Page 68 of Pretty Please Me
The words have barely left her mouth before everyone reaches for the food. Spooning heaping piles of dip on their plates like a pack of wild dogs fighting over their prey.
Sam snatches the plate from Jamie’s grip, overpowering him in the short battle of strength, and hands me the plate with a wink. “Here, baby, Jamie made you a plate.”
I take it apprehensively, watching as everyone tries to contain their snickers. “Thank you, Jamie. You’re too kind.”
James dumps out the tin tray of dominoes, and they clash onto the wooden table. “Maggie, have you ever played Mexican Train before?”
I cover my mouth, now full of the cheesy crab dip, and shake my head. My mouth waters for another bite as soon as I swallow.
“Drew, why don’t you explain the rules,” James says to his dark-haired brother sitting beside Sam. Out of everyone, Drew’s dark brown hair and ocean-glass green eyes are almost too extreme of a contrast. His coloring is mesmerizing. It’s so different from the others, but when he smiles, I can see the family resemblance. It seems he’s managed to clone himself four times over, and I can’t help but wonder what Sam’s mom must have looked like. No doubt she was beautiful. I feel like I’m sitting at the table with the Hemsworth brothers, I didn’t know every child could be so attractive, but I guess they’ve got good genes.
Sam winks at me as he takes a pull of his beer, and I listen as Drew reads the directions to the game, stopping to clarify certain rules and give examples with random dominoes.
I look around and take in the scene before me, with my heart feeling like it’s going to explode in my chest. It’s puzzling to think this family, all of them grown, still fall into place here and feel at home like a deck of cards that’s been shuffled together. I’ve never experienced anything like it in all my twenty-nine years. I ache for the loss of something I never had, but at the same time, I feel so lucky to be included. I almost feel like I’m one of them… and that thought terrifies me to my bones.
When this is over, will I be left withtwogiant holes in my heart?
“Alright, then, who’s got the double twelve?” James asks over the sound of everyone shuffling and organizing their lines of dominoes.
I look down and see the domino in question. “Oh, I’ve got it!” I hold it up above my head.
“Great, put it down there. You’re off to a good start. Maybe you can give Sam here a run for his money.” James says as he makes his move, everyone falling in line behind me.
“Oh? Is Sam really good or something?” I quirk my brow, my eyes meeting his, and he gives me a wicked grin.
“The reigning champion, I’m afraid,” James says.
“That’s because he cheats,” Jamie adds, sliding a domino at the end of the line.
“Just because I can keep a running count in my head and you can’t doesn’t make it cheating.” Sam laughs.
“It was cheating when Rain Man did it–”
“Enough, you two. I’d like one goddamn minute of peace while I soak in this moment with all the people I love underneath the same roof,” James scolds, and Sam and Jamie grow quiet, trying their best to conceal their grins.
I have a feeling they enjoy riling up their dad. And though I can’t imagine having a dad, much less giving him a hard time just for fun, it’s a testament to how close they are.
I feel like a stranger peeking in through the window, watching them goof off and laugh, the easy comfort in the space between them even though they haven’t seen each other in so long. What must that feel like? No wonder Sam is so put together and sure of himself. He came from a home surrounded by love. It oozes out in every direction and with every exchange, like an oil that coats your skin and seals everything bad out.
A few rounds pass, and we fall into a comfortable rhythm, the game giving us a nice focal point that’s not too difficult to play as we chat. I mostly listen unless asked a direct question as I watch Sam come to life, laughing and teasing his brothers. I feel as if I’m really seeing him for the first time, and it’s almost like I’m intruding on something private.
“What do you think, Maggie?” Jamie’s question jars me back to the moment.
I shake the fog from my head. “I’m sorry. What was the question?”
“I asked who you think, out of the four of us,” he gestures to himself and all his brothers, “who would look the best—like the coolest and most authentic in real life–with a mullet?”
All eyes fall on me as the room goes quiet, and I feel immense pressure to choose correctly. I may not know much, but I’ve gathered that these brothers are highly competitive with one another… about everything, apparently.
I tap my finger to my lip as I consider. “Jamie, turn your head to the side. I need to see your neck.” He does as I instruct, eager to please. I quirk my lips. “I need to see more. Can you pull the neck of your shirt down a little so I can see your shoulder?” I model the motion, and he mimics my pose, turning his head so that his invisible mullet blows in the wind.
“That’s good.” I nod in approval, then look at Drew and narrow my eyes. “How about you? How would it look if you were on the back of a motorcycle–”
Before I can give him any direction, he spins in his seat and widens his legs, arms coming up to hold the handles of his invisible motorcycle. He tousles his hair in the wind like an eighties supermodel, flicking his invisible long curls—because I imagine his hair would be on the curlier side if it were long—behind him.
“It’s a tough call.” I try to keep a straight face as I look between them, glancing over at Sam, who looks so proud he’s practically beaming, and Simon, who’s biting his knuckle to hold in a laugh.
When Drew pinches his nipples and licks his lips, apparently lost in the daydream, I have to cough to cover my laughter. “Drew wins,” I declare, slapping the table for emphasis.
