Page 16 of The Goat in the Bedroom
Bridger continued, “This is our last game night as a complete family unit. After tonight, we're scattered across the country for the first time since... well, ever.”
The room went quiet in that way that only happened when Gryff's father shifted into Coach Dad Mode. I'd witnessed this phenomenon dozens of times, but it never failed to amaze me how quickly eight incredibly strong-willed people plus a few of their partners and tonight, even their aunts and grandparents,could turn into attentive team players when Bridger Kingman got serious.
“So tonight,” Bridger continued, “we're going to play games, we're going to argue about the rules, someone's going to accuse someone else of cheating, and we're going to remember why we love each other even when we want to throw Monopoly money at each other's heads.”
“Dibs on being the banker,” Isak called out immediately.
“Absolutely not,” Jules shot back. “You can't be trusted with other people's money.”
“I'll remind you I turned that twenty bucks you gave me into two thousand, brat.”
“Yeah, but you spent it on your... new toy.” She definitely caught herself before she revealed whatever that new toy had been.
Isak narrowed his eyes at Jules, but grinned. “I did. But I gave you the twenty bucks back, didn't I?”
And just like that, the cozy, comfortable chaos resumed. I smiled to myself over the family devolving into their traditional pregame arguments. No matter how heated the arguments got, everyone would still be family at the end of the night.
Gryff said, nudged my shoulder. “You're thinking too hard about something.”
He studied my face with that particular brand of Gryff attention that made me feel like he could see right through my carefully constructed walls.
He wasn't wrong.
In a few weeks, we'd be moving across the country to start our adult lives. It was life. Old friends were left behind and new friends would be made. This was how it worked.
For the first time in forever, I couldn't imagine starting over somewhere else again. “Just thinking about how much I'm going to miss this.”
“It’s not like you're not losing this, or us even.” Gryff frowned like I was on a ridiculous amount of crack. “Distance doesn't change family.”
It had changed mine.
Jules had created an elaborate tournament bracket, and the games began in earnest. The night didn’t really begin until there was at least one threat to flip the table. Usually from Declan.
It was a hoot to watch how all the couples navigated the competition together. They supported and cheered for the other, even while trying to destroy each other at board games.
Two hours later, Jules was maintaining her lead with her Aunt June through what appeared to be strategic brilliance and psychological manipulation.
“Final game,” Jules announced as we cleared the table. “Winner takes all.”
She pulled out the lucky pillow from behind her back and lifted it over her head. All the boys gasped, and there were definitely a couple boos and jeers of her being a cheater.
“When the hell did you sneak that out from under my butt?” Penny stood up and looked at her chair in shock.
“When Everett distracted you with cookies and really sloppy and disgusting kisses.”
Penny turned to him and glared like he'd done it on purpose. But he lifted his hands, declaring his innocence. “She tricked me by saying you looked like you needed a treat. How was I supposed to not kiss you when I delivered said treat?”
The green embroidered throw pillow that said “In this house, we bleed green” in their mother April's careful stitching had been dubbed the lucky pillow long before I ever played a game with them. It was worn and loved and had so much love and family history attached to it.
“That's a fair and square pillow snatch,” Nana Evie declared. No one was going to argue with her.
The final game was a deceptively simple card game called Bluff. Perfect for the sneakiest of Kingmans, which was every single one of them. It was the usual destruction of family relationships through strategic cheating, and more fun than any card game should ever be. Jules won decisively, claiming power of the lucky pillow and bragging rights for life.
“Before we pack it up,” Bridger said, “I've got a present for my kids.”
The room went quiet again, that particular quiet that meant something important was happening.
“This family,” Bridger continued, his voice carrying that slight roughness that meant he was fighting emotion, “has been through a lot together. We've celebrated victories and weathered losses. We've supported each other through everything from broken bones to broken hearts. And through it all, we've had each other.”
