Chapter 26 Charlie #2
"Hey, slowpokes!" I call out, waving our polaroid triumphantly.
Emily sticks her tongue out at me. "Dad got us lost!"
"I did not get us lost," my father protests. "I took a scenic route."
"Through Nebraska, apparently," Emily mutters.
Bash and I laugh as we head to our car.
In this moment hand-in-hand with a ma `n who makes my heart race for reasons that have nothing to do with my competitiveness I realize I don't just want to win the scavenger hunt.
I want to win at whatever this is becoming between us.
And that thought is more terrifying than any competition.
Laughter echoes through the great room as everyone sprawls across couches and armchairs, displaying their scavenger hunt treasures. My dad's reading glasses perch on the end of his nose as he examines a checklist, while Mom passes around hot chocolate with a generous splash of Bailey's.
"Well, I've verified all the clues and tallied the points," Dad announces, looking up with the self-importance of a game show host. "And our winners, with all twelve clues completed in record time, are..."
I squeeze Bash's hand, holding my breath even though I already know we're not victorious.
We'd gotten distracted at the art museum, then spent too long debating which Christmas tree cookie was aesthetically superior at the market.
Those stolen moments together were worth more than winning, but my competitive side still twitches with anticipation.
"Ethan and Olivia!"
Dad hands them two small gift bags containing what I know are custom-made silver bracelets—the traditional scavenger hunt prize. Ethan pumps his fist while Olivia accepts hers with a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes.
"Congratulations," I say, summoning genuine sportsmanship from somewhere deep within me. "You guys really crushed it."
"Yeah, we were awesome today," Ethan says. "I'd say better luck next year you two but who knows if Sebastian will still be with us." He turns his head and gives Olivia a kiss on her temple while she slips the bracelet onto her wrist, examining it with a critical eye.
"It's lovely. Though silver isn't really my metal."
Bash leans close to my ear. "If second place was determined by how many times we stopped to make out, we'd have won by a landslide."
I burst out laughing, unable to contain myself. Olivia's head snaps up, her perfectly sculpted face attempting to form a disapproving expression.
"Uh-oh. Don't look now," I whisper back to him, "but Botox Barbie is trying to frown."
He snorts into his hot chocolate, and we both dissolve into barely suppressed giggles. Ethan glances at us suspiciously, but I innocently take a sip of my drink.
"Well," my mother announces, clapping her hands, "we have another surprise for tonight. Sarah, shall we show them?"
Sarah, who's been talking with Emily near the fireplace, breaks into a wide grin. "Absolutely. Margaret, Patricia, and I have been plotting all day."
Mom leads us into the den, and I stop short in the doorway.
The room has been transformed into what looks like a legitimate game show set.
Two tables face each other, each with three chairs and buzzers.
A whiteboard displays categories, and fairy lights are strung across the ceiling.
There's even a small podium where someone can stand as the host.
"This is incredible," I say, turning to Sarah and my mom. "How did you pull this off so quickly?"
Sarah grins. "Your mom had most of the supplies already, and I may have gone a little overboard with the decorating. I used to run pub quizzes back in Denver."
"We figured after all that running around town, you might enjoy a little friendly competition in the comfort of home," my mom adds.
"More competition?" Olivia sighs, but Ethan perks up.
"Trivia? I'm in," he says. "I was captain of the quiz bowl team in college."
Of course he was.
"We'll need teams of three," Mrs. Harper explains, reading from a sheet of paper. "And we've already assigned them to mix things up a bit."
My stomach drops. Please don't put me with Ethan. Please don't put me with Ethan.
"Team one will be Charlie, Bash, and Sarah," she announces.
I exhale in relief.
"Team two is Ethan, Olivia, and Emily."
"What?" Emily squawks. "Why am I with them?"
"To make it fair, dear," my mom says sweetly. "You're too competitive with your sister."
Emily shoots me a look of pure betrayal as she trudges over to join Ethan and Olivia. I mouth "sorry" at her, but inside I'm thrilled with our team lineup.
"The adults will judge and keep score," Dad explains, gesturing to himself, my mom, and the Harpers.
"What about me?" Addie pipes up from the couch where she's been scrolling on her phone.
"You can be our technical assistant," Sarah tells her. "Help with the projector and sound effects."
Addie sighs dramatically but moves to the laptop connected to the projector.
Our team settles at the blue table, and I find myself sandwiched between Bash and Sarah. There's something strangely comforting about being flanked by the Montgomery siblings, as if I've known them much longer than just a few days.
"Strategy time," Sarah whispers. "What are everyone's strengths?"
"Charlie knows art and literature," Bash offers immediately. "And she's weirdly good at remembering lyrics."
