Chapter 26 Pixie?
CHAPTER 26: PIXIE?
LACEY
E mpty metal pizza trays and beer glasses litter the table. Our waitress stops by to refill our water cups and begins to clear off the used dishes. The restaurant is empty other than the trivia teams and the staff that is starting to wind down for the evening.
“Last call,” our waitress says.
“One more round?” Jace asks. A large, handsome smile erupts across his face. Most everyone agrees and the waitress disappears toward the bar.
“Okay, folks, we have made it to the last round of our game,” Leonard announces as he plays a sad sound effect over the speaker. He begins to recap each team’s score and it’s a close game.
We are currently in a three-way tie for first place with the Trivia Terminators and the Quiz Daddies. If we want the cabin we have to get every point this round.
“This round is for the lovers.” Some nineties love ballad begins to play in the background. There’s a dramatic pause and I watch as Logan’s eyes find Poppy’s. I turn my gaze to Chris, but he’s finishing his last slice of pizza and doesn’t even look in my direction. When I turn to grab my beer, I find Jace’s eyes locked on me and I allow myself to stare back. Warmth pools deep in my belly and my heart rate quickens. I know I shouldn’t be staring, but I can’t help myself.
“Book lovers, movie lovers, and music lovers,” Leonard says, finishing naming the categories.
“You okay?” Jace asks, causing me to break my gaze and stand abruptly.
“Oh, yeah. I’m great. Just thinking about what we have to do to win the cabin. I, um, I’m going to run to the bathroom, do one of y’all want to come with me?” I turn to my friends. All three girls stand at the same time.
“Hurry back,” Tanner yells as we begin to move away from the table. “We’ve got asses to beat.”
I roll my eyes and the four of us finish making our way to the restroom. The door swings open and I make a beeline for the sink. My hands grip the laminate countertop and I try to shake away the leftover feelings from the stare contest I just had with Jace.
“Chris seems nice,” Wren says, running her hands through her red hair.
“Oh yeah, he’s great. I’m glad y’all like him.”
“He’s definitely the safe choice,” Gray adds.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” My eyes find her in the mirror and she shrugs.
“Nothing. He seems fine,” she explains. “Safe. You know?”
I don’t know what choice she’s referring to. Chris is nice. He has a good job. After years of making the wrong choice, the safe choice feels like the right one. Plus, choice would mean I have other options and I definitely don’t. I shake off her words. Poppy walks out of one of the stalls and begins to wash her hands. “What do you think about Chris?” I ask.
Her eyes dart toward Wren and Gray.
“What? None of y’all like him, do you?” I question my friends.
“No, no one is saying that. He’s fine. If you’re truly happy with him, then I’m happy.” She dries her hands with a paper towel and walks past me towards the door. We all follow her out.
I sit back down next to Chris and the final round of trivia begins. “Our first category for our lovers round is book lovers. This series by Julia is set during the regency era and features stories about siblings Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and ____?”
The answer pops into my head immediately, but before I can get the name out, I watch as Jace grabs the answer sheet from Poppy and jots something down.
“Come on man. Now’s not the time for you to try to answer questions,” Logan says.
“Yeah,” Poppy adds. “Everyone knows Lacey’s the reader.”
“Okay, then.” He hands me the piece of paper with a cocky grin and I read his answer. He got it fucking right.
“How’d you know?”
“I read,” he says, like none of us should be surprised.
“You knew the answer?” Chris questions.
“Lacey recommended one of the books in the series, so I started with book one,” Jace says. “I’m about to finish book two.”
“You’re reading the whole series?” I ask.
“Well yeah, you can’t read a series out of order and I haven’t made it to book six yet, so I hadn’t mentioned it.” My mind tries to wrap around what he’s admitted.
“This is a very sweet moment, but if I don’t take the answer up, then we’re going to lose. You sure he’s right, Lace?” Poppy asks.
I nod and watch as she puts a three next to our answer and then jumps up to turn in the question.
“If you need book recommendations, I’m sure I can give you a few you would actually enjoy,” Chris says.
“What makes you think I didn’t enjoy Lacey’s recommendations?” Jace argues.
“It’s a chick book. Is it not?”
“I wasn’t aware books were gender specific. You should read it,” Jace says and then throws a wink in my direction. I feel my cheeks blush and I instantly feel Chris’s hand on my knee. I shift my legs enough to make him pull away. I need to get a fucking grip. Jace is my ex. I’m dating Chris.
“It’s time for question number two, lovers. This time we are heading to the movies. This 2008 rom-com features Matthew and Kate as they get a second chance at love and look for buried treasure.”
“ Fool’s Gold ,” Logan and Poppy say simultaneously with a laugh. Poppy scribbles it down with a two and runs it up to the front.
