Jasper widens his eyes at me, but he replies in a neutral tone. “Yeah, all good. Just knocked over the fruit bowl.”
Senior and Juliet laugh while Jasper and I look at each other. Then, with a sigh, we pick the fruit off the floor.
“Most of it’s fine,” I say. “Only a couple of apples are bruised.”
“It’s a sign from the universe,” Jasper says, dropping an armful of oranges into the bowl.
“Sure. Because you’re the superstitious type.”
Jasper gives me a look, then nods at the reading room. “Come on.”
In the reading room, Senior and Juliet have almost finished their scrabble game. We take a seat on an armchair each and watch as Senior wins.
“You win every time,” Juliet complains.
“I’ve been speaking the English language for almost fifty years more than you, Juliet,” Senior says. “Round two?”
This time Jasper and I join in, and it’s fun. I’ve played once or twice with Senior before, but Juliet and Jasper are competitive as hell and suddenly the game feels like war. I don’t think I’ve laughed so much in a long time.
“Damn it,” Jasper says, looking at the letters he’s pulled out of the bag. “I’d be winning if I didn’t have such crappy luck.”
“Sure, sure,” I say.
He shoots me an annoyed look that’s mixed with some heat from before, and I give him a lazy smile in return. I wish I could take him to my room and finish what we started in the kitchen, but playing this is a good second choice.
Senior wins again, though I come second and Jasper gives me a dirty look. Juliet and Senior decide to take a break from board games and disappear into the kitchen to make some tea.
“Want to play again?” I ask Jasper.
“Let’s play something else,” he says. “Catan?”
“Sure.” I grin with my teeth.
We set up the game and Senior and Juliet return from the kitchen with a cup of chamomile tea each. They take a seat in their armchairs and occasionally comment on the game, but mostly talk amongst themselves about work and politics.
“Damn it,” Jasper says. “Damn it, damn it, damn it.” He’s holding his cards, staring at the board as if a solution will appear in front of him.
I chuckle, knowing I’ve got him backed into a corner.
“How are you so good?” he asks.
“I played a lot with my dad when I was a kid,” I say, waiting for him to make a move. I should win in the next three rounds.
“You could have mentioned that. The next time I see you, we’re playing Monopoly. I’ll beat your ass in that.” Jasper makes his move.
I put down a game piece that traps him.
We finish the game soon after. I win, of course, but pretend to be a good sport because I know that’ll piss Jasper off more. “Maybe next time,” I say. “Good game.”
“I hate you, Kieran.”
While we pack up the game, Senior and Juliet leave for the garage to find old family photos. “Come find us once you're done,” Juliet says.
Jasper pretends to retch. “No, thanks.”
“I don’t know,” I say once they’ve gone. “It’d be funny to see pictures of you as a kid.”
He pushes my shoulder. “I’m still annoyed.”
