Race for the Throne | Formula One

6. Official Beer Pong Partner

Not even needing to follow Charles' directions, we just followed the sound of music. We boarded the ship and instantly had someone wrap their arms around our shoulders.

"I'm so glad you two could make it!" Lando grinned

"Wouldn't miss it for the world!" Ines smiled back.

Lando kept his arm around Ines as he walked us over to get drinks, introducing us to various people we passed. The guest list seemed to be limited to just drivers and their girlfriends.

"Don't worry, Charles is talking to the captain because we're about the leave the marina." Lando nudged my arm when he saw me looking around. "He was so excited you'd be coming."

I hid my blush by taking a sip of my drink.

The yacht pulled away into the water and we were off. Lando pulled me and Ines into a conversation.

"Girls, meet Carlos, Pierre, and Daniel. Guys, meet Kat and Ines."

The guys all smiled and said hello.

"Perfect! A new partner for beer pong!" Daniel cheered.

"You might have to fight Charles," Pierre laughed.

The Aussie wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "I'm not afraid to beg."

I tapped my lips. "I might have to see that."

Without missing a beat, Daniel dropped to his knees, hands clasped. "Please be my beer pong partner. As soon as I saw you, I knew it was our destiny to crush everyone else and become an unstoppable beer pong duo."

The guys started laughing and after pretending to think about it for a moment I pulled him to his feet.

"I will be your beer pong partner and we will annihilate everyone else."

He high fived me, obviously proud of himself.

Carlos wiped tears from his eyes. "It will feel so much better when I beat you now."

"Bold words coming from a man who doesn't have a beer pong partner," I challenged.

Carlos grabbed Charles as he walked out to join us. "Now I have a partner."

"I'm glad you could make it." Charles smiled warmly.

"You won't be after I kick your ass in beer pong." I smiled sweetly at him.

"What?"

Pierre filled Charles in on what happened while Carlos and I got back to business.

"Losing team has to post on their Instagram story that the winning team is superior to them," Carlos said.

"Nah, losing team has to jump in the water," I said, raising the stakes.

"Deal." Carlos stuck his hand out to me and we shook on it.

"Do we get a say in this matter?" Daniel asked gesturing to himself and Charles who was now up to speed.

"Not anymore. Come, come, the game won't play itself." Carlos walked over to the table that had been set up by George and Max.

"Pierre, you're the ref. You have to make sure everything is fair." Carlos bounced the ball on the table to get a feel for it.

"Ines, you're reffing too. I don't know if I trust them."

Pierre looked at me with mock outrage as Ines stood across from him.

Everyone gathered around us, very invested in the outcome.

"I know I just met you today, but I will not go easy on you." I squinted to get the ball lined up.

I held my breath as I released the ball and made it into one of the cups. Daniel also made it into the cup his first throw. This went back and forth with cups being made and cups being missed. The spectators cheered and booed as was fitting. Finally, we were down to the last cup on each side. Carlos lined up the shot. I grabbed Daniel's hand, the crowd was hushed. He missed. Charles' turn. I cracked my knuckles nervously. He missed. You could cut the tension with a knife. Daniel's turn. He lined up but right before he threw Carlos started making faces at him, distracting him. He missed. It came down to my shot.