The Best is Yet to Come

Thirty Two: Noah

I've learned to be very good at monopoly.

It was a household favorite growing up. Many nights were spent in the family room cross legged on the floor with Jackson and my parents.

I suspected, given my family's long history of business, my father used the board game as a way to teach my brother and I valuable lessons about property investment. It was more than just a game to him and as we got older, the games increasingly became more intense. 

After a while, Monopoly became less about having fun; instead turning into an opportunity for my brother and I to learn. An expert at his line of work, my father had strategies and tricks up his sleeve that we could never detect. My dad always won, no matter how hard Jackson or I tried.

Except once... when I was seventeen.

It was three hours into the game; Jackson was nearly bankrupted, but after a lucky roll and a recent hotel purchase, I beat my father at monopoly for the first and only time of my life. He was surprised, and I couldn't tell whether he was more annoyed or proud that I'd won. He took it well, shaking my hand in congratulations over the board while Jackson stared, wide eyed, in disbelief. I was insanely proud of myself in the moment but soon learned to regret it when I'd found out what my win had meant to my dad.

My father took me aside that night. He'd said, "I'm so proud of you, Noah. You're a natural." He took me by the shoulders then and pulled me into a hug. It was rare for my father to show much, if any, physical affection. "You're going to accomplish great things someday, son. I can't wait to see what you do for the company."

My stomach had dropped at his words and I had to swallow the bile rising to my throat. By then, I had already decided that I didn't want the job but I hadn't mustered up the courage to tell anyone yet.

It was one week later that I succumbed to the guilt and told my father I had no intention of taking over the business. He supported every choice I'd made since then on, even though a small part of me knew I'd broken his heart that night.

********************

A loud "Yes!" breaks me from my reverie. "Fuck yeah!" Chris yells and points to me. "You landed on my property, bro! Pay up!" He cackles, evilly.

Holding back an eye roll, I pay him the $50 and turn to look at Emma. She's finishing the last of her slice of pizza, pausing to take a sip of her soda. It just feels right seeing her sit there on my couch, legs criss crossed, with a plate in her lap. It seems so natural, like she was meant to be there.

She notices me watching her and gives me a greasy smile and I chuckle at her adorable quirkiness. Emma has quickly become my little bubble of happiness I can escape to whenever I need a breath of fresh air.

Emma's turn to roll; she takes the dice between her palms, squeezes her lids shut in wishful thinking, and shakes, tossing the dice onto the board.

I laugh when I realize she's landed on my Boardwalk, which has a hotel, forfeiting the game.

"Dang it." She scolds herself, crossing her arms in frustration.

"See? I told you he cheats!!" Chris yells, pointing at me accusingly.

I raise my hands in defense, my voice high, "What did I do?"

"Guys! Relax." Emma says with a laugh, hushing the growing tension.

"I'll tell you what," I say, turning back to Emma with a smirk. "I'll waive the rent, but I want something in return."

Her eyebrows raise, pondering my offer. "What do you want?" She looks down at the property cards scattered in front of her. "My railroads?" She asks innocently.