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“I thought for sure you’d lose it and think I was messing around with Zander.” Her gaze remained steady on mine, searching for hints I was upset.

“Is that what you’d do in my shoes?”

Andi’s expression darkened. “I’d cut a bitch.”

The belly laugh burst from me, peals of laughter ringing through the hall. She grinned, and I let the certainty settle over my shoulders. I loved Andi. And it was time to tell her.

“Is that your way of saying you love me?” I asked teasingly.

Her expression sobered, and I rushed to fill the silence. I hadn’t meant to push for her to say it first.

“I love you, Andi Torres.”

Maybe I’d blurted it out in the dingy hall of our local bar, but from her expression, you’d think I’d professed my love in a notarized letter with a lifetime guarantee. Andi lit up from the inside, the corners of her eyes crinkling as she smiled at me. I let her confidence burn away any lingering doubts that we’d make it. Even when we competed, we were a team.

“Yeah, Hot Stuff? You think saying it first makes you the winner?” she teased.

I shrugged, trying for nonchalant, though two fingers to my racing pulse would have immediately revealed me as a liar.

If I had her love, I was the winner. And so was she.

No matter who said it first.

“Well, consider this a tie. I love you too, you know.”

A grin that hurt my cheeks split my face.

“Yeah?”

I cut off her nod, hauling her into my arms, crushing us together. I couldn’t stop placing kisses on her face as she giggled, protesting.

Only to be interrupted once again by Jimmy’s grumbling. “Knock it off. Round two’s starting. If you care … Why do I keep drawing the short straw?” Jimmy’s complaint faded into the background as he threw up his hands and returned to their table, but his words broke the moment.

Andi pulled back, pressing her forehead to mine.

“You want to get out of here?” she asked.

“And miss trivia?” I asked.

“I feel a lucky streak coming on,” Andi said with a grin.

Epilogue – Andi

I should have known something was up. Ty had been sneaky all week, tapping away on his phone. He thought he’d been smooth, but I could tell he was working on something. I figured he’d tell me when he was ready.

We’d settled into a new normal, after our exchange of faith and feelings at Haven. That night marked the beginning of a new phase in our relationship. One of certainty. When my lease expired, there was no question we’d move in together.

I reveled in knowing I was loved. Wanted. Necessary to Ty’s survival. He never left me in doubt.

Trivia Night had continued as a weekly tradition. We’d flirted with splitting time between teams like kids juggling divorced parents, but ultimately, the zip of competition added too much spice to ignore.

I bet Ty I could win with no panties.

He was so distracted glancing at my short skirt that the Rejects were a slam dunk as victors. Playing with him, competing, never got old. Side bets for sex acts became our go-to method of ramping up the tension.

When he slid into the booth next to me instead of joining the Knit Wits, I should have suspected.

The air was ripe with anticipation, and I mistook it as the routine thrill of battling with our wits.