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Meg drops into her chair. “Thanks for the tip, Nigel.”

I grab another marker from off the coffee table and a card. I read what it says.New Year’s Eve.That’s boring. I have something better I can draw.

I stand by the board, waiting for everyone to be ready, and watch as Nigel's hand slips over Meg’s.

Clearly Nigel isn’t a threat, but I don’t like it.

“Hey!” I slap the top of his hand with the marker—the hand that’s currently on top of Meg’s. “Focus.”

He looks annoyed, but he does move his hand away.

“Ready?”

Tessa flips the timer over, and I begin drawing.

The guesses are all over the place. I don’t expect any of them to have a clue what I’m drawing. This is purely for Meg’s benefit.

The timer runs out.

“You tell me to focus? You just lost us a point.” Nigel gestures to the whiteboard. “What the heck is that?”

Ben tilts his head as he studies it. “It looks like somebody swallowed an apple and it’s stuck in his throat and the other person is trying to make out with him.”

“I bet Meg knows what it is.” I turn toward her.

“Nope.” She rolls her lips together like they’re sealed shut.

“Are you sure?”

“Just tell us what it is,” Nigel grunts.

“It’s the game Pass the Apple.”

Ben’s eyes go wide in understanding. “Oh, is that the one where you pass it only using your necks?”

I point at Ben. “That’s the one.”

“That’s actually one game Ihaveplayed,” Anna Mae chimes in.

Tessa folds her arms. “That game’s disgusting.”

“Last time I played it, I thoroughly enjoyed myself.” I look right at Meg.

I’m being a little too obvious.

“Why would Meg know what that is?” Paul asks.

“I just figured being a schoolteacher, she would’ve had apersonalexperience with a game like that.”

“I don’t think that’s the card youdrew.” Nigel stands, reaching for the Pictionary card, but I pull my arm away.

“Why would I lie?”

He reaches for it again, but I keep it far enough away that he can’t get to it.

“Yeah, why would Tyler lie?” Paul asks. I like that he’s on my side.

“He’s a cheater.” Nigel’s getting upset. “Why won’t he just show us his card?”

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