第2部分(第2/7 頁)

nary；　and　Scrabble　the　last　three　days。　Blair　was　extremely　petitive；　and　it　was　exhausting　simultaneously　trying　to　win　and　to　not　appear　like　all　she　cared　about　was　winning。

Maybe　they　should　shake　it　up　with　some　Truth　or　Dare。

“And　guess　who’s　requested　you　on　his　team　again？”　Jason　smirked；　flashing　Blair　the　trademark　white…toothed　Carlson　smile。　“Our　dad　loves　you！”

“Yay！”　Blair　replied　encouragingly；　mustering　her　enthusiasm。　She　followed　Pete　through　the　wide　arching　hallway　that　led　to　the　kitchen。　The　whole　house　was　a　contradiction：　The　walls　were　rough　wood；　but　the　polished　wood　floors　were　covered　in　antique　Turkish　carpets。　In　the　kitchen；　a　large　wood　stove　hunkered　in　the　corner　opposite　two　massive　Sub…Zero　refrigerators。　Several　overstuffed　yellow　chairs　sat　in　front　of　a　large　dormer　window；　each　one　containing　a　different　member　of　the　family。　Chappy；　in　a　cream…colored　cable…knit　Aran　Islands　sweater；　stood　in　front　of　the　whole　group；　calling　them　to　order。

“Scout！”　he　called　gleefully　as　he　spotted　Blair　and　Pete。

“Hi；　Mr。　Carlson。”　Blair　smiled　warmly　as　Chappy　clapped　her　on　the　shoulder。

“I　already　claimed　you；　so　back　off；　boys；”　he　announced　jovially　to　Pete’s　brothers；　who　all　smiled　politely　back　at　her；　even　though　Everett　didn’t　bother　to　look　up　from　his　iPhone。　“I’m　telling　you；　Scout；　I　don’t　know　how　I’m　going　to　manage　without　you　next　week；”　Chappy　continued。

“Oh；　well；　I’m　sure　we　can　play　on　the　beach　or　something；”　Blair　said。　She　blushed。　The　phrase　sounded　totally　inappropriate　when　she　said　it　out　loud。　“Play　charades　on　the　beach；”　she　clarified　quickly。

“Yeah；　but　what’ll　I　do　without　my　favorite　teammate？”　Chappy　shook　his　head　sorrowfully。　“No　offense；　Jane；　but　yo