"Dante." Liam paused. "Are you writing tasks that sound like other people?"
Dante's mouth curved. "Perhaps."
"Oh my god," Caleb said. "You've been framing people this whole time."
"Prove it." Dante sat there, quietly pleased, while everyone accused each other and laughed and rebuilt the tower when it fell again.
April noticed she wasn't at the edge anymore. She couldn't pinpoint when it had happened. Mateo's shoulder pressed against hers. Jiro's hand rested near her ankle. Killian was close enough that she could feel his warmth. When she glancedaround the circle, everyone had angled themselves to see her better.
The tower grew taller. More unstable. Tasks got sillier, touchier, warmer. Someone fed her a grape. Someone else braided a small section of her hair. Caleb performed an entire Shakespearean monologue about Jenga block selection.
Don Dante checked his watch.
No one commented, but the gesture registered.
Arthur stepped in, "last round, final blocks. Category: house rules."
Everyone reached for fresh blocks.
April looked at the blank wood in her hand.
Tonight,she'd been telling herself all evening.Just let yourself have tonight.This was the fever dream. Tomorrow was the thermometer reading normal again.
But someone had made her laugh. Someone had adjusted her position for comfort. Someone had hummed when she pulled a block. Someone had watched her with eyes that made her feel seen instead of surveyed.
And the tower was still standing.
She pressed Sharpie to wood and wrote one word.
Stay.
Not a task. Not a rule. Not anything that fit Arthur's category. Just the thing she wanted most and believed least.
She added the block to the tower, not buried, not hidden. Right there where someone could pull it. Where someone might read it aloud. Where they might guess and look at her and understand.
The game continued. Blocks came out. Tasks got executed. Laughter rolled through the room.
Her block stayed in the tower.
Another round. More blocks added, more blocks pulled.
Her block stayed.
Someone’s hand touched her shoulder, steady. Someone else tucked her hair behind her ear. It was probably a task. She’d lost track. She felt herself start to fold in. Like if she let the wanting sit too long, it would become something she’d have to admit.
"April."
Jiro's voice, quiet beside her.
She looked at him.
His eyes tracked her face with that careful attention. "You good?"
Her fingers tightened briefly on the edge of the table. She wasn't sure how to explain that she was fine and overwhelmed and desperately wishing someone would pull one specific block and terrified they might actually do it.
"Movie?" Liam suggested from across the circle, his voice casual but his eyes on her. "We could just... watch something."
The group shifted immediately. Bodies unfolded from the floor. Someone grabbed blankets. Mateo appeared with more water.
