“A chance to beat Miles? I’m in.” Nora sits up straighter in her chair.
I give her a quick rundown of the rules. “And if you think someone’s lying, you call BS.”
“Why BS,” she asks, eyebrows lifting, “when the name of the game is bullshit?”
“You can call it that. Or you can say BS.”
“But what’s it actually called?”
“Bullshit.”
Nora mock-gasps, then grins. “You swore.”
“No,” I say. “It’s the name of the game.”
Mallory points the deck of cards at me. “I think that’s the first time I’ve ever heard him say the full name.” Everyone around the table nods in agreement.
Nora turns to me, curious now. “So why don’t you swear?”
“I prefer a more articulate vocabulary.”
“So it’s not a religious thing or anything?”
“No. I just think there’s rarely an appropriate time for that kind of language.”
She smiles slowly. “Unless we’re playing this card game. What’s it called again?”
“Bullshit.”
“I’m going to like this,” she says, rubbing her hands together.
Melanie leans toward Nora. “Fair warning, Miles is the human lie detector of this family. He wins every time.”
“That’s not—” I start.
“It is,” she insists, pointing an accusing finger at me. “He always knows when people are bluffing, something about micro-expressions, tone shifts, or whatever. Honestly, instead of flying drones, he should’ve joined the FBI.”
From beside me, Nora turns her head slowly, the corner of her mouth lifting. “Is that so?”
My throat goes dry. “I mean… I notice things.”
She hums. “Interesting. Good thing I have an expert poker face.”
Melanie grins. “If anyone can take him down, it has to be his girlfriend.” She deals the cards. Nora tilts her cards away from me immediately, smirking as if she’s already plotting my downfall.
The first round passes with everyone playing it safe. Then it circles back to Ben. He drops two cards into the middle. “Two aces.”
Randy squints at him. “You don’t have two aces.”
Ben leans back. “Prove it.”
Melanie laughs. “Bullshit?”
Ben glares at his wife. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”
Melanie flips the pile, revealing a four and a seven. Everyone around the table erupts into laughter.
Ben sighs dramatically and scoops up the pile. “My wife hates me.”
