The boys shift away from my gaze, making noises but not actual words. In front of them are cards, dice, and other tokens. I pick up a card from Milo’s pile and inspect the front and back.
He snatches it from my grasp. “It’s called Draikin Crusades and we’re in the middle of a game.”
I rest a hand on the back of Milo’s chair and pop a hip as I watch the other two boys squirm in my presence. “Well, don’t let me stop you. I need to unwind after my shift and this might be just the entertainment I need.”
Milo’s eyes narrow, scrutinizing to find my intent. “Not buying it. You can go upstairs and play a video game.”
“I’m bored with them.”
Milo divides his cards and places half of them in front of the empty seat beside him. “If you’re sticking around, you have to play.”
Frustrated groans erupt from the other boys.
“But you’re in the middle of a game,” I reply, backing away from Milo.
Milo shrugs. “You play, or you leave.”
“She can’t play,” one of the boys whispers harshly. It’s John Hughes from my math class.
“You’re dividing your army and loot,” the other boy, Ryan, says to Milo. “We’re not giving her anything.”
Milo smirks. “It’s no big deal. I’ll still win.”
Intrigued by the competitiveness shining through Milo, I pull out the chair beside him. “Okay. How do I play?”
Milo gestures at his friends. “You know John and Ryan, right?”
“Yeah, hi,” I say to the guys, having rarely spoken to them before.
“Hi,” they reply in sullen tones. It’s beyond obvious how much they don’t want me around, but I don’t care. I block them from my view, sending all my attention directly at Milo. I’m magnetized to his radiating confidence as he explains the game pieces and which player occupies which space on the board.
I took none of it in, but it’s a game. How hard can it be? It’s not even on a TV screen. I bet I beat these boys as easily as I do my friends.
John and Ryan snigger together when they inspect the cards, land, and army Milo gave me. I watch the boys, glance at Milo, look down at my game pieces, and then back at him.
“Did you give me your rejects?” I ask Milo.
Even though he’s being sneaky, his smile is too dang adorable for me to be mad. He taps his cards and shrugs. “You didn’t think I’d give away anything important, did you?”
I giggle. “You butthead.”
He laughs. “Hey, you’re joining the game late. It’s your loss.”
John and Ryan exchange glances as Milo and I laugh together. Their brows furrow as they decode our dynamic.
“Sabotaging someone is almost like cheating.” I look at John pointedly. “You’d know about cheating. Wouldn’t you?”
John’s expression falls, muttering wounded sounds.
Milo shifts in his seat. “What are you talking about, Jamie?”
It makes sense Milo wouldn’t know about John cheating on his math homework. They wouldn’t be friends otherwise.
“Never mind.” I clear my throat, straighten up, and scoop a pair of dice in my hand. “Okay, what number do I want to roll?”
Milo points a finger, circling an area on the board with ridged mountains. “Only a nine or higher will get you out of that mess.”
I clasp my hands together, shaking the dice inside my palms. I drop the dice onto the table and find a two and a three staring up at me.
