Page 67 of Hang the Moon
“Reliable public transportation if you don’t want to drive,” Elle chimed in.
Margot nodded. “Totally. We’ve got an awesome arts scene. Stellar music venues. Diverse communities. Super queer friendly.”
“We’ve got mountainsandwater,” Elle said. “And if you’re willing to go for a drive, we’ve got a rain forest to the west and a desert to the east. All in one state. Plus, great day trips.”
“Right? We’ve got Leavenworth, which is this quaint little Bavarian-style town that turns into Santa’s village come winter. And Portland’s only a couple of hours away.”
“What more could you want?” Elle grinned.
Annie bit the inside of her cheek, trying not to laugh. “What more, indeed?”
“Washington has no state income tax,” Darcy added, aiming for nonchalance and missing by a mile.
Annie shook her head, chuckling softly. “Why does this feel like an intervention?”
Darcy shrugged. “Not an intervention. Just facts. Do with them what you will.”
Brendon cleared his throat. “As much as I’m sure Annie appreciates these selling points, maybe we should give her some time to, I don’t know, digest them?” He shrugged. “Besides, it’s game night.”
Annie was both touched and overwhelmed by everyone’s trying to sell her on their city. The logical part of her knew Darcy had put them up to it, but still. It was nice to feel wanted, something she hadn’t felt in... too long.
But it was a lot to take in at once. Annie jostled Brendon lightly with her arm, staring up at him with a grateful smile. He squeezed her knee, his palm warm against the skin left bare by her shorts.
“Whose turn is it to pick?” Darcy asked.
“Pick?” Annie wondered aloud, still overly aware of Brendon’s hand on her thigh. “Pick what?”
Elle worked a bright blue hair tie off her wrist, wrapping it around Darcy’s new braid. “House rule. Winner of the last game night picks what game we play.Butit can’t be whatever game or games they won. Because that wouldn’t be fair.”
Brendon and Darcy shared a look, lips curving in twin smirks at the wordfair.
“That would be me,” Margot said, cracking her knuckles. “I won Jenga, remember?”
“How could I forget?” Darcy mumbled, shivering at the memory it must’ve evoked.
“True.Orwe could let Annie choose,” Elle suggested. “You know, since this is her first game night.”
First and only, but Annie didn’t correct her.
Margot deliberated for a minute, lips pursed and eyes narrowed behind her lenses. “All right. But choose wisely. I’ll judge you if you pick something stupid like Candy Land.”
“Hey! I love Candy Land,” Elle argued. “Who here can say theydon’thave a little bit of a crush on Queen Frostine?”
Everyone stared at her.
“Fine, no Candy Land.” Elle sank back into the couch, pouting.
Annie surveyed the boxes of board games stacked on the table. They had everything from Battleship to Cranium to Settlers of Catan, and even a game called Exploding Kittens. If this was a test, she wanted to pass, but she also didn’t want to risk life and limb, knowing how competitive Darcy and Brendon could get. “How about Scruples?”
That sounded low risk.
Margot grinned. “I like you.”
Darcy shook her head. “We should finish with Scruples. I need more wine before I play that game.”
Elle laughed. “Charades first?”
“Fine.” Darcy dropped her head back against Elle’s thigh. “But we have to pick new teams.”
