Page 31 of If It's You

“What’s going on?” Christian asked Jayce.

“Every Sunday, the whole family gets together, and we have cake and ice cream and play games. It’s the best.” Jayce beamed as he slapped a guy around their age on the back.

“This is my cousin Hugh,” Jayce said, bringing Christian into the loop. “He lives in Meadow, about an hour away.”

“Hey, man.” Hugh nodded. He was the definition of a cowboy. Button-up shirt, wranglers tucked into cowboy boots, and a mullet.

“Hey,” Christian said. They were practically best friends already.

Several more people introduced themselves as relatives but he gave up trying to remember names when he hit fifteen.

“We are going to play B.S.” Jayce said, interrupting the conversation Christian was attempting to have with a guy named Tom. Something about soil samples getting lost in the mail?

“I’m in.” Christian agreed too quickly.

Hugh, Jayce, Maizie, and Mitchell all joined them at the dining room table as Jayce dealt out the cards.

“Two two’s,” Jayce began. They made a complete lap around the circle before Christian noticed the faintest twitch in Maizie’s lip.

“Two eights.” She slid the cards down quickly.

“B.S.” Christian didn’t hesitate.

Maizie’s eyes shot up at him, guilt written on her rosy cheeks.

“Cheater,” she muttered, gathering up the stack of cards.

Christian smiled, pleased with himself. He caught Hugh next, then Mitchell twice, and Maizie again.

“You’re no fun,” Maizie complained.

“You’re not having fun because you’re losing.” Christian winked.

“Uh oh, Maizie isn’t a good loser,” Jayce warned.

“Why am I not surprised?” Christian looked at her amused.

“I’m not a bad loser. I’m just a great winner.” Maizie said with a smile. The first genuine smile ever aimed at him.

His heart responded by thudding to a halt then taking off like a racehorse.

“Well, I’m better.”

“Not so fast. I’m picking the next game,” Maizie said.

She chose Scum. Christian won that one too. Every time.

Maizie threw her cards to the table. “This is so dumb. I quit!”

“Only losers quit,” Christian teased.

“Well, we are all losers then.” Hugh leaned back in his chair, dropping his own cards.

Mitchell put his head down on the table.

“Oh, come on. I was teasing.” Christian tried to rectify the situation. “I’m just really good at card games.” When his dad was alive, every Sunday night was spent exactly like this. He and his dad used to get so into their games, researching new tricks and tips and using them to best each other. His mom and sister always tapped out after the first few rounds, but Christian and his dad could go forever. It had been almost two years since the last time he’d played any card games. He’d forgotten how much he enjoyed it.

“We have a new game for you.” Jayce’s voice pulled Christian’s attention from the past.