Page 10 of Two Purple Gloves

Her smile turns mischievous, and she looks round the room as if searching for inspiration. “Okay,” she says slowly. “If I win, you have to wear my costume for the rest of the night.”

I take in the white, gauzy dress she’s wearing, it’s stretchy over her bust and although it might be a struggle, I reckon I could get it over my chest. “What exactly will you wear?” I ask, nearly drooling.

“I’m sure you’ll be a perfect gentleman and lend me a t-shirt.” She smirks.

“Okay, deal.”

“And if you win?”

I smile wickedly. “You’ll spend an hour with me in my bedroom.”

Her eyes widen and her lips part in genuine surprise. “To do what?”

“Whatever you want.”

She lets out a surprised little laugh. “Okay, Frosty. Deal.”

“Come on then, Angel.”

Twenty minutes later, we each have one cup left in front of us. Abby and Tia both bowed out early, heading off to talk to others and Jake rubs my shoulder gearing me up.

“Come on, Harry,” he rumbles. “You got this.”

Lisa looks a little flushed from the many cups she’s consumed but concentrates hard on the cup in front of me. “Be prepared for your costume change, hot stuff,” she goads before throwing the ball, only to have it clip the edge of the table in front of me and bounce noisily to the floor. The room is quiet as people are invested in our little bet and a choir of ‘oohs’ sound when she misses.

“Come on, Harry,” Jake cheers.

Without taking my eyes off Lisa’s, I throw my ball, it bounces on the table and with one high arch, it lands with a satisfying plop into her cup. The best part? She doesn’t even look disappointed as she brings the cup to her lips and downs the liquid inside.

“Come on then, Frosty. You have one hour to impress me.”

CHAPTER FIVE

“Played backgammon.”

LISA

“Idon’t understand,” Oscar says, his face screwed up in confusion. “Why did you go to a party in your underwear?”

I smirk at my husband across the length of the long dining table. Cocking a brow in silent question,yes, explain that to your seven-year-old son.

“I wasn’t in my underwear,” Harry says with a teasingly scolding tone. “I was in shorts, and I didn’t wear a t-shirt because it was very warm at the party, and I didn’t want to get too hot. Just ask your uncle Jake how uncomfortable it would have been.” Harry makes obvious side-eyes at his best friend and Jake coughs into his hand although it sounds suspiciously likewanker. Our guests titter at the two of them.

“What did you and Mum do in your room?” Lucas asks with a mouthful of lasagne.

Without missing a beat, Harry answers. “Played backgammon.”

Wine nearly comes out of my nose but I manage to swallow it down as both the kids look adorably confused. My father shakes his head, looking disappointedly between Harry and me, although it’s all in good humour.

“Is this an appropriate conversation to be having in front of your children and your in-laws?” Luke asks with an amused smile behind his wine glass.

“What?” Harry asks innocently. “You have a problem with backgammon?”

“Luke happens to bevery goodat backgammon,” Rhiannon tells my husband with a smug smile.

“Okay, I think that’s quite enough of that,” Uncle Gordan scoffs at his daughter, and we all laugh. Everyone but Lucas and Oscar who are looking around with absolutely no clue what’s going on.

Chatter takes over at the table and my eyes find Harry’s again. He’s got a soft smile that he reserves for me and our family. One that is full of love and adoration. I return it, feeling myself relax for the first time in about a week. Everyone always says that they’re so impressed I host the whole family for Christmas, saying it must be so much hard work and the truth is that once the guests arrive, I feel like the hard work is over. The week before is when I’m running around like a headless chicken, planning, organising, prepping, tidying. When everyone’s here, it’s just a matter of following the carefully curated plan and enjoying myself.