Page 126 of Enzo

“Let’s play some more, but let’s get dinner first. How about I order takeout?”

Miraculously, she agrees and we order takeout. Fish tacos and fries again. Because I don’t want her to stress, and I don’t want to put her out. I just want her to be here, and I want to use my time with her. Not doing errands or cooking.

When the food arrives, we eat at the kitchen table, having cleared away the Jenga. After, we play Jenga again, but this time we set it up on the coffee table in the living room, where we sit on the floor.

Molly’s feet are tucked beneath her.

“I'm going to hate playing by myself when you're gone.”

The room falls silent.

I don't want this to end, and it sounds like she doesn't either.

Before I can reply, she asks, “You have five siblings to play with.”

I laugh. “I doubt they’d play this. Brooke might.”

“Brooke?”

“She …” I pause. “She’s Jett’s daughter. She’s almost seven now.”

“Aww! That’s similar in age to the children I teach. I bet she’s adorable.”

“She is.”

“How would your brothers play this game?” she asks.

“Hmmmm.” I stop to think. “Dex would cheat.” That's for sure, without a doubt. Dex absolutely would.

“And Rio?”

“He'd charm someone else into moving the difficult blocks.”

She laughs.

“What about Matteo?”

I pause before answering. She seems to know their names.

“He'd calculate the precise load distribution.”

“Is he the techy guy?”

“He is.”

“And Zach?”

My curiosity gets the better of me. “You know all their names.”

She freezes, for the briefest of seconds, enough for me to notice. “I ... I've read about them. Some article or something,” she says, dismissively.

That makes sense. We have been in the news lately, so it should come as no surprise, but a part of me wonders what exactly she’s read.

“And Zach?” she prompts again.

“He’d buy the company that manufactures Jenga.”

“Oh.” She sounds like she's trying to work out why.