“Anyway,” Jasper says. “Our transportation can’t be the most entertaining thing you’ve got going on. What are we doing tonight?”
“Game night, but first…” Luca stands, then walks toward me and Theo. “Jasper, this is Theo, and obviously, you know Hunter.”
“Nice to see you again, man,” I say, nodding my head.
Jasper nods. “Likewise. Theo.” He holds his hand out, and Theo shakes it. “Really nice to meet you.”
“We’ve seen each other at the diner a few times, but Arlo usually takes care of you.”
Jasper’s eyes twinkle. “He sure does.”
How in the world is no one else seeing this? I glance around, and Luca’s eyebrows are at his hairline as he stares at Austin. Okay, so I guess they do.
“Anyway,” Luca says. “Monopoly.”
Arlo and Theo both laugh while Jasper groans, and him laughing with his friend and coworker makes my heart so happy it could nearly burst.
“Called it.” Luca points at us. “Didn’t I call it? Hates monopoly.”
Austin gives Luca an indulgent smile and pulls him against his side. “You, baby, are a menace.” He drops a kiss to Luca’s forehead, then turns. “Okay. Everyone, gather around. Game time.”
All of us make our way to the small coffee table in the middle of the room. When we sit down, Theo practically plasters himself to my side, so I wrap my arm around him and pull him in a little tighter.
Humming, he sinks his weight into me. “I wanna be the top hat.”
A second later, Luca places the top hat on the table in front of Theo.
“If all of you take my money, I’m going home,” Jasper says, which makes everyone in the room laugh.
Arlo taps Theo on the arm. “If he leaves, do you wanna give me a ride?”
Theo grins. “Definitely.”
We all settle in as Luca sets up the board and starts counting out everyone’s money.
“Who’s the banker?” I ask.
Luca passes me my one-dollar Monopoly bills. “Me.”
Oh, great. He’s probably gonna cheat at this too. Figures.
Threehourslater,Jasperlets out a whoop after we’ve all counted our money. “I won. Holy shit. I actually fucking won!”
Theo laughs, and Luca glares at him. “Yeah, yeah, rub it in.”
“So, let me get this right,” Arlo says, dragging out the i in the word right. I know I’ve got an accent, but his is something else. “You hate this game when you’re losing, but when you win, you like it?”
“Isn’t that the natural order of things?” Austin asks, chuckling. “Never met a loser more sore than Jasper.”
Jasper rolls his eyes. “You take that back right now.”
“Can’t,” Austin says, “if it’s the truth, you know?”
“To answer your question,” Jasper says, turning to Arlo. “Yeah, that’s right.”
Arlo smiles up at him, then rolls his eyes. Looking back at the group, he drums his fingers on his legs. “I’m ready to head home. I didn’t sleep well last night.”
“Are you okay?” Theo asks.
