"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.
Chapter twenty-seven
Charlie
The fire crackles in the pit, sending embers dancing into the star-studded Colorado night. We've formed an awkward semicircle on the deck—Ethan and Olivia sitting stiffly together, Emily sprawled in an Adirondack chair, Bash beside me with his arm casually draped behind my shoulders, and Sarah completing our circle.
"I still can't believe they destroyed us in trivia," Emily says loudly, taking a sip of her spiked hot chocolate and looking directly at Ethan.
Ethan forces a smile. "The categories were clearly biased. Who knows about 80s power ballads anymore?"
"Apparently Charlie does," Sarah chimes in, raising her mug in my direction. "And that classical literature round? She was unstoppable."
I feel Bash's fingers squeeze my shoulder. Pride radiates from him, and I can't help but lean into his touch.
"Well, we did win the scavenger hunt," Olivia points out, her voice honeyed but with an edge sharp enough to cut glass.
"By cheating," Emily mumbles into her mug.
"What was that?" Olivia asks, though we all heard perfectly well.
