Page 113 of Finding Denver

It’s like every other family dinner. Loud, and delicious, and exactly what I need after the stress of the last few weeks. It’s clear that Esme has no idea this is supposed to be a date either, because she spends most of her time talking to Danielle and Alison, occasionally including me if it’s relevant. I’m relieved. The last thing I need is an uncomfortable conversation.

Thirty minutes later, we’re in the TV room, shoes are off, and Taf is desperately trying to describe a movie to Alistair without using the name of it.

“They’re on a fucking quest for jewelry!” he shouts.

Alistair stares at him. “I’m sticking withOcean’s Eleven.”

“A quest!” Taf screeches. “Wizards! Orcs!”

“Time,” Finn calls.

Taf hits Alistair with a cushion. “Lord of thefuckingRings!”

“You could have said hobbits!”

It wouldn’t have mattered if they had gotten it right, because Denver and I have been in the lead since we startedplaying. Ronan and Finn are only neck and neck with us because of one lucky round.

Denver gets up, bouncing on her feet as she takes her position in front of the TV.

She points at me. “Focus, Harland.”

“Focused,” I say.

She picks up the bowl with the folded movie names in. Finn starts the timer, and she snatches out the first one.

“Alison is at Harvard?—”

“Law,” I say.

“If she wore pink?”

“Legally Blonde!”

She whoops and snatches the next one. “Oh, fuck. Erm. Al Pacino.”

“The Godfather.”

She shakes her head. “He smells people!”

I stare at her. “He what?”

“I know it,” Taf cackles.

“Ex-military. It has Robin in it fromBatman!” She jumps up and down. “They go on a road trip! He tangos with a woman!”

Taf shouts, “You said a word from the movie! Point deducted!”

“Fuck nuggets,” she says, taking out another piece of paper. If we don’t get this, we lose. She squeaks. “Our next dance!”

I search my brain and hop up. “Beauty and the Beast!”

“Yes!” She cheers and jumps into my arms. With her legs wrapped around my waist, we point at everyone. “Losers!” we call out. “Losers!”

Ronan scoffs. “They’re unbearable.”

Denver dances in my arms, and I have absolutely noproblem gloating when this is the first game night I’ve won in years.

I place her down and Helena sighs happily as she stands. “Right, hot chocolate.”