"Come on," I say, and before anyone can redirect me, I guide them toward the food.
Ragon watches me walk away, mouth tightening.
We gather around the dining table with cards, bowls of snacks, plates of cookies.
I take the chair between Alex and Malcolm. Finn plops down across from us. Eli sits near the end, flanked by Jasper and Drake. Marie claims the seat on the arm of Ragon's chair until he pulls another chair close.
The first round is chaotic. Finn can't remember if we're playing rummy or some hybrid game he invented. Malcolm keeps forgetting to discard. Alex quietly arranges his hand with ruthless efficiency.
I laugh once—actually laugh—when Finn dramatically flops over the table after losing.
The sound startles me. It startles everyone.
Drake looks over, eyes wide.
Eli's fingers twitch. Jasper's mouth softens.
Ragon goes still.
Marie stiffens, scent tightening with instinctive alarm.
"Your laugh is nice," Finn says, beaming. "You should do it more."
"Work on your material," I reply, and he clutches his chest in mock offense.
Alex's gaze flicks between us. "Are you enjoying yourself?" he asks quietly.
"Yes. I am."
His shoulders ease. "Good."
Across the table, Ragon's eyes darken.
His scent shifts: smoke and pine and the brittle edge of someone whose territory feels threatened.
Malcolm wins a hand and crows. We swap partners. I end up teamed with Malcolm, who leans in conspiratorially. "If we lose, we blame it on Finn's basil. If we win, we take full credit. Deal?"
"Deal," I say, smiling again.
Ragon's fingers flex on the arm of his chair.
Marie, noticing where his attention is going, ups her performance, leaning into him, stroking his jaw, whispering against his ear. He gives absent responses. His eyes keep straying back to me.
Not heated or fond.
Puzzled. Irritated. Uneasy.
He's watching me be okay without him.
He doesn't like it.
When Finn switches seats, he taps my knee gently under the table. "Hey. Thanks for coming. I know you could've hidden in your room."
"I don't forget card night. It's loud."
"And tonight?"
"Still loud." But the edges are softer.
