Wrapping my arm around her waist, I pull her body in to mine as we walk toward the door. I’m going to take advantage of having her so close, and that it’s just the two of us tonight.
“I have a confession.”
Her arm mimics mine and wraps around my waist, her finger hooking into the belt loop of my jeans. “What’s that?”
“I suck at trivia.”
She heaves a dramatic sigh and murmurs, “I knew this was too good to be true.”
I teasingly pinch her side, causing her to yelp and try to wiggle away from me as she giggles.
“How about another wager?” I ask once she settles back into my side.
“Ian, no offense, but your wagers suck. Probably as much as you do at trivia.”
I kiss the top of her head because I can. “You’re right. How about this? If we win at trivia, I’ll tell you what you won.”
She snorts out a laugh. “I’ll stress what I said the other day; that makes no sense.”
“Fine. If you don’t like prizes…” I trail off, knowing it doesn’t matter if we win or lose, I’m the one who is the true winner because I get to spend the evening with her. But I’ll do my best to make her feel just as lucky as I do.
She grumbles next to me, “Fine, deal. I want a prize.”
My hand slides down to her hip, where I give her an approving squeeze. “Good answer, champ.”
17
Maggie
“Oh my god, we got second!” I throw up my hands when the announcer calls our team name.
This was actually a pretty hard trivia, so second place is pretty good. Especially considering that the table that won had seven people playing.
Ian stands, a grin brightening his face as he looks at me. “I’ll go grab whatever we won.”
I watch him leave, and my cheeks and stomach hurt from how much I have smiled and laughed tonight. Ian wasn’t as bad at trivia as he made himself out to be. But I’m better.
How happy I feel is bittersweet. I knew tonight would be like this.
Perfect. Incredible.
Everything I’d hoped it would be. Thebest night since, well, a year ago when I was with him last.
Ian comes back, snapping a piece of paper in front of him. “Great news. We’re now the proud owners of a coupon for not one buttwofree appetizers on our next visit.”
I clap my hands together. “I love apps.”
He retakes his seat and slides the coupon to me. “Since you carried this team, I think it’s only fair for you to be in control of this. That way, if you give me the boot again, you can enjoy what you worked so hard for.”
I know he’s joking, but what happened last year—what I caused—is the dark cloud hanging over us that neither of us wants to address.
With my heart in my throat, I take a deep breath. “Ian, about that...”
He doesn’t answer, just raises his eyebrows and takes a sip of his beer.
“I want to apologize. There’s no excuse for what I said, and I regret every word.”
His jaw muscle jumps, and I immediately wonder if I should’ve continued to leave the unsaid as that.
