Page 61 of Discerning Blake

Which, when I reveal the whole thing, has Penny laughing with tears in her eyes.

“It does look like Sophia,” Chase defends.

But Penny only laughs harder until it’s her turn to show us her notebook.

The next round, we go left. Amelia hands me her notebook.

It reads, Light bulb. I’m sorry I cried.

I erase the second sentence and draw a light bulb.

Part of me wants to ask why she cried, while another part is terrified that I already know.

I can’t handle listening to her telling me that she wished she’d been having sex with Ethan instead.

The notebooks make their way around the table again, and I can’t wait to switch back so I can say something back.

But what?

When the round is over and we start again, I write down a new word.

Guitar. I’m sorry I pressured you into something you weren’t ready for.

Amelia reads my message and frowns as she erases my words.

The next round, she writes Apple sauce. No! Not your fault! Do you regret doing it?

Christmas tree. Fuck no! I answer fifteen minutes later.

She smiles, draws, and passes the notebook around.

It’s my turn to show off my notebook. I start in the back with Chase’s guess of Christmas tree and then show the drawings in reverse order, from Bryce’s simple but accurate drawing, to Brody’s sticks, to Amelia’s artistry, finally turning to the first page where I wrote the word down.

“Blake!” Scarlett scolds.

“‘Christmas tree. F no’? What does that even mean?” Brody asks.

Shit.

Amelia must have forgotten to erase my words.

“Ummm…”

Amelia giggles, and it’s the best thing I’ve heard all night.

“We have little kids here!” Scarlett scolds, pointing at Chase.

“I’m eight! I know the F word. And the A word. And the S word.”

“Do you know the C word?” Brody asks, grinning mischievously.

“Brody!” Scarlett hits him on the arm.

“No,” Chase leans in. “What’s the C word?”

“Nothing!” Amelia and Scarlett say at the same time.

“I’ll tell you later,” Penny says, which has all of us looking at her with amusement.