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This time Sebastian starts by slapping Francesca. She gets out right away by swallowing the water.
“Sorry guys,” she says. “I almost choked.”
Off she goes to join Ignacio. They look cozy and relaxed in the shade. Somebody please slap me so I can sit in the shade, too.
We begin again, and Mateo slaps me softly. I mean, it’s hardly a slap at all. I slap Edmund, but he’s determined to win this thing, so he holds it together. Sebastian is next, who slaps Nate like he’s got a vendetta. Nate sprays water everywhere, busting up.
“Out,” shouts Mateo.
Now there’s four of us left and I’m getting a weird vibe, here.
“You want to start this time, Olive?” asks Mateo. “Try to get me out.”
“Whatever you say, bro,” I say, taking a swig of water.
I slap him moderately hard and he turns immediately and wallops Sebastian. Sebastian’s cheeks bulge out and he presses his lips inward as his whole body shakes. His eyes are watering, bulging off his face. After several uncomfortable moments, he breaks. Water and drool dribble down his shin as he makes a snorting sound. I can’t believe he’s still trying to keep it in. Mateo shakes his head and slams his hand against Sebastian’s back, sending water and spit across the circle. I jump back, narrowly missing the spray, but Edmund got caught in the splash zone.
“Sorry, man.” Sebastian pats Edmund on the shoulder and goes to join his siblings.
I’m not a fan of this game.
Mateo toasts his water bottle. “We’re down to three. I wonder who’ll win this thing.”
Yeah, I wonder.
I try to make eye contact with Edmund again, but his eyes are trained on Mateo. I know how this is going down now. True to my prediction, Edmund gets Mateo good, getting him out on the first slap.
Now it’s just me and Edmund, and I’m thinking this was planned from the very beginning. I look over at the siblings under the tree, and they’ve already broken out the beers and sodas, lounging in the shade, watching the outsiders slapping each other with tortillas. This is ridiculous.
Edmund is too polite to get me out. I don’t want to get him out because I know he wants to win. We’re just taking turns not getting each other out.
Slap.
Slap.
Slap.
Eventually, I swallow the water because at this point, the siblings are laughing amongst themselves, not even paying attention to us anymore.
“You can swallow your water now,” I say. “They’re not even looking.”
Edmund flickers his gaze to the siblings under the tree and then back at me, eyes wide. He slaps me, afraid to swallow the water.
“You know this is a trick,” I say, slapping him back. “A frat boy joke. Look at Sebastian’s face. They’re all having fun with us.”
He finally swallows. “Francesca wouldn’t do that.”
Slap.
“She’s not in on it,” I say.
Slap.
He slaps back. “Nobody will ever be good enough for their sister. And I happen to agree with them there, but Francesca chose me, so…”
He shrugs and I smack my tortilla on his face.
He laughs. “What a ridiculous game.”
