“Hey, if I win the tournament, everyone is out.”
This is how it always goes when we play video games together. We take turns competing against one another until there’s a winner. Usually, everyone has to buy them drinks that night, but we never actually follow through.
Mainly because Noah and Graham duck out early, and Marcus never comes out because he wants to call his family.
Which, now that I have my own son at home, I can’t blame him. I’d rather stay in than go out and celebrate a win.
“See if you can do better.” Dax pops up, mumbling about an unfair loss and hands me the remote.
“Oh, I will.” I give him a cocky smile.
Because now that I’m in control of the game, I plan on winning so I can go to bed. Like I wanted to before these guys came to interrupt my plans for the evening.
Marcus grabs the controller from Graham and the two of us take our starting positions. It’s a game I’ve played too many times to count. I could play it in my sleep. We learned early on that we can never play hockey games because we got into a fight and Dax nearly got his nose punched in.
Hockey players aren’t competitive at all.
I take an easy lead, Marcus not putting much effort into his lap at all. Knowing him, he knows if he gets out of here sooner, he can go call Harper.
“You have to at least try, you dickhead.” Noah punches Marcus in the arm.
“I am!” he defends. “It’s not my fault I’m terrible at this.”
I roll my eyes at him. “You’re not terrible. You just don’t want to be playing.”
Marcus leans back onto the bed, dropping onto his elbows. “You’re right, I don’t. Can’t we just say Bode wins and all go to bed?”
“Seriously, you are a grump,” Graham tells him.
“Not a grump,” Marcus corrects. “I have a very hot wife waiting up for me, and I’d rather see her than your ugly mugs.”
“Ouch.” Dax feigns hurt. “It’s like you don’t love us.”
“More like I love my wife more.”
“Get out of here.” Jasper smacks him on the back of the head. “I’ll take over for you.”
“Don’t have to tell me twice.” Marcus flies off the bed like a bat out of hell. We can’t get a word in before the door is closing behind him.
“Damn. Apparently he misses her,” Noah points out.
“It’s not like everyone travels with their partner,” Graham tells him.
Noah gives Graham a chaste kiss. “Aren’t we lucky?”
“Is everyone in love?” Dax whines.
“Technically it’s only those two.” Jasper doesn’t look at us as he easily takes the lead from me.
Shit. I really need to be paying better attention. If I win, I’m definitely kicking these guys out. But because I want to go to sleep, of course it takes another hour for me to finally claim victory. It’s easy to enjoy the night with these guys because they’re like family, but right now they’re a very annoying family that doesn’t want to take the hint and leave.
“Alright. I’m kicking you guys out,” I tell all of them.
“Ugh, fine,” Noah groans. “I’ll take Graham on when we get back to our room.”
“How do you still want to play?” I hold the door open for them, not letting anyone linger.
“We’d invite Dax with us, but he’s looking exhausted too,” Noah says as he pulls the door shut behind him. Dax is already asleep, hand resting on his stomach.
