Page 615 of The Bonding Games: Part 1

Eyes skating upwards, I take in the elegant lettering on the front of the store:

TECHTIS BALLROOM

Can’t wait.

Except I change my tune from sarcasm to a genuine I can’t wait when my eyes find my girl again as she marches into the store like the goddess of death and destruction she is. Wherever she goes, I’m thrilled to follow, so I shoot after her into that gargantuan shop of frills and tulle with all the enthusiasm of the younger Gold brother when he’s doing . . . well, anything.

“Come.”

“Inside you?” I return immediately, scraping my teeth over my bottom lip, blood pumping blisteringly hot at the thought of finally sinking inside that wet heat and marking Havoc up with me in the most primal way.

She unsurprisingly ignores me as she walks further into the shop, me and the other guys trailing behind her, and I only shift my burning stare elsewhere to check out the validity of Scotty’s words when he says, “There’s no one here. Where is everyone?”

“I have reserved the place for a couple of hours.”

“The entire place?” Alby whispers, head swivelling around to absorb everything in wonder.

“No. Just the underwear sections,” Havoc says flatly, and a grin stretches across my face at the same moment Tiger cheers, “Oh, Wifey! Your jokes are really speaking to me! I am loving this newly revealed side of you! Please give me more!”

“No.”

He pouts dramatically.

Stopping our group in the middle of the large divide of empty space between the men’s and women’s sections—the men’s area travels miles back on the left-hand side, while the women’s is a mirror image spanning the entire right side of the place—our girl continues, “You will go and look for your own clothes while I am in the women’s section.”

Tiger whines like a kicked puppy to reflect my own inner grouching. “No, Ezzy! Why?! I want to spend time with you.”

Her visor stares him down, emotionless.

“I will join you when I am done. Start with your main items: your shirts, shoes, and suits. They must be black or grey, and any accessories must be gold—”

“WOOOHOO!” Tiger explodes abruptly . . . then starts dancing around us with his arms waving about and no coordination whatsoever. “Didn’t I tell you?! I knew there was a good reason my favourite colour’s gold! It’s ‘cos Ez and us are gonna rock it at the Ball!”

“Yes, you did, brother.” Scotty smiles in amusement as he watches him continue to twirl about.

“As I was saying, I have chosen gold for our theme colour,” Havoc continues once Tiger’s back in place beside Alby and settled down a bit. “Of course, we must look the best, so I reserved it for our Bonded group right away.”

“Yes, DN! High five!” The hand Tiger holds up is not clapped by Havoc but his brother when she doesn’t move a muscle. “Ezzyyyyy!” he wails, tipping his head back.

“You have an hour and a half, although I doubt you will need that long, and I will find you before then. Grab a bag each.” Havoc swivels around and disappears among the rails of fabric before anyone can attempt to protest.

***

“Bow tie,” I growl, snatching one up from the display. “Looks more elegant.”

Scotty scoffs. “No way—standard tie’s classier.”

Competitive streaks flaring up, we turn into a pack of rabid animals squabbling over prey . . . except we’re arguing over whether Havoc prefers regular ties or bow ties.

“No, brother! A bow tie is way better! Much more character!”

“Nah,” Cooper mutters. “Regular tie. Bow ties are for pretentious snobs.”

The debate intensifies, with each of us trying to one-up the other, giving our reasons for why the tie we’ve chosen is the superior option. Even Alby gives his opinion, though with no explanation, our voices instantly quieting down to hear his softer one:

“I like the bow tie . . .”

A beat.