Page 96 of Ripped & Shipped
“I know you do. And I think you know it too.”
Chris stares at me. I stare back. These stare-offs used to be more contentious. Now, they’re more like a silent conversation. We’ve got this hard-earned ease between us.
How’d we even get here?
I chuckle to myself.
“So, will you go with me?”
“Yeah. I’ll go. Despite my better judgment, I’ll go. It’s the least I can do for you after all you’ve done for me.”
“You don’t have to go. I just thought it would be a good way to make what we’re doing look legit.”
“It’ll be fun. I haven’t been out of Bordeaux in a while. Not unless you count my two trips to Columbus for work.”
“I don’t count those. You deserve a weekend away.”
I smile over at him. He smiles back.
I know Chris is about to leave. There’s no reason for him to hang out. I’m trying to think of things that might keep him here, which is ridiculous. The man obviously has a life. He’s doing me a favor—one that’s getting more and more out of control each day.
“Do you want to stick around and watch a movie?”
His brows draw together.
“I mean, you probably don’t want to. And I know you’ve got things to do, obviously. I just thought if you wanted to. But obviously you have friends, and work, and probably hobbies. No worries. Thanks for coming by to tell me about Mabel. And to ask me to the reception. I’ll see you in a few days to film more content.”
“Ella Mae?”
“Yeah?”
“I’d love to. But isn’t this your unplugged night?”
“It is, but a movie sounded better than a rousing game of Monopoly.”
“I guess it does, considering I’d take you down in Monopoly.”
“You tell yourself that, Soldier. But I’m the queen of Monopoly. You’d walk out with your head hung low. And that’s no way to end a night between friends.”
“Is that what we are?”
“I’d like to think so.”
“Yeah, Okay. We’re friends. Now, show me where you keep that Monopoly board.”
“You are going to regret this, Soldier, because you are going down in a blazing ball of loser shame.”
He chuckles as I walk to the cabinet where Meg and I keep our inner-nerd supplies: Chess, Monopoly, RummiKub, and a whole bunch of jigsaw puzzles.
I look at him before opening the cabinet door. “You may never, and I mean never, repeat what you are about to see here to anyone. This is classified. Capiche?”
He chuckles and then he holds up his left hand as if he’s taking an oath. “Your secret’s safe with me.”
“It would ruin me if people found out someone who is supposedly superficial actually geeks out over board games.”
“I won’t tarnish your bad reputation.”
He’s got that smile. I’m appreciating it—as a friend. I wonder if friends are allowed to rub their friends’ beards, just a teensie weensie bit. Not anything crazy. Just a little stroke or two. I bet it’s softer with that oil Laura put in there today.
