3 Sides to a Circle by Jolene Perry, Janna Watts Page A

nice that my very practical family is checking in on me more than normal. I shouldn’t need it, but I do feel like home is farther away than I expected it to be when I left. Especially now. I totally get why Honor wanted to be home.
    “ Yahtzee first?” Libby asks as she fidgets, tapping her bottom lip while staring at the large stack of games. I’m honestly a little curious as to how she got them all up here. When I came back from classes, there they were.
    “Sounds good.”
    “I mean, the rolling of dice might hurt?” she asks.
    “I’m good.” I’m not sure how good I am, but I know I can turn the cup over.
    She plops down and rests a game of Apples to Apples between us so we have somewhere to roll the dice.
    “Why aren’t you out tonight?” I ask.
    “I’m here with you, dummy.” She smirks. Her smile always catches me for a second because there’s something both gorgeous and childlike about it at the same time. Childlike because she’s holding nothing back, and gorgeous for maybe the same reason.
    “Stop looking at me like that, Toby.” She gives me the pouting frown and I’m pretty sure I won’t see anything like the “real” Libby tonight. Tonight she’s floating on the idea of a night she determined would be fun. Wonder how she really felt about Honor leaving.
    Instead of acknowledging the way I was staring at her lips, because it’s nothing like how I was staring at the strip of skin above her jeans a moment ago, I decide for friendly harassment. “I have two brothers and two sisters, all younger than me. The chances of you being better at any of these games than me is slim.”
    “There you are.” She slaps the Yahtzee sheet down in front of me and hands me a sparkly purple pen. I turn it over in my hands a few times and shoot her a look, but she’s gnawing on the end of her own pen and shaking the cup for her first roll.
    “How did you get all these games?” I ask, wondering if she’ll actually tell me.
    “I know a guy.” She shrugs but doesn’t look at me.
    “And how did you get them up here?” I shift a little, even though my ribs are killing me, but she still doesn’t look.
    “A few guys.” She rolls the dice and starts to take stock of what she has.
    Keeping the questions coming seems like fair game since she’s only giving me half answers anyway. “You have a sister, right?”
    “Yep. She’s preggers.” Libby nods. “I’m going for fours.” She pulls up a few dice and makes another roll.
    “And where’s home again?” I ask.
    “Toby.” She leans over and rests a hand on each cheek, stealing my breath and making me wonder if maybe now, finally, she’s going to kiss me like she did to Honor. Even for fun. Anything.
    “What?” I whisper.
    “This is Yahtzee, not twenty questions, dork .” She cackles. “You better get on your game before I kick your ass.”
    I laugh as she pulls her hands away even though it hurts. Anything to make sure Libby and I are okay. To let her know that I don’t mind she dismissed me from the stoplight. Everything afterwards made that seem stupid to be angry over. It was really just Libby being Libby, and maybe being just as afraid as I am.
    “It’s weird without Honor here, ” I finally say.
    Libby’s eyes meet mine. “It sucks. But it is what it is, right? She should have stuck around for you this weekend, and instead she gave the painter a ride home.”
    I’m glad Honor has her painter, but it still feels weird. Whatever the three of us have together, I like it. It may be a completely selfish thing to like, but I do. Sawyer shouldn’t be a part of what we have, and all I can think is that I hope Honor doesn’t try to bring him in.
    “Come on, Toby. You can have fun with just me…right?” If I didn’t know her better, I’d think she was almost uncertain.
    “Of course I can.” I snatch the cup with a grin and roll the dice, feeling it a little more than I thought I would when she announced a game night.
    Just me and