Page 33 of Sincerely Not Yours

“There’s this great bar nearby that has a really fun trivia night. Want to go for a drink?” she suggested, her eyes sparkling.

Harris smiled at the invitation, trying not to look like the Cheshire cat. “Do they have nachos?” He didn’t care if the bar served raw broccoli and Brussels sprouts.

“Amazingnachos. Slathered in cheese.”

“Count me in.”

They walked through the snow to a bar on the corner of the block, a neon sign flickering through a frosted window. Inside, the atmosphere was lively and casual, with groups of friends huddled around wooden tables, laughter and chatter humming through the air. A long, polished bar stretched along one side, lined with high stools. Behind it, there was an extensive array of colorful, shelved bottles.

“Oh, good,” Gigi said, leading him to a table in the corner. “Trivia hasn’t started yet.”

As they shed layers, the server took their drink orders, and Gigi also asked for an order of loaded nachos. When the host’s voice came over the speakers, announcing that the first trivia round would start shortly, Gigi’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

“I’ve got the app on my phone. We can play together.” The enthusiasm in her voice was infectious, as she searched for her phone in her purse.

Harris grinned as they settled into chairs. “You a regular here?”

“Alice, Paige, and I have been a few times,” Gigi admitted, finding her phone and setting it on the table. “They have some great prizes. Last time I won a bread maker.”

“A bread maker?” Harris echoed, his eyebrows lifting, not sure if she was kidding.

“Yeah, a really good one. All the bells and whistles. Makes a mean sourdough. I love it.” She laughed, making Harris chuckle.

“Hopefully, we can top the bread maker tonight. Maybe a Crock-Pot?”

“Amazing. I need a new one,” she replied, and they shared a smile. The warmth between them was almost tangible. He wanted to scoop it up into his arms.

A few minutes later, the server delivered their drinks—hot toddies in glass mugs, each topped with a lemon slice and cinnamon stick. As they slurped warm sips, the host’s voice came over the speakers again. He explained the rules, and Gigi slid her chair around the table, scooching close to Harris. She held her phone up in front of him, showing him the trivia app.

“The faster we pick an answer, the more points we get, as long as it’s correct,” she explained. But Harris was more focused on how close she was. And how much closer he wanted her to be.

“Then I better make sure I can see.” He tugged her chair toward him. Gigi’s eyes widened, but she quickly relaxed, letting her knee fall against his thigh. A hot rush spread through him, mimicking his swallow of hot toddy.

“You any good at trivia?” She stared at him through thick lashes, as though he better say yes.

“Depends on the topic.” He tapped his fingertips on the table. Gigi’s proximity and playful gaze had his full attention. It had put him on edge, but in the best way possible.

She pursed her lips, like she had something to say, but kept her thoughts to herself when the start of the game was announced. Gigi raised her phone, and they both leaned in, waiting for the first question to appear. Harris was determined to impress her, so when the question popped up on the screen, he was beyond excited for a topic he knew well. He didn’t need to consider the multiple-choice answers.

Over the speakers, the host also read the question to the bar. “What was the title of the first novel written by Jane Austen?”

“Sense and Sensibility,” Harris and Gigi said at the same time, and Gigi immediately tapped the answer on her phone. They locked eyes. Gigi’s mouth popped open in what Harris hoped was awe.

“Are you a reader?” she asked. Harris nodded.

“I love to read,” he replied. “Nothing like getting lost in a good book.” Though staring into Gigi’s rich, chocolate eyes had him doubting his comment.

“What’s your favorite book?”

He grimaced, sitting back in his chair. “That’s an impossible question.”

“It’s aninterestingquestion. The answer reveals a lot about a person,” she challenged. “You can only pick one. You’re stranded on a deserted island and only have one book to read. What is it? Tell me. Don’t think too hard about it. What’s the first one that comes to mind?”

“On a deserted island?”

She nodded.

“ProbablySurvival for Dummies.”

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