Page 86 of Love is an Open Book
“Question,” Ted says, kneeling on the next raft in the row. “How do we know people aren’t cheating? They could just go along with whatever answer their partner gives.”
Mia sends him an are-you-kidding-me look, but it’s her sister, standing by me on shore, who says, “When has Mia chosen anything other than a rom-com for movie night?”
“Hey, I’m notthatpredictable,” she says, even though Kim’s defending us.
“It’s an honor system,” Chip says, jumping in. “Remember, the object is to have fun and learn more about your partner. There are no winners or losers because communication is the ultimate win.”
Ted looks like he buys that about as much as Mia does. Good. That will make beating their team even more fun.
Chip asks Ted and Kim the same question, and she gets it right by answering, “Documentaries.”
“Don’t get used to it,” Mia taunts her sister, and the woman floating next to her laughs.
Chip sighs like he’s already exhausted from dealing with us. Maybe he’ll decide to call it early.
The next question is whether our partner would choose to live on a tropical island or snowcapped mountain, and then heasks what’s one topic the other person could give a one-hour lecture on with no advance warning.
“The importance of romance novels,” Kim calls out before I can.
Mia playfully splashes her, though the water doesn’t make it where we’re standing, knee-deep. “Thanks for the free point,” she says, grinning.
Even though a few people argued over the answers, everyone seems to be having a good time. Chip flips to the next card, and a look of grim determination overtakes his face. Uh-oh.
“Now that we’ve had fun with the surface-level questions, time to dive a little deeper.” He grins at his own pun, and I fight back a groan. I’m getting flashbacks to corny counselors at summer camp and phony trust exercises.
“This round is for both the people on shore and on the rafts. What’s your partner’s preferred form of conflict resolution?”
One of the women on the shore says, “Can we go back to the softball questions, Chip?”
He chuckles. “Just think back to the last time you two fought. How did you resolve it?”
I can hear the other teams around us murmuring, and one of the other women points at her partner. “Don’t you dare say sex, honey,” she says, earning a chuckle from everyone.
Wanting to get it over with before all the easy answers are taken, I say, “Talking it out,” at the same time as Mia says, “Avoidance.”
Ouch. Okay, I know she’s playing to win, but there’s no need to be so honest. But no one seems to notice, each team calling out answers in a rush to not be the ones on the spot.
When everyone has answered, Chip directs us to all take a step forward. “See? No pressure. No judgment. Today is all about discovery.” He flips the card. “Next question is for the people out on the rafts. Answer honestly and your partner gets to advance another step.”
“Are these life jackets really necessary?” one of the men standing in the river asks. “The water is barely waist-deep where they’re floating.”
“Safety first,” Chip says. “And speaking of, I’d like you to tell your partner what you need most to feel secure in your relationship.”
Mia pulls a face, and I wonder whether she’s ever considered the question. I haven’t. The others give their answers, which I miss because I’m so focused on hearing her response. What will she say? When the last of the group has given their answer, she seems to sense everyone waiting on her.
“Uh, I dunno.” She scratches at her neck, nose wrinkled. “A crystal ball, I guess?” Whatever I was expecting, it wasn’t that.
Chip crosses his arms, and even though he says he’s not a therapist, I can easily picture him leaning back in a chair, fingers steepled. “Care to elaborate?”
“No.” The word is as flat as the calm water, but then Mia cuts her eyes toward Ted, who’s watching her. Seeming to take that as a challenge, she rolls her shoulders back. “I’m not sure anything short of knowing the future would make me feel secure in a relationship.”
The woman who called us college sweethearts clicks her tongue in sympathy. Meanwhile, my stomach is in knots. What she wants is impossible. There are no guarantees on love.
“Everyone, take two steps toward your partner as a reward for that great show of honesty,” Chip calls, and I do, sloshing toward Mia even though her words have widened the distance between us.
“If you could change one thing about your relationship with your partner, what would it be?”
I can’t help but mutter, “Really?”
