“I’m always up for game night,” I say, not at all disappointed by the change. “Sounds fun.” I turn to Chloe to see if she’d rather not stay, and she’s grinning like a fool, so I know she’s in.
The doorbell rings, causing Reggie to yip twice in Serena’s lap, and a moment later, two men are led into the room by Ria.
“Everyone, this is James and Brandon,” Serena says, standing and waving her arm toward the two in a flourish. “They own a wine bar near my old home in Nyack. And the way I love wine? Trust me, these boys got to know me all too well.” She laughs and they laugh and then hug and kiss her, and their affection for her is clear. As she goes around the room and introduces us all, I notice James and Brandon have matching wedding bands.
Chloe leans close as the guys shake hands with Kayla and London and whispers, “Is this a queer party? Should I go?”
I bump against her playfully with my shoulder just as the doorbell rings again and Reggie repeats his two-yip notification.
“Thanks, Reg,” Chloe says, and then Serena gives him a kiss on his head and hands him over to her.
“Your turn.” Serena gives my niece a wink.
Chloe snuggles my dog happily—something that’s always warmed my heart, their mutual affection—and settles back against the sofa just as the next guest is led in by Ria.
My heart rate kicks up several notches, and I can feel my face get warm because Marina has just walked into the room. Serena hugs her tightly, and Marina meets my eyes over her shoulder. Her smile grows.
“I’m late,” she says to Serena. “My apologies.”
Serena waves a hand and makes apfftsound, then leads her into the room by the hand and goes around the room making introductions. When she gets to me, she says, “And you know Lily. And Reggie. Have you met Chloe?”
“I have not.” Marina reaches a hand out and shakes Chloe’s, and before I can brace for it, she bends and hugs me. In my ear, she whispers, “You look beautiful.”
I almost laugh at her words, becauseIlook beautiful? Has she looked in a mirror lately? She’s wearing jeans today, and it occurs to me that I haven’t seen her in jeans. It’s been too hot. And it’s also very sad I haven’t seen her in jeans because two words: her ass. Holy shit. Her ass is the most perfect specimen of a person’s behind I’ve ever seen in my life. Like, ever. She bends to shake hands with London, and I can’t pull my eyes away. On top, she’s wearing a black sleeveless top, and her arms are lean and muscular and deeply tanned. Her dark, dark waves of hair have been pulled back into a ponytail which, instead of making her look even younger, just makes her look casual and fun. I clear my throat and manage to wrench my gaze away. Finally.
“Okay, we’re all here,” Serena says with a clap of cleardelight. “Who needs wine?”
We’re all here and we’re all queerechoes through my brain. Well, besides Chloe, but I now realize there are two queer couples, plus me and Marina, and is this a setup? Marina catches my eye and very subtly lifts one shoulder, as if she’s wondering the same thing. Did Serena invite us both to hang with other gay couples because she’s trying to tell us something? I mean, I wouldn’t put it past her.
Ria has collected the empty Champagne glasses and returns with several kinds of snacks. Charcuterie galore, grapes, olives, bread—we will not go hungry while we play, that’s for sure. She then takes everybody’s wine order, because Serena has just about every kind of wine you can think of, and I absently wonder if this gorgeous house of hers has a wine cellar. I wouldn’t be at all surprised.
Marina sits next to me so it’s her, me, and Chloe in a row. “How are you enjoying Rome, Chloe?” she asks across me.
Chloe leans forward to see her. “I’ve only been here since yesterday, but so far, it’s pretty dope. Right, Reg?” My dog licks her face in response.
“Trying to think of some cool places to take her while she’s here,” I say to my lap. Part of me is afraid to look at Marina while she’s so close. I’m not sure I could control myself. “She flies home on Monday.”
“We should take her to the Spanish Steps,” Marina says. “At night, though. Super cool there.”
“I read about those,” Chloe says, and I can tell the way her voice has kicked up a bit in pitch that she’s excited by this suggestion. “And Trevi Fountain isn’t that far from them, right?”
Marina shakes her head. “Easy walk.”
“Can we do that, Aunt Lil? Maybe tomorrow?”
“I’m sure we could,” I say, because who needs to work? Then I chastise myself internally. I haven’t seen Chloe in weeks, she’sonly here for a couple days, and it’s not like I’ve been a writing fiend anyway, right? I pretend spending the day with Marina isn’t something I’d absolutely love to do. Nope. Not thinking about that at all.
Ria returns with a tray of wine glasses and hands them out. Some white, some red, one rosé for James. I notice Serena is missing, but she returns in a few seconds with a stack of game boxes.
“Okay, who wants to play what?” she asks, and our night really begins.
“Wait,” London says as Serena is opening the box with the game Taboo in it. “Lily Chambers?”
I nod. “Mm-hmm.”
London slaps her own thigh. “I know you. Oh my God.” She gives Kayla a playful shove. “She’s a writer.” Back to me. “You’re a writer, aren’t you?”
“I am,” I say, holding a glass of wine.
