“Isn’t that what you’re always telling me? To keep my lower body locked in, hips over heels and feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.”
“Yes. Exactly.” Mallory stands up straighter. “The fewer variables or unnecessary lower-body fluctuations, the more accurate your putting will be.”
“Too bad. I’m all about that lower-body fluctuation.” Jennah steps closer to me and does a small twerk against my backside.
Andddd we’re going to be done here.
I try to keep my smile in place as I shift out of Jennah’s range. “You all look incredible. You’re going to be naturals, I’m sure. Why don’t we get started so we can get on with the date, yeah?”
The ladies agree and separate into their respective groups. I spend the first few holes with the blue team. I chat with Mindy Sue, and it’s friendly and fine. Nothing earth shattering, but not bad either.
Britt and Jennah are vying for my attention, and I’m trying to be a good sport about it. But their over-the-top antics aren’t my style.
I swear, every time Jennah lines up to putt, she shoves her butt out an unnecessary amount. And then she wants me to help her get into “proper position”—her words, not mine—and she keeps asking me what my favorite position is. With a straight face! I feel like I’m going crazy because how is no one else picking up on the double entendre there?
I’d love for Mindy Sue to be my ally in this entire debacle, but she is giving me nothing other than a small shake of her head and a good-natured smile at Jennah’s antics.
When the blue team steps up to the fourth hole, I jog over to catch up with the red team.
They’re at the end of hole twelve, and Mallory is putting. She sinks her shot, and Ava and Zelda cheer.
Zelda catches sight of me, and her eyes brighten. “Holland! We’re totally going to win. Mallory is our ace in the hole.”
“Literally.” Ava beams. “She’s made two hole-in-ones in the four holes we’ve played.”
“She’s one of the best in the business.” I nod at Mallory. She dips her chin, as if she doesn’t want the attention, but my chest tightens with desire to make her believe I’m sincere. “You are,” I add, and something in my voice catches her attention.
She looks up at me, and her gaze flutters around my face, as if trying to make out my sincerity. I don’t look away. I want her to know that I’m not joking around. That I mean what I’m saying.
Her brow is furrowed, and when she determines that I’m being serious, her eyes widen ever so slightly. “Thanks,” she says quietly.
A tether stretches between us. It’s sparkly and hot and dangerous and delicious. I want to tightrope across it and see what happens next. But out of the corner of my eye, I catch Ava and Zelda exchanging a look, and I remember myself. Zelda is scowling. Ava has her lip tugged between her teeth.
I step back, breaking eye contact with Mallory, who shakes her head ever so slightly.
“Where to next?” I clap my hands.
Mallory checks her scorecard. “Hole 13.”
The four of us walk ahead toward the next tee box.
“This is such a cute hole!” Ava gushes.
There’s a waterfall up ahead, and we’ll have to cross a foot bridge over a decent-sized stream that cuts through the course and this hole in particular.
“It’s made to be a smaller version of Cashmere Cove. This waterway is like the Bay of Green Bay.”
“Are there waterfalls around here?” Zelda asks, raising her voice to be heard over the rush of falling water.
“Nah. I think that’s for effect.”
“I wish I had my phone.” Ava pouts. “I’d love to get a picture.”
I glance beyond the cameras. “Callen, can you take our picture?”
“Sure. But let’s finish this hole first,” he says. “Then I’ll snap a couple shots.”
“That okay with you, ladies?” I ask the red team.
