“Already?” Joe asks.
“My cards suck.”
“You’re not meant to tell us that,” Max says. “You’re supposed to bluff and make us all think you’ve got an amazing hand.”
“I don’t have a poker face.”
“No, you don’t,” Sophie agrees.
I glance at her, puzzled by her comment, but she simply smiles. Addy takes his turn and raises the bet.
As the game continues, I end up being designated drink topper upper because I’m sitting watching most of the time. Addy wins once, which makes Sophie decide I’m his good luck charm, and then Joe and Max win the rest of the hands between them. My oldest brother takes pokerveryseriously.
It’s almost midnight when we all decide we’ve played enough poker for the night, but with the exception of Sophie, we’ve all drunk too much to drive. Not that it matters. There’s a standing Friday night offer of crashing at Joe’s. Even though Sophie could drive her and Stephen home, they elect to stay and claim one of the two rooms that have beds in them.
“We want a bed too,” Blair says before I can open my mouth. “Wearea couple.”
I can’t deny that.
The fourth bedroom has been turned into an office, which leaves Addy and me with the living room. The trouble is there’s only one sofa and two armchairs.
“I’ll get you some pillows and blankets,” Max says to Addy and me.
Everyone drifts away to their rooms. Addy and I wait for Max to come back with pillows and blankets.
“I’ve brought a spare quilt you can put on the floor,” he says. “Sorry, there’s not another bed.”
“It’s fine,” Addy says.
We always end up sleeping in here when we stay over.
“Good night,” Max says before closing the door and leaving us alone.
I chuck the throw cushions off the sofa and put pillows on it instead. Because Joe is so tall, he and Max bought an extra deep sofa. It’s embarrassing because if I sit all the way back on it, my feet don’t touch the floor. The advantage is that there’s enough space for both Addy and me to sleep on it, so neither one of us has to get a sore back from sleeping on the floor.
Addy lies against the back cushions, and I snuggle up to him. He has to put an arm around me to anchor me so I don’t accidentally fall off during the night. My best friend and I are spooning.
“What time do you have to be at the shop tomorrow?” Addy asks.
“Eight, so I’ve got time to get enough cakes baked for the day.”
“Ugh.”
“I’ve set the alarm on my phone. I’ll go home first so I can take a shower.” I’ll have to take a taxi, but that’s okay. “I’ll try not to wake you.”
Addy hugs me to him. “No, wake me up. I’ll come with you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I can always go back to bed when we get home.”
“You know my brothers don’t bite? Even when I’m not here to supervise them.”
Addy chuckles against me. “I know, but it’s still a bit awkward being here when you’re not. Wake me?”
“Okay.”
I yawn and close my eyes. I’m so sleepy. It’s late, and I’ve been up since the crack of dawn, and I’ve had three or four bottles of beer.