I'm surprised he's noticed. "Bash knows sports, obviously, and geography."
"And I've got science and history covered," Sarah nods. "Perfect. We're going to crush this."
Across from us, Emily looks like she's being held hostage, while Ethan whispers something to Olivia that makes her nod in agreement.
"First category," Dad announces, pointing to the board. "Famous Duos and Couples!"
"Ironic," I mutter, and both Bash and Sarah chuckle.
"For ten points: Which famous couple's love letters were published in a collection called 'My Dear Boy'?"
Our team huddles. "Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas," I whisper confidently.
Sarah hits the buzzer. "Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas."
"Correct!" Dad marks a point for our team, and we exchange satisfied nods.
The questions continue, and we build a comfortable lead. Bash nails a question about Olympic figure skating pairs, and Sarah impresses us with her knowledge of scientific partnerships. I even contribute an answer about Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.
Emily, despite her reluctance, turns out to be carrying her team, answering most of their questions while Ethan and Olivia bicker quietly over wrong answers. Every time they miss a question, Olivia's face tightens in a way that suggests she'd be scowling if her face allowed it.
By the time we reach the music category, we're up by twenty points.
"This 80s power ballad contains the line 'I don't want to touch you too much, baby, 'cause making love to you might drive me crazy,'" Dad reads.
I slam the buzzer before he's even finished. "Love Bites by Def Leppard!"
"That's... correct," Dad says, looking slightly disturbed that his daughter knows such lyrics by heart.
Bash leans close. "How do you know that?"
"My rebellious phase involved a lot of classic rock," I explain. "Don't look so surprised."
He grins. "Just when I think I've got you figured out, Shortcake."
The nickname sends a pleasant warmth through me, especially when Sarah gives us a knowing smile.
As the game progresses, our lead grows, and the competitiveness between teams intensifies. Ethan starts to look genuinely annoyed, while Emily seems to be enjoying his discomfort. Olivia keeps adjusting her bracelet and whispering criticisms that aren't quite quiet enough.
"We would have had that if you'd listened to me," she hisses at Ethan after they miss a question about European capitals.
"I did listen, but you said Vienna was in Switzerland," he snaps back.
"I did not!"
Sarah leans toward me. "Are they always like this?"
I nod. "Pretty much. Makes you wonder how they'll handle actual marital problems if they can't agree on geography."
When Dad announces the final category—Winter Sports—Bash rubs his hands together gleefully.
The room tenses. Emily looks like she wants to be anywhere else, while Ethan leans forward eagerly.
"In what year was the first winter Olympics held in Aspen, Colorado?"
Bash's eyes widen, and he slams his hand on the buzzer at the exact same time Ethan slams his hand on his buzzer.
They both answer in unison.
"Trick question. The Winter Olympics have never been held in Aspen."
Ethan answers. "1976."
"Team one is correct!" Dad declares. "The Winter Olympics have never been held in Aspen. Denver was awarded the 1976 Winter Games but returned them to the IOC after Colorado voters rejected hosting."
"Yes!" I jump up out of my chair, unable to contain my excitement. Sarah high-fives Bash across me, and Bash grabs his sister and me, pulling us into a hug.
"That brings the final score to 105 for team one, 70 for team two. Congratulations to Team One!"
Emily immediately abandons her team to join us. "Thank god that's over. Ethan kept mansplaining every question to me."
I glance over at Ethan, who's staring at our celebrating group with thinly veiled annoyance. Olivia pats his arm mechanically, her smile tight.
For a moment, I consider walking over to rub our victory in his face—to remind him that he may have won the scavenger hunt, but we dominated trivia night. The petty satisfaction would be sweet.
But then I look at Bash, who's laughing with Sarah, his whole face lit up with genuine joy. He catches me watching and winks, sending a flutter through my chest.
And suddenly, gloating doesn't seem important anymore. What matters is this moment, this feeling, this man who's somehow turned this fake relationship into the most real thing I've felt in years.
"Who wants hot chocolate?" My mom calls from the doorway.
"With schnapps?" Emily asks hopefully.
"Obviously," Mom confirms.
"Can I have some too?" Addie hops off her tech chair.
"NO!" Both Bash and Sarah say simultaneously. Making everyone laugh as they filter towards the kitchen. Bash hangs back with me.
"You okay?" he asks. "I know how much you hate losing anything."
"Actually, I think I'm learning to be a more gracious winner," I say, sliding my arms around his waist. "And maybe even an occasional good loser."
He raises an eyebrow. "Who are you and what have you done with Charlotte Whitaker?"
I laugh, rising on my toes to kiss him lightly. "Don't worry. I'll still destroy you at Monopoly later."
"I wouldn't have it any other way, Shortcake," he murmurs against my lips.