Bonus Scene: Guys and Games, a Frankie bonus scene for Hangovers and Holidays
The best part of vacation is the games we play. This scene naturally contains spoilers for the series up through Hangovers and Holidays.
Frankie
Making up our own rules to play the various board games had been hilarious. We’d done everything from strip poker to kiss trivia—I was pretty sure my lips were a little bruised from Jake’s earlier winning streak at the trivia game.
“Why are we playing this one?” I asked as I looked at the stack of question cards they’d put in front of me. Also, I wasn’t gonna comment on the “Frankie Trivia” game that Archie had added to the back of every “card.”
“Cause it’s fun,” Ian said with a slow smile. “And some people can’t decide whose turn it is to sleep with you so we’re wagering on it.”
Laughter bubbled up through me. “Maybe I should get to pick and we don’t sleep in my bed, I come sleep in one of yours.”
That got me more than one interested look, but Coop just winked. “Nah, this is more fun. I mean we all know you’d pick me cause I’m your favorite.”
Giggling, I enjoyed the pair of pillows that winged right at Coop. He managed to catch Jake’s but Archie’s smacked him upside the head. Not even missing a beat, Coop settled both pillows next to him.
“Mine now.”
“Right,” Archie said. “For that, you get skipped in the first round.”
“Seconded,” Jake said with a smirk and Ian hid a laugh.
Coop flipped them both off. “Like I said, I don’t need to ‘win’ her affections, I’ve already got them.”
I reached for my coffee and took a sip as they mock-glared at each other. “Speaking of which,” Ian said, raising his voice just enough to talk over them. “Who is going first?”
“If we go by age, it’s Jake for youngest,” Archie suggested. “Or you for oldest.”
Before this could devolve into wrestling or more, I raised two fingers. “Why don’t I just go first with asking the questions and you guys get to write down the answer? Then reveal it at the same time.”
“That’s ridiculously fair, Babe,” Archie said with a slow grin. “You sure I can’t bribe you into something more slanted in my favor.”
“Nope,” I teased and he laughed.
“Fine,” he gave a mock sigh and then they were passing out the little whiteboards Archie had found in the game closet. Grandpa Ted had stocked this place well. I glanced around the cabin, I almost hated the idea that we would have to leave it at some point soon.
I loved it here.
The fire crackled in the hearth and the scent of pine from the tree just added to the overall effect. Touching my tongue to my teeth, I flipped over the first question and giggled.
Coop’s handwriting. No wonder he was certain he had an edge.
“What is my love language?” My face warmed as I read the question. It had nothing on the scorching heat in their eyes.
One by one, they flipped their answers.
Archie’s just said, “Coffee.”
I burst out laughing.
Coop’s read, “Acts of service.”
Ian had written, “Patience and forgiveness.”
Jake wrote, “Your huge ass heart.”
“Technically,” Coop retorted, “We all said the same thing.”
“Archie said coffee,” Jake argued.
“Which is an act of service for our lovely girl here.”
I couldn’t help it but laugh. “You all get a point. Next question…”
There was grumbling but they erased their boards in prep. I caught the twinkle in Ian’s eyes. I got the feeling he was enjoying the grumbling as much as I was.
“What is the most romantic thing I have ever done for you?” The flush on my face went to my neck on this one, but I was also curious as hell.
They flipped their boards at the same time. Every single one said the same thing.
“Forgave me.”
Now I was going to cry.
“Ah,” Archie said as he leaned forward. “No tears. It was romantic as fuck—the second most romantic thing you ever did was say yes to a date. I’d say that was first, but it took a while to get you to notice we were asking.”
I sniffled, my tears fading some into a weepy laugh. “Fine, everyone gets a point. This is a terrible game.”
“I like it,” Jake said, nudging my leg. “You need to hear things like this more often.”
I stuck my tongue out at them but their expressions remained indulgent. “At this rate, we’re all five going to be sleeping in the same bed.”
“Told you, I’d win,” Coop said, his grin firm and smug.
“Next question.” I blinked at this one then re-read it. The handwriting was definitely Archie’s and his grin spread. He had to know. Such an ass.
Adorable ass, but still.
“What is my favorite food?”
Groans and laughter greeted the question. They answered with varying forms of coffee, chocolate, coffee and chocolate. Coop added “me” to his and I laughed so hard, he gave himself an extra point.
There were another five or six questions and the guys were neck and neck. Arguably, even when their answers were different, they weren’t wrong. I had a feeling this was not going to solve our” who was sleeping in my bed tonight” conundrum and I didn’t mind it.
Maybe we could all camp out down here again.
“Last question,” I said because we were on the last card. “What is my favorite memory of our relationship so far?”
The briefest of hesitations as the guys glanced at each other. “Individually or as a group?” Archie asked.
As one, Coop and Jake said, “Group.”
They nodded then started writing. I took another drink of my coffee as I watched the four of them, the fire warming the room, their faces flushed from laughter and their eyes bright.
I didn’t doubt their answers, but right now? This was my favorite moment. My favorite memory.
My favorite guys.
© 2023 Heather Long
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