Page 57 of The Reluctant Roommate

“Count of three,” Aaron said. “One…two…three, go!”

With wild yells, the kids streamed out. Aaron vaulted over the fence and led the charge. Heidi followed, ducking and weaving in the opposition’s barrage. She managed a few direct hits of her own. Her team reached the opposite fence, covered in snow, and peeled off to one side.

“Hold fire,” someone yelled. “Neutral party approaching.”

Morgan walked up, hands held high. “I come in peace. For now, anyway.”

“She’s with me,” Heidi said.

“Then we get her,” the opposing team leader shouted.

Morgan waved to Heidi and joined the other team.

“Traitor,” Heidi yelled.

“It’s my Jenga revenge in the making,” Morgan shouted back.

For the next twenty minutes, the street was filled with shouts and screams, and snow flew in all directions. Heidi’s nose was an icicle, and her feet were wet, despite the snow boots, but she didn’t care. Her aim improved, and while she told herself she wasn’t actually targeting Morgan, it was simply too tempting, especially as Morgan proved to be a rotten shot.

Then, in a final coordinated run, Morgan’s team managed a two-pronged attack, trapping Heidi’s team behind the fence.

“Never give up! Never surrender!” Heidi shouted, but it was too late.

Aaron held his hands up. “Pax.”

“You give in? You declare us the winners?” the other leader asked.

A rogue snowball found its mark on the back of his head, and one of Aaron’s kids ran away shrieking.

“Apart from Teesha, who will be confined to barracks with bread and water, yes, we do.” Aaron mock-glared at his giggling daughter. “I’m done. We all are.”

Heidi found Morgan and slung an arm around her waist.

She turned to Heidi. “That was fun.”

Heidi couldn’t look away. Morgan’s cheeks glowed pink, and her nose was red. In her bright-red jacket, tight leggings, and tasseled snow boots, her blond hair sticking out at all angles from under her hat, wet in places from melted snow, she looked like a particularly gorgeous elf. A dusting of snow coated the hem of her jacket.

The others departed to get warm and dry, leaving Heidi and Morgan alone.

“My feet are freezing,” Heidi said. “And I’m thinking about lunch. Soup, maybe. It could be what those leftover brussels sprouts are made for.”

They returned home, shedding outdoor wear at the front door. The fire was going, and Heidi went back to the door to bring over the rubber tray over so their wet boots could dry.

“Did you finish your book?” she asked Morgan.

“Unfortunately,” Morgan said. “The main character stayed with her husband. The hot yoga instructor was brokenhearted. In the future, I’ll stick to authors known for sapphic romance.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

It turned out brussels sprouts were no better as soup than they were as a side dish. Morgan dumped hers and made a turkey sandwich, but Heidi persevered and managed half a bowl of soup before giving in and accepting half of Morgan’s sandwich.

After lunch, they sprawled on the couch, each browsing their phones.

“Oh!” Heidi looked up from the screen. “Someone’s posted in the community Facebook group saying Oscar’s Tavern is open, although with limited staff. Want to go down and have another crack at shuffleboard?”

Morgan put down her phone. “Sure. It beats worrying what the Dow Jones will reopen at.”

“No rest for the wicked financial advisor.” She got up and went across to feel her boots. “Nearly dry. I’m one change of socks away from toasty warm.”