I jumped and smacked him in the chest. “You can’t sneak up on people like that! Keep that up and I’m going to make you wear a bell around your neck.”
He laid his hand over mine, which was already firmly pressed right between his pecs. I thought he was putting the moves on me after I’d laid down the law on the no touching. But then he yanked my card from my grasp, flipped it over, and…broke into a victorious smile. “Well, well, well. Would you look at that?” He fanned his card next to mine. “Twinners.”
My mouth fell open. I spun and looked at Christy, who was handing the second-to-last card to Bowen. “Christianna Dupree, you raise that right arm to the square.”
She laughed but obediently complied.
I narrowed my eyes. “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?”
“I do.”
“Do you solemnly promise that you had the cards in your possession the entire time and that you aren’t in cahoots with Cash?”
“I solemnly promise. Shuffled them at home and tucked them in my bra for safekeeping.”
“Eeewww.” Maddie shuddered. “Mom. No.”
“These are boob cards?” Belle shrieked, sending her card flying.
“There’s boob juice on my hand!” my brother Tristan shouted. He frisbeed his card into the air and wiped his hands vigorously on his thighs.
Jane was the next to freak out, followed by Blaze and his younger brother, Bronco. Cards flying everywhere.
“Quit the hysterics!” Holden ordered. “There’s no boob juice on your hands. Aunt Christy doesn’t have boob juice!” His brows flicked up. “Trust me, I’d know.”
Maddie tossed her card to the ground. “That’s it. I’m out. I can’t do this race with you people.”
“Pick the cards up. Now!” Holden roared in a terrifying voice.
Everything went pin-drop silent and kids scampered around, searching for their cards in the decaying leaves from last fall.
Christy gave me a proud smile like that nonsense had never happened. “Face it, Charlie. It’s meant to be.”
Cash bumped his hip to mine. “That’s what I’m saying.”
Christy flipped the last card over. Her card. “Who has the four of diamonds?”
“Me!” Anna held her card up and they squealed like ten-year-old girls.
I turned to my race partner. “Tell the truth. You drank your vial of Felix Felicis this morning, didn’t you?” Felix Felicis was a luck potion from Harry Potter—basically, one swig and the world rolled out a red carpet just for you.
“Drank it?” His lips pressed together in a self-satisfied, almost-smile. “IamFelix Felicis, in human form.”
“Wow.” I poked him in the belly button and dang if he didn’t flex those glorious abs. “I don’t know how you orchestrated this but God is watching. I hope you know that.”
“I’m fully aware since He’s the one who made it happen.” He booped me on the nose. “I told you. You’re my miracle.”
Just then Bowen growled, “You have got to be kidding me!” as he stomped over to Maggie. “Let me see your card.”
She held it out and he ripped it from her hand. Then he dropped his head back and shook his fists at the sky.
She waved her hands mockingly. “Oh no! Not the sky fists. Anything but the sky fists.”
“Oh, I like her,” I hooted, making Cash laugh.
Bowen glowered at her, his light gray eyes a pair of threatening storm clouds up against that dark hair.
She pursed her lips. “Relax, drama queen. It’s not like we’re getting married.”
