Best Dating Rules, Tamie Dearen [literature books to read txt] 📗

watching the show. Brad laughed heartily when Charlie won the first round. “This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”

“Do you think he’ll beat her on the next two?” asked Emily.

“I don’t know how he’s going to play this one,” admitted Brad. “He’s good. He climbs all the time. He did a five-thirteen last week.”

“Is that hard?” asked Grace.

“Yeah, pretty tough. It had a rough overhang.”

“So what do you mean, you don’t know how he’ll play it?” asked Emily.

Brad shrugged. “He might try his best, to impress her. Or he might let her win. You know, just barely. But he might let her win if he thinks it’ll be to his advantage.”

“Hmmm. He doesn’t know my sister. She’d know if he did that. It’d be a bad idea.”

“But isn’t she super competitive? Doesn’t she like to win?”

“Oh, she likes to win, all right. But she doesn’t take condescension from anyone. On the other hand, if he shows off... Well, she already thinks he’s egotistical.”

“So, he’s in trouble if he beats her or if he lets her win?”

“Pretty much.”

“So how’s he going to get her to like him?”

“I don’t know if it can be done. Many have tried—all have failed and fallen into the abyss.” Emily laughed.

Grace asked Brad, “Are you planning to climb tonight?”

“Sure. I’ll go after the contest is over. Right now, I’m enjoying the company.” He put his arm around her shoulder. “And it’s truly entertaining to see Josh fumbling a bit. He’s not used to failure of any kind.”

Charlie chose the next climb. She picked one with a section at the top that was slightly beyond vertical in pitch. Josh had ditched the girls who’d distracted him earlier and was standing inside her comfort zone as Charlie threaded the rope through her harness.

“Why don’t you go back to your fan club? I don’t need your help.”

“I like to throw them a few crumbs, but leave them hungry.”

“They looked like they wanted to eat you up. I’m surprised you didn’t let them.”

“Jealous?”

“No. I was relieved. Glad to have you otherwise occupied and out of my hair.”

“Why?” He reached out to tighten one of her shoulder straps. “Do I make you nervous?”

“No!” She jerked away from his grasp. “Not nervous—more like nauseous.”

“Well, that’s close.” Josh laughed.

Charlie turned to Spencer, who was observing the interchange with wide eyes. “Get ready to start the timer.”

This climb was more challenging from the start, even before reaching the over-steep portion, because all the holds were spaced farther apart. Charlie’s arms and legs were shaking from the effort. She was forced to stop and rest before beginning the last section. She glanced down and, seeing Josh’s amused expression, felt a surge of irritation along with a rush of adrenaline. She took advantage of the new energy and attacked the incline. Sixty seconds into it, her arms were crying out in pain. She lunged for the top and called out, immediately falling back on the belay rope. Her muscles were still trembling when she made it to the bottom.

“Six fifty,” announced Spencer.

“Okay,” said Josh, “I’m actually impressed. Pretty amazing for a girl.”

Spencer frowned. “Are you kidding? It’s pretty amazing for anybody.”

“Maybe. But you haven’t seen the master tackle it.” Josh set up and began the climb. Charlie watched with begrudging admiration. He didn’t even pause before the last section.

As his hand touched the top, Spencer called out, “Five minutes, forty-five seconds. Sorry, Charlie.”

But at his return to the floor, she noted with satisfaction Josh’s muscles were also shaking from the exertion, despite his efforts to appear unfazed by the tough climb.

“Spencer, why don’t you climb now so Charlie has a little more time to recover?”

“Pretty cheap to use Charlie as an excuse to give yourself a break. We can all see you’ve got the shakes.” Spencer shook his head.

Josh laughed. “It was worth a try. I admit it—I need a break, too.”

Spencer set up to do his climb, while Josh and Charlie sat down on the bench to rest. Charlie wedged herself between Emily and Grace, so Josh was forced to sit on the end next to Brad.

“So who’s climbing first and who chooses the climb?” Brad asked.

“We’re doing that ledge,” said Charlie. “Josh can go second.”

“That’s like committing suicide,” said Josh. “You should pick something easy and go for speed.”

“No way,” scoffed Charlie. “I’m here for the challenge.”

“Okay, but I’ll beat you.” Josh’s expression lost its casual grin.

“The straight walls are easy and boring. I don’t do boring.”

“I understand. You want me to win, right? Are we in agreement about the prize?”

Charlie leaned forward and bored holes in him with her eyes. “No we’re not in agreement.” Brad stifled a laugh behind his hand.

“What are the options?” Grace asked. “I’ll be the fair and impartial judge.”

“Well,” Josh smirked. “I want—”

“Josh wants a kick where it hurts,” Charlie interjected. “And I’m going to give it to him.”

Brad snorted. “Good job, Josh. You’ve got her eating out of your hand, just like you said you would.”

Josh elbowed Brad, which only resulted in louder laughter. Charlie crimped her eyebrows down. “Is that what he said? He’d have me eating out of his hand?”

“I didn’t say that.” Josh planted another vicious elbow in Brad’s side when he laughed again.

“Whoever loses should have to pay for the other’s climbing tonight,” Grace suggested.

“I think that’s fair,” said Josh.

“But exception to the family rule. If he loses and pays my way, it’s not a date,” said Charlie.

Emily winked at Charlie. “Hmmm, technically it’d be a date if either one of you pays for the other.”

“Nope. Not doing it. Think of something else.”

“Family rule?” Josh asked.

“Yes,” Emily explained. “Our rule is if he pays for something or—Ow, Charlie! Why’d you kick me!”

“What’s the rule?” Josh urged.

“It’s none of your business,” said Charlie. “It’s a family thing. And you’re not family.”

“What’s a family thing?” said Spencer, returning from his successful climb.

“Our family dating rule,” Emily said.

“Oh, the one where it’s a date if the guy buys you something or kisses