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“May I?” He holds his hand out for my glass. I oblige his kind offer. “You’ve played Uno before…” He guesses as he pours my white wine with his sleeves pushed back to his elbows.
Distracted by the view, it takes me a moment to answer, “Yes…for years.”
“And our next game, should I assume you have all of the trivia answers memorized as well?” His forearms are on display filling his short glass with whiskey.
“Sadly, I do not.”
“Should I try to arrange a partner trade? Or are you hoping to switch so you can be sure I lose yet again?” He looks at me with a weary look.
“Please, don’t hold back. Continue sharing how deceitful you think I am,” I scoff.
He looks so good tonight.
No, I need to be diligent and not think better of him solely based on his physical appearance.
He follows me back to the table and pulls my chair out for me. These manners are something a girl could get used to but I must remember, he’s just being polite. He leans forward to say, “Oh, I don’t trust you at all—I thought that was obvious.” He returns to his seat next to mine. Thankfully, I’m able to contain the shiver his close proximity encourages.
“Do we need to separate the two of you?” Oliver asks with a stern look at his father.
Henry answers, “Not at all. Stay partnered with your love. I’m sure Lucy and I can endure each other’s company for the remainder of the evening.” I can’t help but let my eyes roll as I take a larger-than-normal drink of my wine. At this rate, I may need a refill before we have a chance to answer a single question.
It is our team’s turn to ask a question to Finn and Mia, Henry takes the card and begins to read. I lean my head slightly in his direction to check for the correct answer. Without looking up, Henry puts his arm around the back of my chair and brings his hand and the trivia card between us. I feel a smile creeping on my lips at his kind gesture but halt the action before anyone else can notice. Even after Mia answers correctly and Henry discards the card, he doesn’t move his arm from behind me.
It must be the wine causing my serious lapse in judgment, but I am finding myself enjoying his closeness far too much. As each turn passes, I become less focused on the trivia and more so on Henry’s close proximity. If I turn too much, it could appear as if we are snuggling like a couple. I can’t have that. I don’t need to look like one of the many women who fall all over him, but as the game continues, the distance between us grows naturally smaller. I should know better, but I do nothing to stop it.
During our final opportunity to answer a question, my shoulder is against his side. My wine glass sits on the table, only half finished, and I realize I can’t even blame that for my actions.
“Our answer is C.” Henry’s voice is firm with complete confidence.
“It is not!” I exclaim louder than is needed, but I’m not going to lose this game on a question I am absolutely certain I know the correct answer. We both sit up straight to argue face-to-face.
“Excuse me?” he asks as he places his glass on the table.
“You’re wrong.” It’s that simple, and the rest of our party begins to make taunting sounds at my confidence.
“I am not wrong. I believe as Europeans we know a little more about our history than what they teach in the States. Isn’t your country the one who glorifies the act of dumping tea in large bodies of water?”
Why must this man be absolutely awful?
He’s so much more attractive when his mouth is closed. Not that I would have a shot with him if he were a good person. I amvery muchnothis type.
“Fine, go ahead. Use your answer, and then the loss is on you.” I turn to the room, “You are all here to witness.”
“Our official answer is C,” Henry says directly to Mia, who still holds the card in her hand.
As he does this, I pull out my phone and send a quick message to the group chat.
Lucy
The correct answer is B.
Mia starts to shake her head as Finn, Oliver, and Hannah pull their phones out to check the message they just received. “The correct answer is…B.” She gives my partner a sympathetic look, “Sorry, Henry.”
“You’re joking, Mia.” He laughs in an annoyingly sexy way.
“Nope.”
She hands him the small trivia card, and I begin to stand. I’m not sure where I get the courage, but as I begin to leave the table, I stop behind Henry’s chair. I rest my hands on the back of his chair while he faces away from me, still looking at the card. Leaning close to his ear, I whisper, “Looks like you owe me a coffee, at the very least. Sorry,youlost the game.” Before he can reply, I move into the kitchen while I call for a cab and then assist with the cleanup.
