“I am,” I say with a wide grin. “So lucky. It’s great when you can borrow each other’s clothes, and he said later he’ll show me how to use a knife. Apparently, my grip is all wrong. Who knew?” I shrug and bite a slice of bacon.
I glance at Cricket and see that she is smiling ear to ear. Warmth spreads throughout my body. I want to give credit to the coffee, but I haven’t had any yet.
“I’m glad you two hit it off,” Cricket finally says. “I’m sorry I didn’t run it past you first, but we’re fresh out of beds.”
“No worries. I had no idea how badly I needed a cuddle buddy until last night.”
Cricket buries her face in her hands, shoulders shaking. Making her laugh feels good. I realize I want to do it again.
“Historically I haven’t been into redheads,” I continue, “but I’m open to it now.”
Angela tilts her head. “As it happens, I keep a red wig in the trunk of my car.”
“I bet that’s not all she keeps in there,” Gloria mumbles.
“Why do you keep a wig in your car?” Olivia asks.
“I like to play dress-up,” Angela replies smoothly. “Keeps life interesting.”
“I stopped playing dress-up when I was six,” Olivia says.
“Did you enjoy it?” Angela asks.
“I guess so.”
“Then you’ll come back around to it eventually.”
Ben clears his throat. “Olivia is into books and science, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“And animation,” Olivia adds. “I love Omori.”
“What’s Omori?” I ask.
“An RPG about a boy and his alter ego. You get to explore the real world and his dream world.”
“Wow. Games sure have changed since I was a kid. I think my generation either shot things or jumped over them. There was no story.”
Olivia fixes her expressive brown eyes on me and it’s like I’m deep in conversation with Bambi. “What games did you like to play?” the doe asks.
“Sports,” I reply.
“No video games?”
“I wasn’t allowed to play video games.”
There’s a collective intake of breath at the table.
“None at all?” Olivia asks.
I shake my head. “My parents consider them unhealthy distractions.”
Olivia reaches across the table and gives my arm a ‘there, there’ pat. “You’re a grown-up now. You can do whatever you want.”
“I wish,” I say with a wry smile.
“You never played games at a friend’s house?” Adam asks.
I shake my head. “If my parents found out, I would’ve been punished.”
