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“I said what I said.”

We hear a door open and footsteps coming down the hallway. A few seconds later, Robin’s mom pokes her head through the doorway.

“Sorry, Mom. Are we too loud?”

“No, I quite enjoy hearing Kora scream the word penis over and over again while I am reading my mystery novel.”

“Sorry,” Kora says with zero shame.

“I don’t mind.” Yvonne smiles at her. “You kids have fun. I just wanted to grab some water and check in. Who’s winning?”

“Robin and me,” I say, and I stick out my tongue at Kora.

She flips me off.

“Well, I’m glad you all are so mature.” Robin’s mom chuckles. She gives us a wave and heads into the kitchen.

This day has been rough. I spent the morning packing the last of my things in the rental, not that I ever unpacked much. I know I’m not leaving forever, but this summer has been better than I could’ve ever hoped for, and me leaving tomorrow seems like the big ending to it all. Back to reality.

“Kora, it’s your turn to draw something for Mike.” Robin resets the timer.

Kora laughs when she reads what’s on the card she picked. “Okay, Mikey, you have to focus. I cannot let these lovers win. We need a win for the singles in the room!”

“I’ll try my best.” He sounds miserable.

I pull Robin into my lap as we watch Kora and Mike, enjoying our best friends’ desperate attempts to get it right. Kora gets more and more animated when Mike doesn’t seem to have a clue what her drawing means.

“They don’t have chemistry like we do,” Robin whispers in my ear.

I smile as I look back and forth between the two of them. While Mike acts slightly annoyed at Kora, I don’t miss how his eyes twinkle.

“I don’t know.” I keep observing. “I think they do. They’re just stubborn and terrible at drawing.”

“Hm. I guess so. Either way, we’re winning.” She smiles at me.

And when I see her look at me like that with pure admiration and joy, I know that I am, indeed, winning.

There is a lot I want to say to her, but it’s not fair to say it the night before I leave. While I have so much to figure out when I get back to New Mexico, my feelings for Robin are not one of them. I’ve never been so certain about anything in my life. And I can’t wait to show her.

The timer goes off, and her best friend whines.

“We won,” my girlfriend says, giving me a kiss.

“This game is lame,” Kora complains.

“You wanted to play it,” I point out.

“Well, if you don’t want to play anymore, there is something I wanted to tell you all.” Robin slides off my lap and sits next to me again.

I frown at her, wondering what it could be.

“Please don’t tell me you’re pregnant.” Kora looks miserable.

“Kora,” all three of us groan simultaneously.

“What? That’s how people usually announce it.”

“No, people usually announce it by burning down a forest.” Robin laughs.