“We’re so close to the cabin being ours,” Poppy says when she returns. We’re two for two.”
“Hell yeah!” Tanner high fives Jace and Logan.
“Alright, it’s time for our last category, music lovers. Once the final song ends, I will tally up the final scores. Good luck and now for your final question. This song topped the charts in 1974 and was later featured on the soundtracks for Reservoir Dogs and Guardians of the Galaxy.”
“Tanner, you watch Marvel movies. Do you have any idea what he’s talking about?” Jace asks.
“I think it’s “Hooked On A Feeling,” but I’m not positive. Does anyone else have an idea?”
“When does that play in Guardians of the Galaxy ? I think you’re thinking of a different song,” Chris questions.
“No, I’m a huge Marvel fan. I’ve seen that movie at least thirty times. It definitely plays when they’re at the?—”
“Prison,” Wren finishes Tanner’s sentence.
“Exactly,” Tanner says, smiling at Wren.
Chris opens his mouth to say something and I interrupt him before he can. “Quick, Poppy, write it down and run it to the front. The song is almost over.” She does what I say and disappears.
“Well?” Chris asks when she returns.
“I’m not sure. He wouldn’t tell me.” We all sit in silence as the music fades from one song to the next and wait for our host to announce the winners.
After a few songs, Leonard is back on the mic and listing off the standings. He begins with tenth place and slowly moves up the list toward first. The tension at our table is palpable.
“In third place, Trivia Terminators.” The table to our left groans.
“Folks, it appears we have a two-way tie for first between Dink and Balls and Quiz Daddies.”
Our table and theirs erupt into cheers as everyone stands. Chris puts both of his arms up for a double high five and my hands find his. His fingers lace with mine and he pulls me in for a quick kiss. My head turns to find Jace’s eyes locked on me over the edge of his beer. His jaw tightens and his Adam’s apple bobs in his throat. If I didn’t know any better I would think he was jealous. I feel my face twist with confusion and I quickly try to hide it.
“Alright, settle down. Settle down. It’s time for the tie breaker. The final question is for our two first place teams only. You will have until the song ends to get me your answer. If you both answer correctly, then the winning team will be whoever gets their answer to me first. Are you ready?”
There’s a pause as everyone settles back into their chairs and waits for the question. Most of the other teams have left, but a few still remain watching to see who takes home the grand prize.
“Your category is rare wildlife.”
Jace and my eyes lock across the table. I hear Poppy let out a little squeak of excitement.
“Native to Mexico, this bird, known for its small size and unusual color, was recently rediscovered in Brazil by a group of scientists and dedicated wildlife photographers.”
“The Bix,” Jace and I say at the exact same time.
“You know?” he asks.
“Know what?” Gray says. The rest of the table is staring at the two of us.
“I might have googled you,” I admit. My cheeks heat.
“What did you say?” Chris asks.
“Holy fucking shit,” Tanner says as a large smile spreads across his face.
“Wait, do you know what it is?” Wren asks.
“Can someone please give me the answer? The other team looks like they have an answer,” Poppy says, frantically.
“You want to do the honors?” Jace asks. I grab the piece of paper from Poppy and jot down “Bixito Parrot.” Standing quickly, I turn to head toward where Leonard sits. Out of the corner of my eye I see a flash of pink. I turn my head and see a brunette wearing a pink dress heading toward the bar. We both make it to the front at the same time. Leonard laughs as we both slam our answer sheets onto the small table.
“Congratulations to our winners, Dink and Balls!”
Cheers erupt from our table as I flip around and I let out a loud scream. The brunette scoffs. We did it . We won the cabin. I skip back toward my friends and straight into the arms of Jace. He wraps me up tight and spins me around. I let my arms wrap around his neck and his woodsy scent takes over my senses. My arms erupt with goosebumps and for a split second I forget where I am.
I hear someone clear their throat and when I look over Jace’s shoulder, my eyes find Chris. Jace sets me down and I straighten out my clothes unsure of what just happened. Making my way around the table, I pull Chris into a hug.
“So how did you two know the answer?” he asks, pulling away.
“Um, well, Jace was part of the team who found it last year.”
Chris’s eyes widen and Jace shrugs.
“Wait, what? I had no idea you actually found it,” Poppy says, moving towards Jace and wrapping her arms around him. “And to think how obsessed you and Lacey were when we were younger and then you grew up and actually found it,” Poppy giggles.
“Y’all have all known each other a really long time?” Chris questions.
“Yeah. Pixie and I have known each other since we were in diapers,” Jace explains.
“Pixie?” Chris’s face contorts at the sound of the nickname and my cheeks heat.