Page 24 of A Curvy Girl’s Hurricane Survival Guide

“Are you a big gamer?” I ask.

Lucas shrugs and turns back to his phone. “Not really.”

“Mama says you play too much!” Patty adds.

“That’s because she doesn’t know how much most kids play,” Lucas retorts defensively.

I smile, remembering my own mother’s musings on the subject. “Moms are like that. I’m sure there will be plenty to do without it.”

“If the power goes out, it’ll get really boring,” Sofia says. “Last time we lost power for almost twenty-four hours! That really sucked. I don’t get why we don’t just leave.”

“The adults all act like they can’t separate from each other or they die,” Lucas replies.

“Do you wish you lived further apart?” I ask.

Lucas considers this for a moment and then says. “Nah, I like living close to everyone. I just wish we didn’t have to be all together if we didn’t want to.”

“Ah, I get it.” Insightful kid. “We will find something to make it not so boring even without the PlayStation.”

“It’s not that,” Lucas says. “It’s just, how often does anyone get to play games with the head of SonLaw Gaming?”

Shit. The gig is up. He even knows the name of my company, my first name with the syllables inverted.

“That’s it!” Sofia exclaims. “I knew you looked familiar.”

“Yeah, we just saw you on YouTube recently,” Patty says. Three for three.

“Listen, do you think you guys could keep it to yourselves? Who I am, I mean,” I appeal to the three.

“Why? Doesn’t Cai know?” Lucas asks.

“She doesn’t know… specifically,” I respond. She doesn’t know at all, but that sounds really bad. “And I’d rather she didn’t. Not yet. I don’t think she likes video games too much.”

“Sure,” Sofia says, already bored by the conversation, and goes back to her phone. The other two nod, shrugging, and follow suit.

I am about to gauge their commitment when I hear the door open. Cai pops her head in. “Hey,” she says. “What’d I miss?”

“Nothing,” I reply too fast. She arches an eyebrow suspiciously.

“You know he’s never played Dominoes?” It’s Lucas who speaks, barely looking up from his phone, giving me the perfect out.

Thank you, Lucas, for the quick save.

“Really?” Cai asks. I nod, hoping I look appropriately embarrassed. “Well, if you want to learn by being yelled at by hypercompetitive Cubans, I’m sure they’ll play later.”

“Maybe I can just watch, and you can explain it to me. Unless you hate all games, or is it just video games?” I ask.

“Just video games. I like to spank anyone in dominoes when I get the chance.” She gives me a mischievous look that ignites something in my gut.

“Don’t threaten me with a good time.” I think I say it quite enough that only Cai can hear.

Sofia makes a retching sound and says, “Gross.”

“Hey,” Cai says, turning to the kids. “Why are you three here and not helping out with storm prep stuff? Do your legs not work?”

All three of them groan in unison. “We’d just be in the way,” Sofia says.

“Mama told us to make ourselves useful, so we thought we’d not bother them,” Patty adds.