Page 59 of The Penalty

“No, you’re our guest. I think you should pick. Come on.”

Blake is eyeing him curiously. “We pulled out a handful to choose from. Because I know you girls. If we don’t at least narrow it down, we’ll spend the rest of the night debating the merits of Scrabble versus poker and end up playing nothing. Check it out. You each get one veto.”

We make our way into the living room.

“I am absolutely not playing CAH while sober. Then you’ll know what a terrible person I really am. At least under the influence, I can blame the alcohol,” Georgia says.

“Fair. But I’m pretty sure we all know what a terrible person you really are, G.”

“Maybe, but Dev here still thinks I’m the angelic southern belle I pretend to be.”

That earns a short bark of a laugh from my guy, and I squeeze his hand.

“Risk is a hell no for me. Blake gets way too competitive, and I don’t want to be stuck at the same game all night. Dev?”

He grunts.

“What’s your veto?”

“Oh, I don’t...”

“Yes,” Anna says. “We all get one veto. You’re one of us now, so pick your no go. Then we can choose one and get dinner started. I’m famished. I’ve been saving up room for this meal all day.”

Our weekly Friday night roommate dinners have turned into something of a tradition. It’s nice. We all cook together and play games. The kind of family I always wish I had. Beau and I did things together as kids, but more often than not, he was at hockey practice or games, and our parents were hardly ever around. I can’t even fathom the thought of them playing a game of Monopoly with us. And if they weren’t out for dinner, our cook was making something too fancy for our childish tastes. What kid wants to eat quail with all the bones and blackened Brussels sprouts? Not me. That’s for sure.

Anna’s plea gets him to admit his preference. “I don’t really like Charades. Not much of an actor.”

Georgia grabs the Charades cards and tosses them toward the closet. “Beautiful. Anna and Blake know each other too well, anyway. It’s like they can read each other’s minds. Not exactly a fair competition. What’s it going to be then, puck boy?” She lifts a brow at him, brushing a stray curl behind her shoulder.

He turns to me. “Your pick tonight. Choose wisely. Those feral creatures might not give you another chance. First time privilege.”

“I kind of like Catan.”

“Yes,” Blake says. “Good choice. Anna, want to get it set up with the extension while the pros get dinner started?”

She nods, scooping up the rest of the games to stow in the closet, and the rest of us head to the kitchen for dinner prep.

Dev leans in closer, lips brushing my ear. “How are Rogue and Gambit doing?”

My insides get all warm and fuzzy at his concern for my pets. The pets he was terrified of the first time he saw them.

“They’re doing so much better. Do you want to go say hi?”

He hesitates. “Sure.”

“Amazing. Come on.”

I was a little suspicious that he was only doing this to get me alone, but instead of pulling me in for a kiss like I thought he would, he scoots over to the cages, bending down to peer in.

“Hey, guys. You doing good?” Rogue looks up, twitching her nose, and Gambit ambles over to sniff his finger.

The squeal that comes out of him is more suited to a sorority girl than a big tough hockey enforcer. He pulls away, then reaches out again to boop the twitchy nose.

“They like you.” Loki is weaving around in circles, giving me an affronted look. Such a diva. He really takes after his namesake, expecting immediate attention as soon as I walk through the door. He inches up to me when I go over. “Sorry boy. I’d normally let you out, but we’ve got company.”

“It’s okay.” Dev’s voice is so quiet, I think maybe I misunderstood him.

“What?”

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