“I’m dead. I think I’ll just head to bed for now,” Cora says.
I shrug while scrubbing a plate. “We could watch a movie or play some games, I guess.”
“I vote games,” Lila says. Then she points the paintbrush at me as she lifts the painting materials to put them away. “Then again, maybe I should go to bed too.”
I take a step back and stare at her in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
“I’ve seen plenty of movies in my life, Avery. I know what happens. Two people sit on a couch together all innocently, and then they hold hands and kiss and all that. This is your chance, but I don’t think I can watch that.”
The door opens—I must’ve left it ajar—and Max knocks twice before walking in right as Lila says, “kiss and all that.”
I immediately want to curl into a hole and die.
Lila’s eyes go wide.
“It sounds like I’ve stumbled onto an interesting conversation,” Max says with a smile.
“No!” she blurts. “I was just telling my aunt why I want to play games instead of sitting on the couch!”
He looks confused. “I don’t follow.”
“People who sit on the couch and make googly eyes at each other make things uncomfortable. Plus, games are a lot of fun and will tell us more about your character and whether we should consider you a potential criminal.”
My mouth drops open, and I turn to Lila. “Really?”
Across from us, Max tucks his hands into the pockets of his jeans. He’s usually so put-together, but I like this more casual side.
“I mean, that would probably be a good way to find out,” he says with a grin.
“Lila, why don’t you help Max pick out a game or two? I’m just going to hurry and finish these dishes.”
I rinse off the dishes before loading them into thedishwasher. When I turn around to see what they’ve chosen, I’m surprised to find five games stacked on the table instead of two. We’ve always loved games in our family, and Lila must have caught that fever early. So much for Lila “going to bed early.”
“Looks like you guys are thinking about several options,” I say, hanging the dish towel on the dishwasher handle.
“Lila did most of the picking,” Max says with a smile.
“Way to throw me under the bus,” Lila mutters.
I take a seat to the right of Max and across from Lila. I move my feet out too far and end up bumping into him.
“Sorry about that,” I say, feeling the heat rush to my face.
He smiles. “No problem.”
“Okay, lovebirds,” Lila says with a smile—now I’m wishing she went to bed—“We’ve got card games and a board game, but that one will probably take three hours. Which one do we want to start with?”
“Three hours?” I say. “I don’t know if Max wants to stay here that long.”
He lets out a small breath with a smile. “It’s been a really long time since I’ve played games, so I’m kind of up for whatever.”
I turn to him, trying to give him a look that says you’re supposed to be on my side, and he only chuckles, something warm settling into my chest.
The guy is handsome and way out of my league. And I could see a relationship being part of the future I want. But would it be with him? That’s still up in the air because of his work and where he lives full-time.
Footsteps come down the hallway, and Cora appears in the kitchen with her phone to her ear. I haven’t seen her put it down since she got back. She waves before heading to the fridge for something and then disappearing back down the hallway.
“Pardon my sister’s manners,” I say. “That’s Cora.”
