Ashton grabs the orange juice container from the fridge, avoiding the question.
“He runs his own company. It’s pretty boring work, logistics and shipping. They make you guys pack boxes and label stuff. Right?” I’m just making shit up at this point.
“Yeah, boring work,” Ashton agrees rather quickly.
“Are you guys interested in a game this afternoon?” Bristol asks. She doesn’t meet my stare, she’s looking directly at Ashton and then Nova.
“Sure. What kind of game? Are you thinking cards, a board game? We’ve got some video games, too, in the living room,” Nova asks.
Luca heads out of Zeke’s bedroom, carrying the little guy with a fresh change of clothes. He heads into the bathroom, where our washer and dryer are stacked, with the laundry bin and spends a few minutes putting in a load.
We put on a movie and make a bowl of popcorn. Bristol curls up next to me on the couch and I dare admit I like when she puts her head on my shoulder, and I wrap my arms around her.
We skip lunch and order pizza for dinner. No one feels like cooking and the dining hall is a bit of a trek from the house.
“I still can’t believe you like pineapple on pizza.” I make a face at Bristol. “Super gross.”
“It’s not gross!” Nova chimes in, defending her. “It makes the flavor a million times better.”
“A million times more gross,” Ashton quips. “I’m with Liam. Nasty.”
Nova rolls her eyes. “Fine, I won’t kiss you with my pineapple pizza lips.”
“Game night?” Harper asks as she packs up the last of the pizza and puts it in the fridge.
“Sure,” Luca says. “Guest picks the game.” Zeke has fallen asleep on the bean bag chair in the living room, and he picks him up and carries him to bed, putting him down for the night. The little guy must have been tuckered out.
Bristol’s eyes widen. “That’s me?”
I nod. “Take your pick, we’ve got all sorts of games in that cabinet.” I gesture to the living room where there are board games stacked at the bottom and video games piled above it.
She saunters over and looks them thoroughly over. “Rapid Fire Questions?” Bristol asks.
“We don’t have that one,” Harper says.
“It’s not an actual?—”
“I know. I’m kidding.” Harper plops down on the love seat, and Luca steals the spot next to her before anyone else can take it. “How long is each round? Thirty seconds, or a minute?”
Bristol grabs her spot on the sofa, and I’m right next to her.
“Thirty seconds. Who goes first?” I ask.
“Bristol, obviously, since she came up with the game.” Harper gestures at Bristol. She grabs her phone. “I’ve got a timer we can use.”
Ashton heads for the kitchen. “Where are you going?” I ask.
“This would be better as a drinking game,” he mutters and grabs a bottle of wine from the fridge. He unscrews the lid and brings the whole bottle with him.
“Are you planning on sharing that?” Nova stares at him from the floor. “Where are the cups?”
“I thought we could just drink out of the bottle. At least that’s my plan.” Ashton puts the bottle of wine in front of him and sits on the floor, pulling Nova onto his lap.
“You go first,” I remind Bristol.
“Right. Rapid Fire. Seeing as how there’s liquor, for every question someone chooses not to answer, they have to drink.”
“I thought you had to answer the questions. That’s the whole point of rapid fire.” Luca glances at Ashton. “You really don’t need the whole bottle of wine.”
