All American: Winter Break

Chapter Thirteen: Game Night and Buried Memories

"Who's ready for game night?" Carter asked walking into the living room to where Laura and Grace were talking on the couch. Already on their second glass of chardonnay for the evening. Billy followed behind holding a bottle of whiskey in one hand and his glass in the other.

"What are we playing?" Laura asked. Carter smiled grabbing the stack of notecards that were neatly placed on the coffee table. "I was thinking of the newlywed game,". A groan was heard throughout the group when Laura waved her hands in the air, complaining. "This is unfair you guys barely met of course you both will win,". Billy shrugged. "They also can't answer half the questions. So technically we win,". Carter let out a sigh knowing it would be true. Billy and Laura would win by default.

"Okay scratch that. How about option B? We can play tipsy tower,". Grace and Laura both raised their glasses, clinking them against one another. "Already halfway there! You boys got some catching up to do," Grace sipped her wine while Laura followed sipping hers. "How many glasses of wine have you had tonight?" Carter asked. "one-two skip a few..." Grace swayed her head from side to side. Carter shook his head turning to Billy. "This is going to be a long night,". Billy softly laughed agreeing. "Oh yeah,".

"What we should be asking is why haven't you finished your first glass yet? Lightweight,". Grace's eyes lingered on Carter's sipping her wine. She looked down to the half-full glass of whiskey he'd been holding in his hand. "Not a lightweight but unlike the two of you I like to take my time and drink slowly. Clearly you girls had other plans tonight,". Laura and Grace clinked their glasses agreeing. "No teenagers, no responsibility. Meaning we can drink all the wine we want,". Carter shook his head, letting out another sigh. The slur of Grace's words told him that she'd already been tipsy.

"I'll take that as a yes," Carter got up shuffling through a box he brought with him. "Thankfully I was cleaning out my garage the other day and I found my old college game night games. I was trying to find battleship, and 'rock em sock em' to play with Dillon. I'm glad I did since I found tipsy tower in the pile,". Carter looked back to the girls who were having a giggle-fest. The principal groaned knowing of how drunk they were already, this game could go either way. Billy softly laughed squeezing his shoulder, pouring his glass to the brim. "We might need another bottle soon,". Carter shook his head. "The way the girls are drinking, you may be right,". Throwing the whiskey down his mouth, his face clenched feeling the smooth liquor making its way to the pit of his stomach.

"Tipsy tower is that what the new kids are calling it these days?" Grace asked. "Back in my day, they would call it Jenga,". Carter raised a finger in the air placing his empty glass on the coffee table. "But it is! Just with a twist. Every block has a dare or something you have to do. Like for example, take a shot. Although I'm not too sure how far we are going to get in the game since..." Carter trailed the second Billy interrupted. "Who's building it? Nose goes not it!".

Billy immediately put his finger on his nose trying to hold in his laughter while the girls followed. Clearly, Carter hadn't gotten the memo since he'd been the last one to follow along, leaving him to build the tower of blocks. A lot of "ooo's" were heard when Billy pointed to DeAngelo.

"Guess you gotta build it. While you do that. I'm going to go grab some more ice. Anyone want something?". Both of the girls raised their glasses. "Billy bring that fine wine, on the top shelf. We need that good good tonight!" Grace called out.

"You know if I would leave it up to the two of you, it probably wouldn't have been built either way," Carter protested taking out the wooden blocks. Placing them in the middle of the coffee table in rows of three.

As soon as Billy came back with a fresh bottle of wine, Carter had already built the tower of blocks. Refilling the girl's glass with wine, while he poured Carter, and himself some whiskey.