The best man

Chapter 9

As the laughter dies down from Ethan's joke, Shelly claps her hands together, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Alright, everyone! How about we play a game of charades? It'll be a great way to kick off the night!"

"Perfect!" I say, glancing at Ethan, who nods in agreement. The energy in the room shifts as everyone moves into pairs: James with Shelly, Conor with Anne, the other couples and Ethan and me, of course.

We pour ourselves glasses of wine, the rich red liquid sloshing a bit as we settle into a circle on the floor, ready to start. Shelly picks up the timer and explains the rules, her enthusiasm infectious. "Remember, no talking! Just acting!"

Ethan and I go first, and I can feel the anticipation bubbling between us. He picks a card and whispers the word to me. As I act it out—flapping my arms and jumping around, pretending to be a bird—Ethan laughs, his delight making it all the more fun. We get it in record time, cheers erupting from our group.

Next up are James and Shelly, who do well, though their giggles often distract them from their own acting. The room is filled with a light-hearted atmosphere as everyone takes turns guessing.

When it's Conor and Anne's turn, I can feel the tension in the air. As Anne tries to act out a scene from a movie, Conor crosses his arms, shaking his head. "No, no! That's not how you do it!"

"Just let me do it my way, Conor! You're not helping!" Anne snaps back, frustration creeping into her tone.

"Guys, it's just a game!" James interjects gently, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "Let's focus on having fun!"

Despite James's best efforts, Conor and Anne continue to bicker over the simplest actions. "Seriously, just trust me for once!" Anne retorts, throwing her hands up.

"Alright, alright, let's just try to guess!" James says, trying to lighten the mood again.

Finally, it's our turn again, and Ethan grins, taking a card. He begins acting out an iconic dance move, and I can't help but laugh as he spins around dramatically. "Is it the Macarena?" James guesses, and Ethan shakes his head, laughing.

"Come on, guys, this is easy!" I tease, jumping in to join his act, and finally, someone shouts, "The Twist!" We cheer, delighted by our success.

As the game goes on, I notice that while Conor and Anne struggle with communication, Ethan and I seem to be in sync. Every time we act together, it feels like we're in our own little world, each move complementing the other effortlessly.

James continues to mediate Conor and Anne's disputes, reminding them that it's all in good fun. "Seriously, let's focus on enjoying this!" he says with a grin, trying to diffuse the tension.

At one point, Anne rolls her eyes and smirks, "You're right, James. But maybe we should put them on a different team next time." She gestures toward Ethan and me, and I can't help but laugh, the playful banter easing the air around us.

By the time the night winds down, we're all in fits of laughter, our glasses refilled, the game creating an atmosphere of camaraderie and fun. Despite their disagreements, I can see that Conor and Anne are starting to relax a little, and James's lighthearted approach seems to work wonders.

"Who knew we were all such talented actors?" Ethan jokes, raising his glass toward the group. "Here's to charades and good company!"

We clink our glasses together, the room filled with laughter and the warmth of friendship, reminding us all of the fun we can have together—even amidst a little friendly competition.