Page 72 of Clumsy in Love

“We’re crushed you don’t trust us,” Steph said, laying a hand over her heart.

He downed his beer. “I have a feeling I’m gonna need a few of these to get through the night.”

Cole’s dad grilled burgers, and his mom made macaroni salad and brownies. After dinner, they gathered on the porch around the patio table. Cole hoped they’d forget about the whole game night thing but no such luck.

Without any input, his parents declared themselves a team, and his sisters did the same, leaving him and Holly together by default. She scooted closer, and her thigh touched his under the table. It was innocent enough, not overt in any way, but his parents’ comments still rattled around in his head and made him overly sensitive to her touch. Darn their stupid hot takes. He jerked his leg away as though he’d been branded, and she shot him a sideways glance.

“Everyone knows the rules, right?” Steph asked. “Gotta get your partner to say the word at the top of the cardwithoutusing any of the other words on the card.”

“I’ve never played this,” Cole said. “How ’bout I just watch?”

“No,” Tracy said. “We have to have an even number. Holly, have you played?”

“A long time ago,” Holly said. “It’ll come back to me.”

“Here, you guys each try one then. As practice.” Steph handed Cole a card. The phrase was “working girl.” He turned to Holly.

“Um, I don’t know. What I was doing when we met.”

“Frowning. Brooding. Pouting.”

His sisters laughed as he stared Holly down. “Be serious, or I’ll get a new partner.” He scowled.

“Fine. Interviewing. Investigating. Bossing people around.”

He made a circular motion with his hand to indicate she was on the right track.

“Working,” she said finally.

“Yes. Second word, a young female.”

“Girl. Working girl.”

“Boom,” he said.

“Okay,” Tracy said. “Your turn, Holly. You guys gotta go faster though. There’s a timer too, and you’re trying to get as many right as you can in the allotted time.”

Holly looked at her card. “Something I do often.”

“Fall. Stumble. Trip. Drip food. Get lost. Chase bears.”

She narrowed her eyes at him.

“Not so funny, is it?” he said, biting his tongue not to laugh at her expression. Whatdidshe do often? “Eat.”

“Yes! Now pair that with a preposition.”

“Eat out?”

“Good job.” She pumped a fist in the air.

“I feel like this game is easier when you know your partner,” Cole said. “How are we supposed to win when you two have beenmarried thirty-five years, and you guys have shared a room since birth?”

“Quit whining,” Steph said. “You’ll be fine.”

He and Holly held their own, and, after a few rounds, were in second place. They came to the final go-round, and Cole was guessing.

“I am…” Holly said.

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