Page 13 of Here You Are

“Other than full frontal nudity and serious crimes,” Tim reminded the group, even though he was the only one who would need reminding.

“Okay, I’m in as long as none of the rules are ‘stare lovingly into your soulmate’s eyes.’ I'll burn this place down,” Cora said.

I jokingly glared at her. “They have to be rules that anyone can do, and since you're going to die alone, that one wouldn’t work for you, now would it?”

“Oh, sissy is spicy tonight! This should be interesting.”

After about an hour into the game, everyone was getting a little tipsy, which was the goal. Some of the rules people have come up with were: switch clothes, hide under the table tickling ankles for a round, sexy dance down the apartment hallway, lick a new body part, yell about their itchy sexy bits out the window, call your mom, call a game player’s mom, leave and don’t return, drinking out of a non-cup item, interlock your toes with someone and the list goes on.

“Oh, my God, I just thought of the best rule. Hurry up before I forget it,” said Whitney, Cora’s friend.

“We have to wait for Tim to get back from the corner store with fifteen string cheeses before we can resume playing,” replied Luke, laughing, tears rolling down his face.

“It’s okay; we can keep playing,” I decided. “Who knows what type of trouble he’ll get into on his walk. We could be waiting forever. Add your new rule.”

“Yes! It’s called “Lint Licker.” You have to lick a person's socked foot or their belly button, whichever you prefer.” She reached over to write ‘lint licker” on the board, and we were all laughing and groaning.

“Do we get to pick who we lick?” Luke asked.

“Um, sure. But no repeats!”

Luke looked at me and smirked. “I know who I’m licking!”

Cora groaned. “No happy couple bullshit, people! That’s a rule!”

“Ok,” Whitney replied. “You can’t lick someone you're in a relationship with.

Tim chooses that moment to burst through the door with a big bag of string cheese and also several cans of spray cheese. “I got the supplies! And then, as I was perusing the aisles, I got inspired for a new rule. So what’s this about licking? Before you answer, know that I'm already on board.”

Whitney explains the “lint licker” rule again.

It’s Tim’s turn, and he lands on a blank spot. “Yes! So this rule is called Cheese Doodle. You have to draw a picture on someone's back with spray cheese, and if they guess what it is, they can give five drinks to someone. If they don’t guess, they have to drink five drinks. You guys, let’s cheese doodle!”

“Gross. How do we get the cheese off our backs?” Cora asked.

“Hmm, I didn’t get that far in planning this rule. I guess we just hope someone who likes spray cheese hits that licking spot on the board quickly,” Tim replied.

It’s Luke’s turn, and he lands on “new friend,” which means his challenge is to find someone else to play this game with us. Luke stood still and quiet, pondering his next move. Then, I could actually see the light bulb turn on. He looked at his watch, possibly deciding if it was an appropriate time to make his next move. He yelled “BE RIGHT BACK!” as he literally ran out our front door. Luke was only gone for about five minutes and came back with a couple that I had never seen before.

“Hey, everyone. This is Laura and Ben from one floor down. Laura, Ben, this is everyone! You’re going to love this game, I promise.” He looks over at Laura, who, I think it is safe to say, is enormously pregnant. She is wearing flannel pajamas and slippers. She is adorable. “Uh, it is a drinking game, but we’ll figure it out.”

Cora chimed in. “Hey, Bro? Do you even know these people?”

“Of course I know them! They live in our building. We’re elevator friends.”

Luke, always the social butterfly, knows pretty much everyone in the building. The only person I know in the building is Luke. I stood up and offered Laura my stool. She swung by the kitchen counter and grabbed a bag of chips, making herself at home. “You drink; I eat.” She let out a huge laugh. “This is the most nighttime entertainment we have had in months, so we couldn’t pass it up, even in my condition. Poor Ben has made rubbing my feet his night job, and he could use a party.”

The man she was with, whom I assumed was her husband, grinned at her. “You have to do all the hard work; I’m just along for the ride. Anything I can do to make it easier is my husbandly duty. Between that and working on my “dad bod,” I’ve been pretty busy.” He rubbed his dad-belly; however, it doesn’t seem there is much there to show for his efforts. He’s just a very attractive man with a very cute and very pregnant wife. I noticed he had a baby monitor in his hand with the image of a sleeping child on it. This clearly isn’t their first rodeo.

Laura jumps in with the girls and fits right in, while her husband stays over with Luke, making introductions to the other guys who are here. I can only hope I am as chill and cute as she is when I am pregnant someday. She has such brightness to her, and I am immediately drawn to her. I started thinking that this is someone whom I could add to my friend group. They are definitely older than we are and approaching a different lifestyle. Nevertheless, they still seem to be a great couple.

“When are you due, Laura?” I asked, handing her a bottle of water to go with her chips, which she’s using as a shot substitute.

She grabbed the water and smirked. “Tomorrow.”

All the girls in the room stop what they’re doing and stare at her.

She roared out another laugh. “What? If the baby starts to fall out while I’m here, I’ll leave.”