I jolt, leaning forward when I finally hit a box. It randomises before a bullet with eyes appears. Charlotte points to the arrow button and tells me to push it. I then turn into a bullet, and at first, I think I’m steering better until Conner laughs, telling me I don’t have to steer it when I’m in bullet form. I press my lips inwards and prepare myself for when I get out of that form.
“Dog!” Noah barks, kicking Conner.
“Stop bum-rushing me, then,” Conner laughs.
“I was beside you, not behind you,” Noah seethes. “This game is rigged A.F.”
“Noah,” Mr and Mrs Jones chastise.
“What! Conner started—Dog, enough with the red shells!” Noah slams his feet into Conner’s arm while Conner laughs, unbothered by his brother lashing out.
While they are on a mission to one-up each other, I bypass a few, coming in sixth now. Although I’m still behind them as they are coming second and third, Mr Jones is fourth, respectively, keeping his distance from them.
Conner passes a monster character with a shell and spikes on its back, coming in first. I hit another box, and it randomises before a blue shell with wings pops onto the screen.
I look at Charlotte and ask, “What’s this one?”
“Do it,” she says, grinning.
“Wh—no, baby,” Conner says as he shakes his head. “Use it after I get over the finish line. It won’t work until I complete it.”
“He’s lying!” Noah barks.
I push the arrow, and the blue shell flies away. A red indicator blinks on Conner’s character, and he looks defeated when the massive explosion slams into him, stunning him.
Noah stands on the couch, pointing toward the TV. “How did I get hit?!”
Conner laughs and says, “Because you’re up my arse all the time!”
“Wh—Mum, did you see that?” Noah complains. “I was nowhere near Conner!”
“I win!” Mr Jones announces.
Conner comes second, and Noah comes fourth, muttering to himself. I came sixth, but I don’t think much happened to me. However, it looked like chaos where Conner, Noah, and Mr Jones were. I wouldn’t want to be there. That’s where the family feud lives.
“Here,” I say to Charlotte, handing her the controller.
“I’m going to sit out of this one,” Conner declares.
He leans over, handing Mrs Jones his controller. She smiles appreciatively.
They go into another game mode… thing… called Rainbow Road. There aren’t any walls, and I am glad I sat out because I’d have run off the edge a lot.
“Are you having fun?” Conner asks.
I perk up, smile, and answer, “Yes.”
Conner shifts on the couch, and I assume he is growing nearer. I lean away, and as I do so, his hazel eyes soften. He sits back more comfortably, and my body relaxes slightly.
“Sorry,” Conner murmurs.
I flick a look at Noah barking at the TV before turning my attention to Conner and saying, “About what?”
“Sometimes, I get a little excited about being near you,” he says. His voice is so soft that I have to strain my ears. However, I know it’s because he doesn’t want his voice to carry further. “It’s something I need to be better at. I’ve noticed you flinch whenever I touch you in public. You don’t like affection, and you often get embarrassed. I get it, so I need to do better at controlling my affection,”—he smirks—“at least in public.”
I smile while resting my hand on the back of his hand. “We can work on it together. We’re a team.”
Charlotte jumps up, a grin on her face, when she comes first. I give her a high-five. Then, she sticks her tongue out at Noah after he falls off the rainbow road again, forcing this cloud to help him back up.