2020 was such a dull year. Not because nothing occurred - there was a global pandemic, after all - but nobody could do anything.
Everywhere was either closed down, heavily restricted or just deathly quiet. I had no birthday celebrations and Christmas was effectively cancelled.
I was used to going out with the girls at least twice a week. There's only three of us; Nicki, Jenna and me (Hannah) but we're such a close group. People always say we're like sisters but honestly, we're closer than that. We've seen and done everything together since we were small kids.
We know each other's darkest secrets, we've shared each other's highest highs. We've supported each other through breakups, bereavements and illness. We've shared and seen parts of each other - literally - that nobody else ever will. It hit us hard when we couldn't meet up and so we eventually turned to the internet to stay in touch.
Hours upon hours were spent sat on Zoom calls and FaceTime sessions, often just left running in the background while we did housework, took a shower or napped. We were constantly connected and couldn't stand to be apart.
My favourite times were when we'd all gather round our cameras and play games together. It was just so wholesome. We'd have a few glasses of wine or prosecco and just have fun playing online games, quizzes and stupid challenges we'd make up.
We're an odd mix of personalities but I think that's what makes us work so well. I'm kind of goofy and can act a little bit immature. Nicki's rather straight-laced, academic and reserved. Jenna's just a ball of positivity and always the first to suggest new activities, but if you met her you'd assume she was the shy one.
As fun as it was to entertain ourselves online, we were all itching to meet up again in person and let our hair down. But we agreed that we'd make an effort to keep the games nights going even when we were able to go back out to clubs and party.
I don't think any of us could have predicted just how long it would be before we actually got round to organising an in-person games night once the restrictions were lifted. At least 18 months passed. Life happens and gets in the way of the best-laid plans.
Me and Jenna had stayed single but Nicki had recently got herself a new boyfriend, Max, who we'd not even met. I was rather hoping it was going to be a girls-only night like old times, but a night in playing some games seemed like the perfect opportunity for us to all meet up.
Nicki and Max offered to host us at her flat as it's the biggest of all our places. So one Friday night in November, Jenna and I walked the short distance across town to Nicki's flat and rang the intercom.
BZZZT
The magnetic door lock clicked open and we made our way up to the second floor where we were greeted by a squeal.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! Oh my God! Soooooo exciting," came Nicki's shrill voice from the doorway, despite having literally seen us for coffee in the past 24 hours. Her tight curly hair bounced like a bunch of springs as she bounded down the hallway to greet us. We threw our arms around each other like we were consoling each other after receiving bad news.
An unfamiliar face popped out from behind Nicki.
"Hi, I'm Max," he announced, awkwardly.
"Hi Max!" Jenna and I replied in unison and both hugged him simultaneously.
"Oh," he exclaimed, evidently not expecting to be hugged immediately, let alone by two girls at the same time. He was well built, fair-haired and probably in the top two or three best-looking guys Nicki had dated. We gave her a subtle nod of approval.
"Nice to meet you. And this is..." he started, glancing behind him.
"Erm, hi, I'm Tom," said yet another stranger, appearing into the hallway from the kitchen. Whoever this was, he looked like a clone of Max, but with dark hair.
Jenna and I glanced awkwardly at Nicki. She rolled her eyes at us discreetly.
"Oh yeah, this is Max's friend Tom. We thought he should invite a pal so poor Max isn't suffering alone on a girl's night!"
Not quite what we were expecting, for sure, but what the heck, the more the merrier.
"Don't even!" Nicki muttered under her breath as the boys led the way into the kitchen, signalling that she'd had no say in this unexpected guest.
"Right! Drinks!" Max announced, authoritatively.
"Sold," I replied. "What are having?"
"I've done frozen margheritas," beamed Nicki, proudly, prompting more squeals from us girls.
Max and Tom clutched their bottled beers as if their masculinity would be at risk if they exchanged them for a cocktail.
"Booooring," teased Jenna.
"Hey, we're staying level-headed so we can thrash you at every game tonight!" explained Tom.
"Whatever!" scoffed Jenna.
"Speaking of games, shall we go through?" asked Nicki.
She led the way through to the spacious living room and turned with a flourish.
"Ta-daaa," she declared, with a sweep of her arm like some magician's assistant.
In the middle of the room was a large games table with a reversible surface which allowed you to switch between playing table tennis or air hockey. If you removed it completely it became a pool table, complete with balls, pucks, paddles and all the equipment.
More squeals.
"You never told us about this," I protested, secretly a bit jealous at the sweet setup she'd managed to acquire.
"And over here," continued Nicki, "...all the classics!"
She gestured to the floor, which was adorned with old-school games like Jenga, Twister and a giant Connect-4.
"Let the sports commence!" hollered Tom, who clearly had a competitve streak.
Over the next couple of hours we alternated between playing table tennis, hockey and pool one-on-one. When it wasn't our turn to play, we just drank and chatted until our next game.
After our fourth cocktail of the night had been sunk, Nicki went to the kitchen to make another batch, despite us already being more than a bit tipsy.
"Right! Pool next! Doubles! Girls versus boys," announced Tom, somewhat boisterously.
He wasn't entirely unlikeable, but his constant competitiveness was starting to grate.
In our slightly drunken state, me and Jenna were becoming a bit fast and loose with the rules and I may have accidentally-on-purpose moved some balls with my hand.
"Foul," announced Tom, letting nothing slide. If anything, he appeared to be getting more sober as the night went on.
"Booooo! Spoilsport!" protested Jenna, but it fell on deaf ears and Tom insisted on taking his shot.
As he did so, Jenna unsubtley nudged him with her hip as she walked past, causing the ball to jump off the table.
Max burst out laughing at his teammate's misfortune while Tom just stood there indignant.
"Unbelievable," he scoffed, but didn't insist on taking another turn. Maybe he was finally loosening up.
Jenna leant over the table, stretching to reach the ball at the opposite side.
Without missing a beat, Tom swung his arm and slapped Jenna square on her left butt cheek. Not a playful tap, either, a full-on hit with an open palm.
Jenna gasped.
Max froze with embarrassment.
I looked at Jenna. I looked at Tom. I looked back at Jenna, who was still leaning over the table, mouth agape.
"Ha! Fair's fair," smirked Tom. We all gave an awkward laugh, trying to pretend that the friend of Nicki's new partner hadn't just slapped Jenna on the ass.
After what seemed like an age, but was probably all of 5 seconds, Jenna retorted, "is that all you've got?"
I noticed a mischievous smirk briefly dance across Jenna's face but thought no more of it.
"Strawberry daiquiris!" announced Nicki, re-emerging from the kitchen with a full pitcher.
Max shot us a look which told us that we probably shouldn't tell Nicki of Tom's unconventional approach to winning.
Nicki's presence and a round of fresh drinks signalled a natural break in proceedings and so we migrated from the pool table to the seating area where the rest of the games had been set up.
With cocktail glasses replenished we descended into gossiping between ourselves, and at some point the two guys must have disappeared to the kitchen.
It wasn't long before Nicki decided she was drunk enough to play Twister. We'd played this physical game since kids, gymnastically contorting ourselves into a web of limbs as we tried to stay upright on the coloured spots.
