“Our first kiss was at our apartment complex,” he began.
“Boo,” Alec called out. “You’ll have to be more specific than that.”
Everyone else unfortunately agreed.
At least they hadn’t looked shocked, which meant his answer wasn’t too far off from what Lina had said. “Okay, it was outside the door of …” Lina very subtly pointed at herself. “Lina’s apartment. And I’d say the kiss was … the start of something amazing.” The words had just felt right, and the satisfied smile Lina gave him confirmed it.
She flipped her board with the matching answer. How in the world he’d gotten both right?
“Two points. Nicely done, you two.” Josie clapped. “Okay, Dillon. You go first on this next one. Lina said she’s most attracted to your…”
Lina turned bright red and covered her face with her board.
He’d never seen her flustered before, and it had him blushing in response. “She’s most attracted to my…” Obviously, she hadn’t said something benign like his sense of humor or kind heart. What would make her hide her face? “Um… My winning smile?” he knew it wasn’t right, but reaching for something else would only embarrass them both worse.
Lina flipped her board. His biceps? She looked everywhere but at him, amid hoots and laughter. Working out in front of her would never be quite the same.
***
“See, that wasn’t so bad. We even won The Newlywed Game.”
“’I guess we know each other better than we thought we did.” Dillon smiled at her. He seemed a lot more relaxed now that they were almost done.
Lina swung his hand with hers as they walked back to his truck. From the house, his mom and stepdad were watching them leave.
There had been several not-so-subtle attempts on his mother’s part to invite her to more family events that weekend, but Dillon had immediately declined on Lina’s behalf. If he didn’t want to extend the charade, she certainly wasn’t going to offer.
They’d gotten out of there sooner than she had expected. It was only a little before nine. As soon as Heather and Kip left, Dillon had made excuses for them to leave only minutes later.
The night was still young, and while she didn’t think she could eat another thing, that was no reason not to stop in on another Thanksgiving.
Lina set her cake container on the middle seat before pulling out her phone. She sent a quick text to Ashley, asking if everyone was still there and if they had room for more. Dillon rounded the truck and got in on his side, shooting her a shy smile. Lina put her phone in her lap and put on her seatbelt.
“Um, would you mind dropping me at my friend’s house? It’s not too far from here, and I’m afraid if I go home first and drive back, it will be too late to go.”
“The place you planned to go for Thanksgiving?” Dillon asked, looking guilty. “Of course. I’d be happy to.”
“Thanks. You want to stop in with me? We’ll talk about you either way, so you might as well show up too.”
Dillon’s mouth dropped open, and he let out a short laugh. “Um, that’s not the best sales pitch I’ve ever heard. Your friends know about me?”
“I didn’t tell Ashley to keep it a secret, so, I think it’s safe to say everyone there knows I just pretended to be your girlfriend for your family. But my friends will also worry less if they meet you and see for themselves that you’re perfectly harmless.”
He nodded slowly. “Okay, sure. You’ll need a ride home anyway. Do they know we’re coming?”
Her phone pinged in response. “Ashley says, most everyone has left, but please come, and bring the man for vetting.”
Dillon scrubbed a hand down his face. “I guess I deserve that after letting my family grill you.”
Lina gave him directions before resting her head back and closing her eyes. “I’m so full I could burst.”
“Me too. Unless someone hands me dessert.”
Lina laughed. “Because you’re too polite to decline it or because there’s always room for dessert?”
“Both?”
The laughter died out into silence, and Dillon turned to look at her. “Where’s your family tonight? Sorry, is that prying to ask?”
