The man who's somehow made me win at family game night for the first time in my adult life.
"Thirty seconds," Claire prompts.
I start drawing.A stick figure in what's supposed to be a dress but looks more like a tent.Another stick figure in what might be a tuxedo or might be a very formal box.
"People," Luke says."Formal event.Dancing?"
I add flowers.So many flowers.
Panic flowers.
"Garden party?No...wedding?"
"Yes!"I practically shout.
"Time!"Dad calls."And that's game!Luke and Sage win!"
"We won?"I stare at the score sheet."I won?"
"We won," Luke corrects, and something about the way he says 'we' makes my heartbeat triple.
"This is unprecedented," Harper says."Sage actually won at something."
“Oh my God, quit.I win at things.”
"Name one thing you've won before tonight."
"I..."I think hard."I won that pie eating contest in fourth grade!"
"You threw up on the judge."
"After I won!"
“I should go,” Luke says quietly, setting down his empty plate and glancing at the time.
He stands slowly, smoothing down his sweater sleeves, then looks around the room.
“Patricia, thank you,” he says, turning to my mom.“That seven-layer dip was better than anything I’ve ever had catered.I may start negotiating exclusive rights.”
Mom practically glows.“Oh, you’re welcome anytime.If you like casseroles, I do a mean chicken enchilada bake.”
“Dangerous knowledge.”He winks, that chiseled face of his softening.“I’ll never survive my waistline.”
He turns to Dad.“Frank, the house rules were incredibly clear.I appreciate the rigor.”
Dad puffs up like someone just knighted him.“We run a tight ship.”
“Damn right we do,” Harper mutters.
“To the judges,” Luke says, nodding toward Claire and David.“Fair, unbiased, and occasionally ruthless.”
Claire beams.“We take our bans seriously.”
David offers a toast with his LaCroix.“Come back next month, and we’ll really throw down.”
Luke leans toward Ben.“Excellent teamwork tonight.You may have a career in espionage.”
Ben lifts an eyebrow, impressed.“You’re surprisingly cool for a guy with an algorithm empire.”
