Anyone else who still cares nods, accepting the judgment, while others amble over to the table to refill their drinks, energized after the game.
“Um, no, it was not a draw,” I maintain stubbornly, folding my arms. “I was in and Ryan knows it; he just can’t admit that he lost to me.”
“I would happily admit if I did lose fair and square, but I didn’t,” he says. “You know I got you out. I reached that jumper before you did.”
“Oh, come off it, Ryan!” I sigh impatiently. “You just can’t accept that I beat you.”
“It’s not about you, this is a team game,” he says, rolling his eyes. Mimi and Katya share a look before mutually agreeing to leave us to it, wandering away to join everyone else round thetable. “Your team didn’t get that final rounder because I got you out.”
“You know, losing does not make you a loser. But lying does.”
He doesn’t look impressed. “Spouting inspirational quotes at me won’t make me give in and pretend that you won. You need to stop thinking about this personally.”
“How am I thinking about this personally, Ryan?”
“Maybe because I’m the one who got you out, you’re refusing to accept it,” he says and my face flushes with heat.
“I’m refusing becauseit didn’t happen,” I affirm. “God, you’re annoying. You really think that—”
“Wait, Harper—”
“No, don’t interrupt. I’ll have you know that I am a very fair and reasonable person, and there is no way that just because it’syouwho happened to be the person to attempt to get me out—”
“Harper, if you—”
“It’s genuinely insulting that you think I would lie about winning simply to get one up on you personally. I know we don’t—”
“Harper… cake!” he cries in exasperation.
I blink at him.
“They’ve brought the cake out and they’re singing ‘Happy Birthday,’” he explains, pointing over at the table. “I’d be very happy to stand here listening to you rant afterward, but we should probably go join in.”
“Oh. Right. Yeah.”
We hurry over to the rest of the group, who are singing while Katya holds up a chocolate cake with one lit candle on the top. Ryan and I manage to join in on the last line and dutifully clap when Mimi blows out the candle.
“Time to set up for beer pong!” Katya announces. “The tournament will resume in ten minutes.”
I stand awkwardly next to Ryan, wondering if it’s appropriate to go back to our disagreement. He knows deep down that I’mthe victor here, and that’s really all that matters. He’s just lied to save face, whereas I can hold my head up high and—
“Why do you look so pleased with yourself?” he asks me suddenly.
I glance up to see he’s watching me intently with a bemused expression.
“I was thinking that there’s no point in arguing over the rounders game.”
“I agree. Would you like a drink?”
“Sorry?”
“I brought some gin along. I was going to make myself a gin and tonic. Would you like one?”
“Oh. Yes, please. Thanks.”
I follow him as he grabs a couple of cups and fills them with ice from one of the cooler boxes before looking round for the bottle of gin.
“Was it bad news?” he asks, locating the gin and splashing it into the cups.
