Annabelle leans into my side. “Don’t look now, but there is a guy at the table to our right who keeps checking you out.”
My eyes dart to where she said, and sure enough, a guy is staring right at me with a group of his friends surrounding him. He offers me a smile, which I return.
“He’s cute,” Annabelle teases.
Max shifts on his chair next to me, brushing my arm. I don’t have to look over at him to know he’s uncomfortable with the conversation. In the past, I would have assumed it was because there was a spark between us, but now I know the truth. He doesn’t like me like that. It’s more likely it’s his social anxiety not liking the topic.
“What two musicians had an encounter with a bat while on stage?” the host asks.
“Ozzy Osbourne,” Max and Emmett say in unison.
“There was another?” Annabelle asks.
“Yeah, Taylor Momsen. She’s the lead singer of a rock band, but you might know her as Jenny Humphrey fromGossip Girl,” I tell them.
“Wait, are you telling me that the girl who played Cindy Lou Who inThe Grinchis a rockstar?” Annabelle says in disbelief.
“Yes, and a bat bit her on the thigh while she was performing on stage,” I tell her.
“Are you sure?” Andrew, another guy from the office asks.
“Positive.”
They submit our answers, and sure enough, we are the only ones to get both answers correct.
“Fuck yeah.” Andrew and Emmett high-five.
“Good job,” Max says quietly.
“Thanks.” I shoot him a smile.
“All right, everyone, let’s take a quick fifteen-minute break. When we come back, we’re diving into sports,” the host says.
Erica groans. “I hate it when they ask us shit about sports.”
“Hey, some of us prefer it when they ask us those questions,” Emmett teases her.
“Rub it in, jock,” Erica tosses back.
“Admit it, you were totally a band kid, weren’t you?” Andrew teases her.
When she gives him the middle finger, we all laugh.
“I should go to the bathroom, but I don’t want to get up,” Annabelle says as she rubs her pregnant belly.
“Yes, you should. We don’t need you bouncing mid-question because the little one is pushing on your bladder,” Emmett says.
“One time. It happened one time!” she protests.
I go to take a sip of my drink before I realize it’s empty.
“I’m going to grab another one,” I tell everyone as I hop off my stool.
“Are you sure? If you just wait, the waitress should come back around soon,” Max tells me, looking nervous.
I know he doesn’t want me leaving him alone with people. It’s part of his social anxiety. It’s good for him, though. Besides, I will be only steps away.
“Positive. It will be faster if I just go to the bar,” I tell him.
