Page 16

“What's that supposed to mean?”

“It means you know I'm right, and you know that because I put these cards down, you're about to lose.”

“No, that's not even it. Rules are there for a reason, and we should follow them.”

I grab my phone to look up said rules. Why does UNO always get so heated?

“Oh, come on, you just don't want to lose to me.”

“This is UNO, Sunny. It doesn't matter who wins.”

“Then draw your four cards, King.”

Fuck. She’s right. I basically just did that to myself.

I groan, set my phone down, and do as she says.

Ah, all skips. I’ll take it and her horrible shuffling skills.

Grace takes her turn just as her phone goes off with a notification.

I don’t mean to snoop, but she does have it face up on the table next to the draw pile, so it’s hard not to.

I groan as I snag her phone and set it on the cushion next to me.

“Why do you have notifications on your phone to alert you when anyone posts about the lodge?” I ask.

“Because I need to know what they are saying.”

“No. You don’t. Trust me. It’s healthier for you if you don’t.”

“But how can I fix things if I don’t know what they are saying?”

“It’s not your job to fix other people’s opinions of you, Grace. I’ll repeat that a dozen times if I have to.”

“And again, it’s not that simple.”

I watch her draw a card, and I set down a skip.

She rolls her eyes.

I lay down another skip.

Another eye roll.

My lips tug into a smile, but they quickly straighten out as her phone vibrates again next to me.

I’m used to the public eye and drowning out the opinion of people who don’t even know me.

Grace isn’t.

While she looks over her cards to consider her next move, my eyes roam over her.

She’s washed her makeup off, and she’s in her pajamas. Grace is so put together day in and day out, the fact that she is just wearing a random T-shirt and a pair of shorts that don’t match is a shock to me. Of course, her shorts are so small that her shirt covers them, which makes one’s mind wander where it shouldn’t.

Ignoring all that, I actually love seeing this relaxed side of her.

Of course, she also has a blanket wrapped around her because the temperature outside keeps dropping. She can’t seem to get warm.