The Opportunity of a Lifetime

Chapter 59 (Andy's POV)

Do I like Joe?

Is it bad if I do? I mean, what is there not to like about him? He's just so sweet and handsome and his hair I could just run my hands through it all the time-

"Hey."

I'm interrupted by my thoughts of Joe by Joe, who sinks down on the couch next to me. His knee gently grazes mine and I try not to let that distract me as I mutter a shaky "Hi," back. I resist the urge to slap myself in the face for being so stupidly nervous around him.

"Do you have any idea for pranks on Pete and Patrick?"

Oh. That's all he wanted. Of course he doesn't like you, Andy. Why would he? He's not into guys.

"Actually, uh, no, I don't. I haven't really been thinking about it."

He raises his eyebrows. "Andrew Hurley, the king of Prank Week, hasn't even been planning pranks? What have you been thinking about?"

You, dumbass.

"Um, nothing really important," I quickly lie. He doesn't look convinced.

"Ah... okay."

We sit in awkward silence for a moment, when we hear a floor board creak behind us. We glance back and see Gracie walking up to us in her favorite footie pajamas, yawning and climbing onto the couch, wedging in between Joe and I. I try not to look disappointed as she cuddles into us.

"I have an idea for a prank if you don't," she says slyly.

"Really? Tell us!" Joe says excitedly. I nod.

"Well, you have Saran wrap, right?"

I shrug confusedly, getting up and walking to the kitchen area. I open a cabinet and see it on the bottom shelf.

"Yup, tons of it," I call back to them, walking back and sitting on the couch again.

"Good. You could wrap it around Cheryl and Hailey's bunk, so when they wake up they'll slam into it and fall down. Revenge for the water balloons, ya know."

"That's actually a really good idea," I say, being surprised again that her six year old brain has better ideas than some adults. As in me and Joe.

"Hey, you were in on the balloon prank too. We could easily wrap it around your bunk, too," Joe says, poking Gracie in the stomach. She swats his hand away.

"If I'm right, you two had no ideas. I gave you the idea for this prank, so I'm off the hook." Gracie crosses her arms.

"Well aren't you a little sass princess," Joe says, mocking her voice. She sticks her tongue out at him, and she gets up, starting to walk away.

"Hey, aren't you gonna help us wrap the bunks?" I ask.

"Get Pete and Patrick to help," she says, then turns around and runs back to the bunk she and Patrick now share before we can catch her.

I glance at Joe. "I'M NOT WAKING PATRICK UP!" I yell, and he exasperatedly throws his hands up in the air.

"Awwww, come on! I don't like waking Patrick up... he scares me when he's half asleep." He pouts, and I mockingly do the same, walking over to him.

"Aw, poor baby," I coo, patting his head. He opens his arms.

"I need a hug for luck," he says childishly. Of course, I walk into his open arms, and he wraps them around me. I resist the need to burrow into his strong chest, soon needing to let him go. He dramatically waves at me like he is accepting his death.