Are You In or Are You Out?

Jules would have to make several more beer runs for Kristina and Diane, marching back and forth between them and the cooler.

Every time he thought he was able to take a breather, he’d have to go fetch more cold ones for Kristina or Diane. Sometimes he’d be told to give an extra to Ryan, and at one point an exhausted Craig was given one as he sat on the ground next to Diane.

After what seemed like the billionth time making the rounds, Jules was done. When he returned to the canopy, he carried the entire cooler over.

The moment he set the cooler down between the girls, the other bachelors finally wandered over to the canopy to get their own refreshment. From what he could tell, Christian’s team won the game. With all the boasting he was doing that seemed the safest guess.

Jules snuck off while everyone was boasting or trying to get Kristina’s attention. The writing on the inside of his bottle cap implied there were other things to take care of.

----

Jules wasn’t sure why he expected to find Tyrone spit-roasting a pig in the firepit. But he found an electric motor slowly rotating the pork.

He did find Tyrone standing there with a cold beer in hand, guzzling down what remained. Tyrone looked at him, confused, before holding up a bottle cap. “You too?”

“Yeah.” Jules held up his bottle cap. “Think anyone else is going to come?”

Tyrone thumbed over near a port-a-potty where Warren was emerging with a cold one. When he came over, he held out his arms. “Hey guys! What kind of challenge you think they’ve got for us?” His smile died quick. “Aw hell. He’s here.”

Jules and Tyrone turned around to see Christian joining them. He had a bottle in each hand and a smile on his face. “Gentlemen. I am on top of the world. I’ve got someone making me dinner, I’ve got a beer in hand, and I’ve got a girl eating out the palm of my hand.”

Before anyone could fire back, Petey Pete arrived on the scene. “Bachelors. Welcome to your challenge.” Several men approached the group, arranging themselves in front of each of the men. “Each of you will be given the contents of a briefcase. That case will contain two balls, one red and one black.”

Another man then gave Petey Pete a briefcase, which he then opened. “This suitcase contains twenty-thousand dollars and a ‘Tell the Truth’ card. If everyone picks the red ball, you will give Kristina the card – she will be able to use it on any one of you, and it will not expire. Anyone who picks a black ball will get a share of this twenty thousand dollars and leave those who picked the red ball with nothing. Let the game begin.”

Jules felt Christian and Tyrone snap onto him in an instant. He realized something terrible: those two were the worst ones to be in this challenge with. Christian because he knew Jules was here for the money, and Tyrone because the moment he got any proof of it his friendship with Kristina would ensure she finds out.

This was the end of the line for him.

Christian’s smile was as smarmy as ever. “Boys, I’ve got a proposition for us all.”

Warren raised an eyebrow. “What, we split the money?”

“No.” Christian turned to Jules. “We all know that if Kristina gets this card, she’ll use it on Jules. What I’m proposing is the three of us,” he said, gesturing to himself, Tyrone, and Warren, “pick the red ball. And we let Jules show his colors.”

Jules wanted to scream. This was all going wrong!

“Come on,” said Warren. “He’s a good guy.”

Tyrone tipped his now-empty bottle to Jules. “Then he’s got nothing to fear from Kristina being given the card. Isn’t that right, Jules?”

Jules nodded. He’d have to think fast.

If, if he got the twenty thousand dollars, that would be on top of the nine thousand he’d get for going out this round. That wouldn’t be enough to pay off his student loans after taxes. It would make them manageable. That assumed Christian wasn’t bluffing him, though.

But what was the alternative? Giving Kristina the card put a proverbial ‘Sword of Damocles’ over his head. He’d be thrown out at any moment. Forget about twenty-nine thousand hypothetical dollars, nine thousand after taxes would barely make a dent! He’d almost be as bad off then as he was already!

The smart thing to do was to take the money and run. He’d played a good game but this was the end.

He reached his hand for the balls…

And something came unbidden to his mind. The fun he’d had playing basketball. The conversation they shared at the party. Even having to act as Kristina’s assistant for the day, as humiliating as that was.

That woman should infuriate him. It was the kind of garbage he’d had to do for his boss. Ask how high when they say jump, stay late for work, sacrifice weekends to finish a project only to get yelled at when he didn’t also solve world hunger.

And yet he wasn’t anymore. Instead, he was filled with a far more dangerous emotion. One that he hadn’t been aware of until she’d flaunted herself around him in that damned bikini.

He grabbed a ball out of his suitcase and held it tight. “Alright. You all want to play? Let’s play.”

The four men held out their hands, fists closed. On the count of three, each of them opened their hands to reveal…

Four red balls.

Christian was shocked to see the fourth ball. “You’re an idiot,” he told Jules. “Enjoy losing on the spot.”

----

Everyone enjoyed the spit-roasted pork as the sun went down. The alcohol had loosened the bachelors up. Even Kristina was feeling a happy buzz.

She chuckled as she watched Diane wrap herself around Craig. Good for her. The woman needed to unwind. That man would get an invitation to stay on the show for as long as she could justify it.

Ryan was more of a question mark. She thought he was cute and had an easy charm that none of the other bachelors had. And his hands were so soft when he gave her a massage! But she wanted to see what happened with a one-on-one date before she penciled him in to go much deeper.

Warren and Tyrone... she had no idea what to make of them. They’d disappeared for a while and were only now coming back. Warren at least had more personality than some of the remaining bachelors. She’d barely said five words to Tyrone since he came onto the show.

Then there was Christian and Jules coming together. Christian had done everything right. He’d not taken a single misstep. He was the only one she’d kissed even if it only was for a movie camera. Everything was telling her that pursuing him was the right move.

Kristina watched Christian hang back, seeing Jules approach. She was miffed that he’d ducked his agreement. “Where’ve you been? I was looking all over for you.”

Jules pulled out a familiar looking red card from behind his back. “Getting you this.” Resting between his fingers was a ‘Tell the Truth’ card. “You can use it on Christian, myself, Warren, or Tyrone any time you want.”

Her eyebrow shot up without a moment’s hesitation. “Any time. Like now.”

“Like now,” Jules said.

Every conversation Kristina’d had with Jules had her thinking he was smart. This… wasn’t. “What’s stopping me from using this on you, right now?”

Kristina could see some of the bachelors stifle a laugh as Jules said, “Nothing.”

What kind of three-dimensional chess power play was this?! Kristina gently took the card from him and stared at its golden embossing. 

“I’d like to take you out on a date.”

She nearly dropped the card. Him? The guy who’s been so nonchalant, the guy who hasn’t tried at all? The guy who she’s been taking turns insulting with? That guy wanted to take her on a one-on-one date?

Kristina accepted the challenge. “Alright.” She poked Jules in the chest. “You’re on. Diane? Get me invitations for Jules and Christian.”

Christian looked flabbergasted. “You’re going to let him stay?”

As Diane handed Christian and Jules a pair of golden envelopes, she smiled. “Call it curiosity. But,” she warned, “if it isn’t amazing, you’re out.”

Jules stared at her in mock-offense. “You don’t think I can. Guess what? I'm gonna knock your socks off.”

“Really.”

“Really.” He snapped his fingers and pointed at her. “It’s going to be the best date of your life. I’m going to date you so hard you’re going to fall in love with me. Because so help me God, if I’m leaving this game then I’m doing it my way!”