Page 27 of Wolves & Watercolors
“Cedar! Come here, I need you for the second game!” Marigold calls. Our eye contact breaks as he pushes off the wall and stalks toward the gamemaster. “Someone go get Onyx!”
Sighing, I reach for my plate to refill my snacks. It’s time for some chocolate. Reaching for a strawberry, I pause. A tendril from the closest flower curls over the plate of strawberries. Why didn’t Marigold trim this? I unfurl the tiny vine and wrap it around the bud vase until it’s safely away from the food.
“Ready for Pregnant Twister!” I can’t help but laugh at her second game. As Marigold lays out the floor mat covered in rainbow spots, I sidle up to my sister and sit on the sofa nearest her chair.
“How are you doing, Haze?”
“Good! Ready to heckle the shit out of these boys.” We watch the line of four men walk out with balloons under their shirts. Hazel lets out a “Whoop!” and Slate gives her a flat look.
“Alright guys, normal rules, but you gotta protect your baby belly or you’re out!” Marigold cackles and presents the spinner to Hazel.
“Slate, you’re first!” Hazel flicks the arrow. “Get your right leg on Blue!”
A disgruntled Slate steps onto the mat and plants his right foot on a cyan circle.
“Jasper, right leg on Yellow, please,” Hazel calls. He complies. “Cedar, right leg on green!”
It’s not until she starts calling out hands that things get interesting. Slate crouches first, reaching one arm across the mat. Seconds later, Onyx folds over him so his balloon belly presses into the back of Slate’s bowed head.
“Having fun, darling?” Hazel calls out. He lets out a grunt of indignation.
A few more spins and Cedar’s butt hovers inches from Jasper’s face. I almost choke on my strawberry thinking of yesterday’s hike. At least his pants are clean now.
Onyx is the first to fall. He wiggles his ass in Slate’s face and Slate gives him a shove. “Foul!” he hollers, crab walking off the mat.
“Sorry, babe,” Ember says from her spot beside Marigold.
“Don’t be so annoying next time,” Slate mutters.
Jasper is next when he tries to reach between his own legs for his assigned color and tips forward. He flings his arm out but can’t prevent himself from face planting across the rainbow dots and ramming into Cedar’s shin. Cedar balances precariously with one leg crossing the other, and when Jasper bumps him, he topples over too.
Both boys laugh and I’m entranced. Hazel cheers for Slate, her face flushed and excited. He straightens and one of those heart-melting smiles crosses his face. Marigold holds up his hand in victory before he marches straight to Hazel and kisses her soundly. I have to look away and my gaze strays to Cedar. He stands in the kitchen, eyes already on me. His face is that unreadable calm that drives me crazy.
With a mental groan, I head his way. I hate apologizing, but it feels worse not to. For someone who picks fights constantly, I don’t handle conflict well.
“I wanted to spend time with you,” Cedar blurts before I can apologize. The ball of anxiety in my chest starts to unfurl.
As I draw closer, I reach for him to pat his arm reassuringly. “I know. I’m sorry, I’m a little touchy about being a burden. I shouldn't have gotten upset like that.”
“It’s okay,” he says. My hand rests on his forearm and it feels too heavy to lift, or maybe he has more gravity than he should. His throat works as he swallows and my eyes follow the file of his throat and across his shoulders. Finally, I tear myself away and turn back to the party where Hazel holds court with the rest of her guests.
“Have fun with the game?” I ask, peeking over my shoulder at him.
“Oh, it was a blast. I think I want to play every future game with a balloon stuffed under my shirt,” he says. I giggle at his dry sarcasm. A warm hand rests on the small of my back, sending tingles up and down my spine.
“I’d like to see that. You could even garden with a balloon baby.”
He laughs. The sound is rough, like it doesn’t get a lot of use. I love cracking that serious outer shell.
“Thank you everyone for coming,” Hazel says, standing. “We have one more activity.”
Marigold’s eyes widen. It seems Hazel has kept at least one secret from her bubbly best friend.
“I’ve prepared a scavenger hunt and the winning team will learn the baby name we picked. And they can keep that information to themselves or share it.”
I tense, competition gripping me. I have to be the first to know.
“Form three teams of four people each and then come get the first clue.” She waves a trio of small cards above her head.
