“I can’t believe I left that Triple Word Score open for you!
“Leah,” James said through laughter, “calm down, that was, like, six turns ago.”
“Yeah, but that’s what clinched your victory!” I was laughing too, playing up for effect my very real irritation at losing Scrabble. “I would have had you if not for that.”
“Jesus Christ, you sure think a lot of yourself.” He said it through a chuckle, still smiling as he leaned backward, his arms slightly behind him and his weight resting on his palms. The Scrabble board spread out between us where we sat on the floor.
“Nah, just a lot of my Scrabble skills.” I pulled my knees into myself, hugging them to my body before picking up my beer and taking a long drink. A reflexive move: his pose right then sent an unexpected wave of desire through me. His slender, lithe form so relaxed, his hair falling over one of his crystalline blue eyes … looking at him knocked the wind out of me.