Page 120 of A Little Crush
“Yup.” Rory starts the clock, and it counts down from five before the wordfrogshines back at me.
“Finley’s greatest fear,” I announce.
“Frogs?” Rory answers.
“Yes, next one.”
She tilts the phone down, confirming she got the correct answer, and another word flashes on the screen.Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.
Damn. I search for a good clue Rory will understand because humming is off the table. Then it hits me. “Okay, do you remember when you were in kindergarten and you would always mix up the lyrics to this song, and your brothers would make fun of you so?—”
Her eyes light up. “So you practiced with me for like two days before making my brothers sit and listen to me sing the entire song, three times, mind you, with the right lyrics so they couldn’t tease me anymore.” She grins, tilting the phone down and confirming the answer before she’s even said it. “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Next.”
Daisy.
“Your favorite flower.”
“Daisies,” she answers.
Scar.
“When you were little and obsessed with the Lion King, who would you make Maverick pretend to be?”
Covering her laugh with her hand, she answers, “Scar.”
The phone dips toward the ground again as Rory confirms she guessed the word correct, not bothering to ask whether or not she’s right.
Ballerina.
“What did you want to be when you were little?” I ask.
“Ballerina?”
“Yes,” I answer. “Next.”
Green Day.
Shit.
“Uh.”Think, Jax. “They’re one of my favorite punk rock bands in high school. You used to always give me crap because they’re old and?—”
“Green Day,” she rushes out. The phone counts down from five, proving our time is almost up.
“One more,” I urge.Mouse.“I used to call you Squeaks because you sounded like a?—”
“Mouse!”
Buzz.
The timer ends, and Rory clutches at her chest. “Okay, that was stressful. How’d we do?”
Pax and Tatum exchange looks of disgust. “Too fucking good,” Paxton announces dryly.
“He’s right, we’re officially not keeping score because you guys kicked our butts and we haven’t even started yet.” Tatum laughs and reaches for Paxton’s phone. “This is for fun andonlyfor fun. We clear?”
“Someone’s a poor sport,” Rory quips.
Tatum rolls her eyes but ignores her, turning to her boyfriend instead. “Ready, Pax?”
