Page 35

She sends me a dreamy smile.
My brain fills with images of Nova beneath me on a bed, that dreamy expression put there because of me.Shit.Fantasizing about her when I’m jerking off in the shower is one thing; doing it when she’s this close and we’re surrounded by people is trouble.
Thoughts like this are dangerous, especially considering I haven’t had physical contact with a woman since I slept with a surfer I met in Hawaii. The woman was harmless, a lost soul with no real motivation other than to catch waves and help her family sell fruit at the local market. In hindsight, I shouldn’t have done it, but she’d been hitting on me for days and wasn’t looking for anything serious, so I gave in to my urges.
I shake that night from my mind and focus on Gigi as she explains the rules of the game.
“Each team is given one question, with thirty seconds to guess all seven answers correctly. The first letter to each word will be given to help guide your answers. If you answer incorrectly, the guess goes to the next player on your team and so forth, until time runs out.”
She instructs which team will start the game, and the first question appears on the screen.
After the first four answers, Nova and I start to get into the game. By the second round, we’re really into it, hooting and hollering. We even stand a few times to shout our answers.
Nova’s responses are hilarious, like when the question was about furry animals you can have as a pet. She answered a wolf and a meerkat and was one hundred percent serious.
My stomach muscles ache by the fifth round, and the best part is I haven’t once thought about my past or stressed about my future and circumstances.
Servers pass around drinks and hors d’oeuvres. I have a beer, and Nova has something fruity that’s half-yellow and half-pink. We eat mini shrimp cocktails, mini cups of beer cheese soup with croutons, and filet medallions wrapped in bacon. Those are my favorite.
“This is the last round of the night,” Gigi announces.
Nova and I set aside our food and focus on the screen.
I rub my hands on my jeans and wait for the question to appear.
Name famous pop stars, the question reads. A list of blanks with first letters show beneath. The biggest blanks in the center have a J and B.
It’s the other team’s turn. An old woman shoutsJustice Bran!When I first came here and participated in Game Show Night, the pop culture knowledge of the older ladies blew my mind.
“He’s such a pretty boy,” another lady calls out.
Nova stiffens in her chair.
Gigi’s eyes widen on her, then she glares at Roger and waves for him to move on. “Next answer.”
Nova stands and walks off.
Concern shows in Gigi’s eyes, but no one else seems to notice what’s going on.
I stand and mouth to Gigi,I got it.
She nods and continues the game as I chase after Nova.
She’s halfway across the lawn, headed toward the pool.
Now that I’m far enough away from the crowd, I call out, “Nova?”
She doesn’t acknowledge me.
I catch up to her. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She sniffles and wipes under her eyes, continuing her fast pace.
She’s crying?
“Nova, stop.” I touch her arm. Her skin is warm and smooth as silk. “Talk to me.”
“Why?” She wipes under her nose. Lights from the pool area catch her profile, illuminating her tear-stained cheeks.