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We lace our hands together, descending the stairs prepared for battle.
“Oh my God, they’re so cute,” Adalee says, as she looks at Hagan.
“Adorable.”
“Fuck off. We couldn’t be the only ones not in pajamas. I think this is the first pair I’ve had since I was eight years old, unlike you fuckers.”
Harper raises her eyebrows. “Are you going to show us your pajama top? We all want to see if they match.”
As I pull my t-shirt off, my pajama shirt rides up, and Brooke inhales a deep breath. “Don’t worry, what’s mine is yours, whenever we’re out of the get to know you phase.” Her face turns the shade of a cherry.
I adjust my raglan-sleeved pajama shirt, and everyone is silent. If I thought Brooke’s face was red before, now, it’s the color of fire.
A collective aww comes from my roommates’ mouths.
Brooke says, “Cookie’s boyfriend?”
“Just because we’re only telling these assholes doesn’t make it less true.”
Harper leans over with her baby belly between us and hugs me. “I love grown-up, Reed.”
“Me too. Name the game, and I’ll win.” I shrug out of the embrace.
Logan asks, “Charades or Pictionary?”
We play Pictionary first—girls versus guys. I learn quickly that guys wait until you’re completely finished drawing before giving answers, while the girls team draws a line, and the others immediately shout answers. “Knife. Snake. Rake. Chicken leg.”
I look at Brooke. “Chicken leg?”
“Don’t judge. We’re winning seven to three.”
After intermission, we play charades, but we draw numbers for teams. Brooke, Logan, and Adalee on one team. Hagan, Harper, and yours truly are on the other team. Hagan and Harper, being twins, have this innate ability to know what each other is thinking. Plus, when you look upgame nighton Wikipedia, I’m pretty sure it was invented by their family. They’ve played together dozens of times.
Brooke is acting out her phrase. She holds up four fingers, and Adalee yells, “Four.” Brooke touches her nose, indicating she’s correct.
Then she holds an imaginary bouquet and walks slowly. Logan says, “Bride. Wedding.”
Brooke touches her nose after he says wedding.
I love watching Brooke in her pajamas, having fun with my friends. I realize I should be going to church and thanking God every day for putting these people in my life.
Brooke lies on the floor, folds her hands over her chest, and closes her eyes.
Logan and Adalee both shout, “Four Weddings and a Funeral.”
She bounces off the floor and hugs Adalee. “Yes.” Logan slaps her a high-five.
But they can’t compete with Hagan and Harper, who literally act out one word, and the other one gets it. We agreed the first team to seven correct answers wins since we only had a couple of hours before Brooke had to leave. Our team has six correct answers, so we only need one more.
This time, I’m acting out the movie. I hold up one finger. Hagan says, “One word.” I touch my nose.
Then I put my arms out horizontally and tip my head back just a bit, and the twins shout in unison, “Titanic.” Then they do some twin dance bump thing.
Brooke has an ear-splitting smile on her face as she watches us celebrate.
Logan goes into the kitchen and retrieves a tiara. He places it on Harper’s head. “Here you go, Princess. She’s the only one that won twice.”
The girls go into the kitchen, and Hagan just stares at me. “Man, I never thought I would see this side of you. I knew it was there. I hope you don’t fuck it up.”
