotations with his fingers.
“We have a full two days until the final vote.” Max sighed. “Nice try, though.”
“No.” Reid scratched his head. “Actually it’s tomorrow. A huge storm’s coming in and they want to wrap up filming before the weather turns bad. If they wait it out, it will put us off schedule, cost a ton of money, and, well, piss Rex off, so we’re going to move things forward.”
“You can’t just move a dating show forward!” Max shouted.
Reid paused and then looked at his watch. “Oh, look, they just did.”
Max ground his teeth and wrapped his arm around my waist. “And the reason for you guys interrupting our awesome date?”
“What did he do?” Milo asked, her eyes full of curiosity. “Did he kiss you? Hold your hand? Make you jump off a cliff? I’ve heard he’s super romantic. Never experienced it for myself and—”
Colt placed his hand over her mouth and sighed. “It worries me that she’s so eager to hear about someone else’s love life.”
“Marriage.” Max nodded. “Lose some romance, Milo? Pretty sure there are plenty of guys willing to help you out at the Sex Toys and More store. Really, give them a call. Mention my name, they may give you a discount.” He held out a card.
Colt swore. “Take that card and I drown Max in the ocean.”
“Weird, I was thinking of doing the same thing to Reid!” Max laughed. “Not anymore, though, we no longer have the element of surprise.”
“Thank you?” Reid said it like he was wondering if he should be thankful.
“So.” Jason clapped his hands together. “Last night together, mallows? Grahams? Chocolate?”
“Okay.” Max released my hand. “I’m going to say this once.”
“Oh, good.” Jason nodded. “We hate when you’re long-winded.”
“Colt,” Max seethed. “Slap Jason for me.”
“I have enough bruises,” Jason snorted. “It looks like I’m into BDSM, all right, bro? Just add another one to the list. I feel no pain.”
At that moment Max bent down and threw a shell at Jason’s stomach.
“Shit!” Jason bent over. “What’d you throw? Freaking conch shell?”
“I was just checking to see if you feel pain. Bonus points for being right.” Max shrugged. “Now, if it’s the last night, don’t you think you should let Becca and me have some alone time?”
“No,” they all said in unison. It was strange, watching them all communicate. Like they were bickering married couples.
“Fact.” Reid held up his hand. “You like Becca, therefore she has to like us before she can join the group.”
“So we’re a group now?” Max sighed. “A club that only lets in cool people?”
“We have a motto.” Milo winked. “Star Wars fans only.”
The group fell into a hush. As if mentioning Star Wars were the equivalent of saying a prayer. So naturally I shrugged and said, “I’m only a fan of the older versions.”
“Thank God,” Colt whispered under his breath while Milo gave me a nod of approval and a thumbs-up.
“We’re kind of like . . .” Jason went to the fire and sat on one of the pillows. “The family you marry into. You can’t get Max without the rest of us.”
“Thanks, guys.” Max released my hand. “Run along, Becca, find someone who won’t scare you shitless. It’s okay, we’ll always have the moon.”
“We’re not that bad!” Milo shouted. Colt winced while Jason said, “Could you muzzle her?”
“That’s my wife!” Colt’s pitch matched Milo’s.
“You don’t say,” Reid said dryly. He patted the seat next to him and motioned for me to come over and sit. Reluctantly Max walked with me to the fire.
We sat in a circle.
“You guys start humming or throwing pieces of her clothing in the fire and chanting, I’m going to set Hades on you,” Max pouted.
“Fine.” Reid shrugged. “I’ll just eat him.”
“Good one.” Max rolled his eyes. “You gonna eat my gecko too?”
“Dude, did you buy a farm?” Jason asked, looking confused.
“Yes, Jason.” Max’s eyes narrowed. “I came to a dating show in order to obtain a farm. It seems to win the fair lady’s hand I need to produce enough livestock in order to appease her family.”
“One goat and a gecko.” Milo whistled. “Wayta aim high, Max.”