Page 64 of Out of Bounds

Ethan rubbed his forehead, his body recoiling. “Why do we still have to use that name? We are grown adults.”

“Speak for yourself, Folly.” Greg pulled him into a hug and kissed the top of his head.

“And what does that even mean? How does a taint misbehave?”

“I’ll show you later.” Greg winked at him.

Ethan leaned toward Cliff and Brennan. “Forgive my husband.”

“For what?” Greg glanced at Ethan with a playful smile that reminded Cliff of the way Brennan liked to look at him. “Forgivemyhusband. He had half a bottle of wine at dinner tonight.”

Ethan turned red, probably as red as the wine he allegedly drank. “Thank you, Greg.”

“It was a good bottle,” Walker said.

“It was! Thank you for the recommendation.”

“To the Wine Guy!” Nolan, Henry, and Greg all said in unison, raising their beers in a toast. Cliff assumed it was all part of an inside joke, and even though he didn’t get it, he still felt on the inside.

And he still felt Brennan’s leg up against his, spreading warmth through his body.

“Focus.” Henry shushed everyone and pointed to the speaker in the corner of the patio, which crackled to life. Cliff’s competitive spirit came out.

“Question number five: How many stripes are on the U.S. flag?” the emcee called out over the loudspeaker.

The eight of them looked at each other, each one hoping the other had the answer. Cliff strained his brain to think of the American flag. He knew it had fifty stars, and yes there were stripes...but how many?

“Wait, I made a stars and stripes cake for our Fourth of July barbeque last year,” Cameron said. He counted the stripes in his mind, scribbling mental math in the air.

“What about you?” Nolan asked Greg. “You lead your class in the Pledge of Allegiance every morning.”

“I can see it, but I can’t?” Greg rubbed his temples. Cliff knew what that was like. If he were asked how many lines were on a basketball court, he’d probably blank, too.

“If there are fifty stars on the flag, then maybe thirteen stripes for the colonies?” Brennan suggested.

“Yes!” Henry exclaimed as he jotted down the answer. He shushed everyone as the loudspeaker crackled again.

“The shushing is getting a little old, tbh,” Ethan said.

The emcee asked: “Question number six: What iconic brand used to be called Blue Ribbon Sports before changing its name in 1978?”

“Nike,” Cliff and Walker both said at the same time. Walker reached over the pit and high-fived him.

“How did you know that?” Cameron asked his husband.

“I readShoe Dogwhen we were starting up our business.” Walker squeezed his knee.

And Cliff decided to do the same to Brennan. His fingers brushed over the denim-covered strong thigh. In public. NBD. It sent Cliff’s heart racing.

The emcee’s voice came over the loudspeaker. This time, Henry didn’t shush. “The name of this toy comes from the Danish words for ‘play well.’”

“Lego,” Cameron said without missing a beat.

“How did you know that so quickly?” Ethan asked.

“You have met my son Hobie, right?” Cameron cocked an eyebrow. “Sidenote: I have a son.”

“Yeah, you do,” Henry said.