Page 32 of Outnumbered

Thor growled and tried to grab Caleb, but Caleb pushed Riddick between them and darted to the side.

“I will never not be envious of how much energy they all have,” Leona said and shook her head. “Go on, go shower.”

Since I wanted to play games, I took the quickest shower I could, and hurried to the living room where everyone was gathered, new drinks made and waiting.

“We’re going to play this one first,” Leona said. “It requires good teamwork and memory.”

“Which is why the drinks will flow faster and stronger,” Thor added.

After explaining the game, we let Leona’s team go first so we could see an example. It was relatively easy to understand, but winning turned out to be hard, especially when you were laughing too much to answer.

After a few rounds of that game, we switched to another one. This one wasn’t a team game, so we were all trying to beat each other. Turned out there were still teams as Kylan and Declan and Riddick and Caleb teamed up on people.

“Cheaters!” I accused. “You’re working together.”

Leona shook her head. “The twins always cheat and Caleb and Riddick might as well be twins at this point. They just think too much alike.”

After another round, Leona caught my eye and winked, which I took as permission to start working with her. Together we ended up defeating all of the guys, and in the end fighting against each other for first place.

She won, but it was one of the best nights I had had.

“These are really fun,” I said as I rubbed my stomach, sore from laughing so much.

“We’ll have to buy them for the apartment,” Triston said. “So we can play together.”

I nodded. “Yes, please.”

“Auntie, can we play the dance game now?” Caleb asked.

“Dance game?” I asked.

Leona laughed softly. “Fine! I know it’s your favorite only because you always win.”

“He doesn’t always win, I’ve beaten him twice,” Thor countered.

“Twice in twenty years,” Caleb said.

“I think I’ll play this time,” Silverowl said.

Leona and her other mates looked at him with wide eyes.

“Really?” she asked.

He nodded. “It’s a rhythm game, so I don’t think it’ll be that hard. Plus, you all seem to have so much fun when you’re playing it.”

“Great!” Caleb said and walked to the TV to set it up. “Another person I can defeat.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’ve never played it, so don’t count me out yet.”

Twenty minutes later, it was obvious I was not going to win the game. Caleb and Silverowl were going back and forth for highest scores on songs, until Silverowl had a perfect run where he didn’t miss a single note and even got bonus points for how well he did the dancing moves.

Leona whistled and cheered loudly, which made Silverowl smile wider.

“I concede,” I said and collapsed on the couch. “I think I need to call it a night.”

“Aw, you party pooper,” Leona teased and immediately yawned.

We all laughed.