Page 103 of Next to Everything We Wanted

I giggled, warmth flooding through my chest. It felt like our little family was expanding into something big and beautiful.

Gavin broke out of the hug and put his hands on his sides. “What are we doing today?”

Emma beamed, standing on her tiptoes. “We’re going to play games all night.”

“Only until ten,” I corrected.

She frowned. “Allnight. We’re playing every game we have in our collection.”

Gavin chuckled. “I’ll stay for as long as I can. What are we playing first?”

“The Game of Life.” Emma plopped down on the floor, next to the box. We joined her in a circle, surrounded by all the other games we’d be playing.

“Fun. I’ve only played the game on my phone.”

I gasped. “Never in real life?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Is that a dealbreaker?”

“No, only because we’re about to fix that problem.” I brushed my shoulder against his. “We take Rowan Family Game Night very seriously. Emma acts like her life is on the line when she’s losing.”

Emma scoffed. “It’s called The Game ofLife. Of course mylifeis on the line!” She rubbed a green car. “I have to do what’s best for my family.”

I rolled my eyes as the rest of us picked our cars. After I gave Gavin a run-down on how the board game worked, we started the game.

And, man, Gavin kicked our butts. He made the best choices for family and career while I lost my job, Adam flunked out of college, and Emma went through her second divorce.

“I don’t get it,” Emma said after we finished the game. “How can men be so cruel?” She slammed her car down and crossed her arms, though the corners of her lips curved as if she was trying not to smile.

“You’ll find the right one soon,” Gavin said, brushing his hand against mine. “It takes time.”

My stomach fluttered as I curled my fingers into his. “It does.”

Adam blinked at us. “You guys are so weird.”

“They’re cute.” Emma picked up her list of games. “Next is UNO.”

“Ugh, not that game.” Gavin shook his head. “I’m already devastated that Sienna broke my winning streak.” He looked at me with puppy eyes. “And my heart.”

I rolled my eyes. “Look on the bright side. I’m at twenty-four wins in a row, and you get a fresh start.”

“Yeah, yeah, rub salt in the wound.” He waved a hand. “I’ll get my streak back, and it’ll be bigger than yours.”

Adam gave us a mischievous grin. “Or one of us could break Sienna’s streak.”

I scoffed, flipping my hair over my shoulder. “Good luck with that.”

Emma rubbed Bailey’s back as if she were rubbing a cat like a villain. “Just watch me.”

“You meanme.” Adam pointed to himself.

Emma shot him a competitive glare as she shuffled the cards.

To my surprise and dismay, Emma ended up in the lead. She had two cards while Adam had four and Gavin and I had eight. When it was her turn again, a grin spread across her face before deadly words fell from her lips.

“Uno.”

“NO!” I shouted in the most dramatic way possible, the room spinning in slow motion. “This can’t be happening.”