11. Trivia #2
“Tonight’s topic will be…” she pauses for emphasis, like she’s about to announce who the Grammy winner is. I can practically feel the entrapment thrumming off of Reese. “Romance Movies!”
“Ah, fuck,” I hear Reid grumble behind us.
Reese sticks her tongue out and whirls around to flip him off.
I grin because I kind of love seeing her this way. It’s so…her. Like how she used to be.
Free and funny. Not a care in the world. Nowadays she’s so cold…quiet. I guess that’s why I cling to her. I think she’s the only one of the cousins who understands what it’s like to be unwillingly silenced.
Reese doesn’t notice when I smile at her for a few seconds, soaking in the moment.
“The first question!” The host declares, capturing our attention as we wait patiently.
“In The Notebook, where do Noah and Allie first meet?”
I sit up straighter, knowing the answer even without the multiple-choice. Reese slams the buzzer.
“Oh, a speedy response!” the host exclaims. “Don’t you want me to read the choices?”
“Nope,” Reese declares, as I blurt the answer, “A carnival.”
The host cheers, “Correct!”
I risk a glance at Liam, who still looks like he’d rather be any other place in the world than here with me.
Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe his words were real, that he really is sorry he ever loved me.
“Next question,” the host reveals. “In How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days, who plays Andie Anderson?” A pause, then she begins reading the choices, “A. Katherine Heigl. B. Kate Hudson. Or C. Cameron Diaz.”
Reese looks at me, but I shrug. I’m terrible with names. Now, if it were a question about the movie itself, then I might know. But as I think it over, another team hits the buzzer. Reese throws up her hands when she sees that Reid pushed the button.
“B. Kate Hudson.”
The announcer checks her sheet, a smile quickly forming. “Correct!” She walks over to the scoreboard and marks the points. “Five points to the Mother Puckers!”
I turn ever so slowly in my chair. Liam’s face is beet red as Reid winks at the host, giving her a lazy smile.
Reid eventually realizes I’m glaring at him and holds his hands up. “Brennan is to blame for that one.” He discloses, referring to their team name.
“Why in the hell would you let Brennan pick it out?” Liam chuckles, quickly looking at me and offering a smile.
My chest eases slightly as he slips up on his facade. Busted. I think and use the opportunity to return the sentiment. Clearly, he’s forgotten his own game. He can pretend all he wants. I know he doesn’t hate me.
Over the next thirty minutes of questions, we go back and forth. Reese and I get one right, then Reid and Liam do.
“So…is it safe to assume that you and Reid have a bet on tonight’s game?” I ask after a while.
Reese nods, quickly glancing behind her. “Yup.” My eyebrows shoot up, indicating she should explain. Thankfully, she does without much of a fight, “If he wins…I have to go to their game against Chadlington…wearing his jersey.”
My mouth drops open. “Chadlington! Of all the games…Reese!” She presses her hand over my mouth, keeping me from saying what I was about to say next. Real concern tightens my brows.
“Not. A. Word.” She threatens.
I pretend to zip my lips. If she doesn’t want me to say anything, then of course, I won’t.
I just can’t believe she actually agreed to it…agreed to go. To that game. With that team. With those players. “And if you win?” I ask, curiosity more than piqued.
A slow smile creeps across her face. “He has to shave his precious locks of hair. Bald.” Her voice rises, intentionally, as she declares, “I’m certain all the puck bunnies will love that. Don’t you think, Morgan?”
My hand smacks my leg as I whip around to face him. Reid’s hair is his pride and joy. The black mid-length strands are always styled effortlessly, falling over his face or sticking out of that damn beanie he won’t take off.
“No need to worry, Hearteater.” He takes off the hat and shakes his head like a dog. “Highlighter always looks good from behind—but she’ll look even better with my name across her back. So, there is not a chance in hell I am letting you two win tonight and miss the opportunity to see that.”
My lips curl inward as I turn and hide my smile.
“Not. A. Fucking. Word.” Reese murmurs, jabbing her elbow into my ribs and knocking the air from me.
“Oh my God—he’s totally flirting with you!” I whisper.
I feel Reese playfully punch my leg, her eyes flaring wide as she retorts, “He flirts with everyone.” She stares at the host, who’s moving around the room during the five-minute break, whose eyes keep finding Reid’s until she finally makes her way over to the table, the pair quickly making conversation.
“Like literally anyone,” she adds, pointing behind her.
I wave her off. He might be flirting with the host, but something tells me he’s only doing it because it clearly gets under Reese’s skin.
The host announces the end of the intermission. “Looks like we have a tie!” she exclaims, pointing to the scoreboard.
And of course, it’s between us and the dumbass “Mother Puckers” seated behind us.
I push down the urge to look behind me, to meet those green eyes I can feel on my back.
Suddenly I’m burning up, my skin prickling with heat. God bless, I desperately need to get laid if just the thought of his eyes on me can make me this hot and bothered.
I shake my head, removing thoughts of Liam and his skillful hands—along with other body parts from my mind. Forgetting how it felt for him to touch me, a place aching down below that makes me shift in my seat.
I miss the following several questions, too busy trying to fight the pooling liquid at my center. I do everything in my power not to turn around and look at the cause behind it all.
“AUbrEY! PAY ATTENTION!” Reese scolds, playful shoving me.
The only thing that finally snaps me out of horny trance is the host as she yells, “It’s time for the last question—and the tiebreaker!”
I fidget in my seat. I’ll never admit this to Reese, but I totally get why she keeps doing this every year—the whole competitive aspect of this is addicting.
The host clears her throat. “In Titanic, what is Jack’s last name?”
Oh! I think. I know this. I know this.
But my mind goes blank as Reese stares at me. She knows I love the movie—knows that Liam and I used to watch it all the time.
But my mind is blank—a white canvas awaiting the strokes of a painter.
Nothing. Emptiness.
Because I’m not thinking about the question, or Titanic, or Jack and his last name.
I’m thinking of Liam, of everything he said that night two weeks ago.
I’m sorry, Aubrey. Sorry that I ever let myself fall in love with you. That I’ll never care for you the way you care for me.
His words loop in my mind over and over. A never-ending circle of torment courses through me. What if he really meant it?
What if he really is sorry about it all? Does he regret it—his time with me?
My heart hammers in my chest, my palms sweaty as I run them up and down my pants. Reese’s eyes narrow, and I know she knows me well enough to see my mind is anywhere but here.
Then the buzzer sounds.
At first, I think Reese hit it. But when I look over, our remote is lying on the table, nowhere near her grasp.
But then I hear a voice behind me say, “Dawson.”
I turn, breath caught in my throat. Reid is flipping Reese off as she swears loudly. But I pay them no mind. My eyes are only on Liam…because he’s the one holding the remote, the one who knew the answer.
Of course he did.
Seconds pass in what feels like a lifetime, but also a blink. He stands, walking out without so much as a goodbye to his best friend or me.
“Liam—” I call after him. “Liam, wait!”
But he doesn’t turn around.