Page 12 of Crash with Me

Settling across from me, Heidi catches my gaze and winks. I immediately relax.

“It’s a funny thing,” my dad says.

“What’s that?”

“I keep trying to wrap my head around why you’d show up to my wedding with a woman you’ve never introduced to the family.”

I clench my jaw.

“Can you blame the boy?” his buddy Jim asks from his other side. “You’re marrying the last girlfriend he introduced to you.”

Dad’s glare grows more fierce, and I choke on a laugh.

Luckily, Stacey calls us all to attention before the two old guys can come to blows. “Okay, friends, family, and people who aren’t quite sure where you fall, but somehow ended up attending the wedding.”

There’s a rumble of laughter.

“We’re playing the Newlywed Game—or, rather, the Soon-to-be-Newlywed Game in honor of my dad and his”—she clenches her teeth in a tight smile—“bride. In this first round, we’ll ask this side”—she gestures toward Heidi—“questions about”—she points in my direction—“this side. You’ll have thirty seconds to write down your answers.”

Narrowly resisting the urge to sigh—yet again—I uncap my marker and hold it poised to write.

“What”—Stacey says with dramatic flair—“is their favorite meal?”

I perk up at that. Flashing a grin across the aisle, I quickly scribble down my answer. I beam when it’s our turn to flash our boards as Heidi and I both hold up signs that say, “Smoked ribs with baked beans and corn on the cob.”

I shake my head as I wipe the board. I can’t believe she just asked one of the questions Heidi and I randomly discussed last night.

“What is their favorite TV show?”

We once again answer the same with his and her responses ofFriday Night Lights. Stacey continues the line of questioning. Heidi and I ace every question in the first and second rounds.

By the time she’s made it through the list of questions provided by Kelly, only she and my dad and Heidi and I are still standing with perfect scores.

“Okay, we’re down to two couples.” Stacey arches an eyebrow. “It’s time for the final, rapid-fire question round. And to make sure no one cheats…” She looks down at the notes and gives a chuckle. “It looks like you’ll be playing this round blind-folded.”

“What?” My pulse quickens. “That’s not possible.”

“Why do you say that, son?” Dad asks. “Afraid you won’t know the answers

I dart a nervous glance at Heidi, who just gives me an encouraging grin. It’s not like we ended up needing to cheat. Somehow, every question had an answer we both knew.

But I’d taken comfort in looking up to find her encouraging gaze.

“I mean… How are we supposed to answer with our eyes closed?”

“You’ll be sitting next to each other,” Kelly says. You’ll point at the person who best fits.”

I frown, but I catch that neither my dad nor Kelly seems particularly happy about this turn of events. I perk up at that. This must be where Stacey decided to go rogue.

Well, good then. Heidi and I have already more than proved we know each other well. Or, at least, better than most of the other guests in attendance. Win or lose, we can walk out of this game with our cover intact.

As we sit down next to each other and one of the bridesmaids places blindfolds over our eyes, Heidi reaches over to take my hand. She gives it a short squeeze.

It’s a clear signal. As if to say, “I’m still with you.” It’s the kind of support and acceptance I never knew I wanted.

“If it’s anything about a short temper or kind of wild,” she whispers, “pick me.”

“And if it’s not?”

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