Chapter 10

He was the first to speak again. “This looks like more fine snow, the kind that’s already out there.”

“If you’re hoping for better snowman material, you’re out of luck. The temperature is too low.”

“Not looking good for the snowball fight, then.”

“I’d pummel you,” said Jude with complete and very sexy confidence. “I have years of experience.”

“Yeah, well, I’m still kicking your ass in chess, so I can handle losing a snowball fight.”

Jude was a terrible chess player. He never thought ahead enough for anything more than a purely reactive strategy, and though he was slowly getting better, he was a long way from besting Cal. For his part, Cal had joined his school’s chess club when he was fourteen because he had a thing for the group’s leader, and while the romance had been a complete nonstarter, he’d discovered a liking for chess. He currently played the computer for a more challenging opponent.

“I’ll win at chess one of these days.”