“Really? Sentimental ties, or you’re just lazy?”
“Neither. They’re just more comfortable than all my new ones.”
Rome tsked, already thrusting his hand into the regret bowl. “Your penalty for not being on the same page is that you must style your partner in ten seconds with items from the prop basket, which we’ll all get to take photos of and keep for blackmailing purposes, of course.”
Rome handed me the basket full of novelty items like feather boas, tiaras, fake mustache, oversized glasses…lingerie?
Sawyer glanced at the contents as we got to our feet. “Be nice…”
“Nice is you in this lacy lingerie,” I said.
“Payback’s a bitch.”
I grinned, and when Rome said go, I dolled Sawyer up in the bright rainbow feather boa, grass hula skirt, an oversized top hat, and a monocle, with a long cigarette holder in his mouth.
“I thought you were going to go more pretty princess, not Monopoly man,” Sawyer murmured around his prop.
“The Monopoly man wishes he had a hula skirt.”
Everyone already had their phones out and were snapping photos, but Sawyer, being a good sport, gave them a few poses to make the outfit really pop. I took a selfie before he dropped back on the couch, dangling the cigarette holder between his fingers. “Anyone have a lighter?”
As Rome headed around the room for the rest of the answers, Sawyer pressed his leg against mine and I gently nudged him back, keeping us connected.
One second we were joking, and the next he stilled, looking at me in a way that made my chest squeeze and my breath stutter. Even in his ridiculous getup.
How had I ended up here?
The game continued, and Sawyer managed to keep his props on, which made it almost impossible to take anything seriously. Especially when every time Rome called on us, he tipped thetop hat like a gentleman, which kept everyone laughing and the mood light.
At least, it did for a while.
Then Rome pulled another card, laughing when he looked at it. “Remember, this is a classy family event. What’s your partner’s biggest tell when they’re turned on but trying not to show it?”
It had all been fun and games up until then. But when Alec and Peter’s boards went up, they both, shockingly, said the same thing:Peter rubs his thumb over his bottom lip.
Sawyer froze against me.
I saw his smile falter a little, even though he was obviously trying to brush off whatever he was feeling through the ridiculous questions and penalties that followed.
When Rome finally announced a break before the next round, Sawyer shifted from under my arm and glanced toward the doors that led out to the covered terrace.
“I’m gonna get some air,” he said.
“Sounds good.” I started to move, but then realized he hadn’t asked me to join. “Do you want me to go with you?”
“No, that’s okay, I won’t be long.” His smile was unconvincing. “Just warm in here.”
I didn’t call him out on it. Maybe I should have, but he’d let me stay close all night, so if he needed a minute alone, I could give him that.
But I’d be watching Peter like a hawk to make sure he didn’t follow him out there.
“Okay,” I said. “I’ll grab us some snacks.”
“Perfect.” His gaze held mine for a beat and then he stood, his fingers brushing mine before he headed for the terrace.
I watched him disappear through the doors, still feeling his touch even in his absence.
And then I wondered how the hell I was supposed to protect him from Peter when the thing most likely to hurt him now…was me.