Page 67 of Take the Plunge

“Who’s Barnaby?” Olly asks.

“My tarantula.”

Olly goes a little green. “Um, maybe spiders aren’t that bad.” His voice comes out as a nervous squeak.

“Your turn,” Aria says to him.

He shakes himself and grins. “I got recognised as employee of the week at the health club.”

We give him a round of applause.

“I went on a date last night,” Aria says. “And we’re going to see each other again.”

“You can tell all about it after the quiz,” I say.

“Your turn,” Aria says to me. “Hurry. The clock’s ticking.”

I hesitate. What could I say? The true highlight of my week has been spending time with Jett. I’ve been to his three times this week and slept over again last night. That’s the third Saturday night in a row that he’s invited me to stay. As always, the sex was great, but I also loved getting to know him better while cuddling in bed. The trouble is, my crush is getting worse the more time I spend with him. Or maybe I’m just in lust with the guy who is eager to learn every possible way to make me come. No. Not me. Men. In general. It’s not about me at all.

“Stop staring into thin air. It’s your turn,” Aria prods me in the ribs.

“Ow.”

“You’re being too slow.”

“Maybe he’s had a crap week,” Nathan says.

“Not with that misty, faraway look in his eyes,” Elouise says.

“It’s been a great week.” I smile.

“I told you he’s screwing someone,” Olly says.

“Are you?” Aria demands.

The landlord rings a bell above the bar, signalling the start of the pub quiz and saving me from Aria’s questions. For now.

“Round one, general knowledge,” the landlord announces.

Olly groans.

“He always starts with general knowledge,” Aria says.

“I know, and I hate it,” Olly retorts.

We all laugh. Aria points at me and narrows her eyes. Not even a pub quiz will make her forget what we were talking about, so I know she’ll grill me between rounds.

“In what body of water is the Sargasso Sea found?” the landlord asks.

“How are we supposed to know that?” Olly complains. “That’s not general knowledge.”

“Hurry, Hell’s Dancers are writing an answer down already,” Aria hisses.

I grab the answer sheet and pen and write ‘Atlantic Ocean’.

“How did you know that?” Olly asks.

“I just do. It’s the only sea that has no land boundaries.”