The fifth round starts, and after gulping down the remains of his third can of Red Bull, he stands. “Anyone ready for another?”
We all decline his offer because Austin only just got back from the bar.
As soon as Tek is out of sight, Anaise rounds the table and slides into his chair, scooting it so close to me our knees knock.
Austin picks up the pen and quickly writes down an answer.
With bright, wild eyes, she looks up at me and says, “Here, take these?” I feel her hand move onto my leg as she passes me Tek's keys beneath the table. She leans in closer, the smell of wine strong on her breath. “Don’t let him know you have them.”
“Why not? He hasn’t been drinking.”
“I know. But it’s getting to the point in the night where he likes to disappear. So if he tries to sneak them out of my bag, he won’t be able to find them.”
She holds a drunken finger up to her lips.
I nod, and slide them into the front pocket of my jeans.
Austin is watching us with one eyebrow cocked, but he doesn’t say anything.
Tek returns and sits in Anaise’s seat without comment.
The entirety of round five I feel Tek’s eyes on me; heavy, as though he’s trying to glue me in place so he won’t lose track of where I am. Even when it’s my turn to buy a round of drinks I can feel his stare. It’s just like when we were in his parent’s basement. Except this time he's not under the influence.
When the final round of trivia ends, the host makes a big production out of tallying the scores.
Anaise leans heavily against my side, slurring as she whispers, “Tek pretends like he doesn’t care, but he does.”
I look at him from across the table and see him actively focused, for the first time tonight, on something that isn’t me. He’s so fixed in on what the host is saying, he doesn’t even notice that Anaise is leaning all over me. Or maybe he does and he’s choosing not to react.
I have no idea anymore.
Maybe I’m too drunk to know the difference between ignoring, and disinterest.
The host calls out the final results, and we come runner up to Quiz-team-a Aguilera.
Anaise sits up straight. “We should celebrate.”
Austin raises his whiskey, having decided that the both of us would be moving on from beer. “To second place.”
Anaise’s laugh is wild and carefree.
I reach across the table and bump the base of my glass against the side of Tek’s Red Bull can. “To being smarter than everyone who isn’t as smart as we are.” He snorts, but his eyes crinkle, and I can see he’s actually having a good time.
“I’m dancing,” Anaise announces, and takes two steps away from the table before back tracking to look at Austin as if to saywell, are you coming?
From his spot across the table, he looks at me, and slowly stands. I give him a wink, and watch him follow her to the dance floor.
I swallow down half of the remaining liquor and let the warmth spread through my chest, because, for the first time since I landed back in Broadrock, I don’t feel like I’m on the outside looking in.
Tek runs his most recent empty can back and forth between his palms, the tin cracking slightly under the pressure. “Thanks for coming tonight.”
I shrug. “Thanks for not leaving after the first round.”
He lets his head fall back. “Anaise wouldn’t have let me.”
“She’s just worried about you.”
He stares at the ceiling. “There’s nothing to worry about. Besides, I’ve got you now.”
