He tries to snatch it back off me, but I roll the ball around my back and hold it there, wriggling as he slips his arms around me, twisting to hunch over it, clasping it to my belly as tight as I can. I can feel the heat of his chest against my back, his big hands working at mine as he tries to prize my fingers loose. He laughs into my ear and my belly flip-flops. Just as my pulse starts to race, Lewis’s voice shatters the moment.
“What the hell is goingonhere?”
I jerk my head up. Lane and Lois are right there behind him.
As Donovan releases me and steps away, I line up my shot.
Two more points!Suck it!
I grin at him. “I win.”
“Carrie, those are some serious pro moves.” Lewis claps.
“She’s a Wolinski, dude. It’s all in the name.”
Donovan holds up his hands and I high-five him without thinking.
Lewis’s mouth falls open. “A Wolinski? I didn’t get the invite, guys! You went to Vegas without me?”
“Oh my God, no!” Donovan squeals. “Vegas weddings are, like,solast century!”
I flash him a thumbs-up. “They really, really are. You just earned yourself another five points.”
Donovan turns back to Lewis. “We did a hand-binding in the woods, instead. You should’ve seen the naked full-moon lentil ritual.” He clasps his hands over his chest. “It was magical—just magical.”
“Don—”
“Guys, meet my wife.”
I shoot the ball at his dumb face, and this time I don’t miss.
“Hey, that hurt!” He rubs his cheek. “Don’t tell me we’re divorcing already…”
“My lawyers will be in touch.”
“When you have a kid, I dibs godfather duty,” Lewis pipes up.
I sigh. “We just happen to have the same last name, that’s all.”
“Two Wolinskis, though? That’s insane. It’s gotta be a sign.”
“He’s right.” Donovan nods. “It’s a message from the gods. Don’t fight it,baby.”
I send a dirty look his way. “We regret to inform you that a further ten points have been deducted from your balance. What did I say about the whole ‘baby’ thing?” I turn my attention to Lewis. “And as foryou, buddy—your theory doesn’t stack up. People with the same last name are definitely not supposed to get together. It’s probably illegal.”
“You have to admit, though, we’ve got some weird voodoo shit going on here.” Lewis circles the air. “First the whole Lois Lane situation, and now two Wolinskis. I mean, fuck!” His eyes widen. “I’m gonna need to find me a girl with a cool name, too.”
“How about a Hamilton?” Lane grins into Lois’s hair.
“That’s a dude’s name!”
We break into laughter. Lois untangles herself from Lane and leans into me.
“Lane and Carter are heading out tonight, so me and Becca were thinking we’d have a sushi night. Wanna join?”
My knee-jerk reaction is to say thanks, but no thanks—outside my book club, I try to avoid hanging out with people, because friends are like guys—sometimes you get too close and end up hurt. Then I remember that I need to check in with my mom tonight, and that’s always a downer. I could do with a few hours outside my own head.
“Sounds great.”
