Page 3 of Savoring Christmas
“Oh no, I couldn’t possibly impose on a family event,” Mia said. “But thank you. That’s very kind of you. Anyway, looks like the game’s about to start. I should get back to Remi. He’s very excited about tonight.”
“As are we,” Max said.
“All right, see you later then.” Mia gave them a quick smile before walking back to her table.
As soon as she was out of earshot, Max turned to Logan, his eyes sparkling with repressed laughter. “Logan, what’s up with you? Whenever she comes around, you act like you’re in seventh grade.”
Logan glared at him. “You guys are all on my bad list.”
“I’m innocent,” Nolan said. “It’s these other two—acting like a matchmaking mama from a Regency novel.”
Whatever that meant. Nolan was an English professor, who often made references only his wife understood. She owned the book store in town, which made them a perfect nerdy pair.
“Why don’t you just ask her out?” Max reached for the pitcher of beer to pour himself another glass. “I think she likes you.”
“No way she likes me,” Logan said. “Plus, now she thinks I’m a pyromaniac, thanks to you idiots.”
Luke exchanged a look with Max. “I say we make tonight interesting.”
Logan’s eyes narrowed. “Whatever you’re thinking—no. Just no.”
“Let’s make a wager.” Luke grinned like he used to when they were kids and he knew he’d won whatever game they were playing. “If Nolan and I beat you and Max, you have to attend Mia’s cooking class. Every Tuesday and Thursday. No excuses.”
Max laughed, thumping the back of his head on the booth in obvious glee. “And if we win?”
Luke shrugged, as though it wasn’t a big deal. “Then Nolan and I work the town’s Christmas food drive. Wearing adult-sized flannel onesies and antlers.”
“You must feel pretty confident. A fatal mistake.” Max smacked the tabletop with the heel of his hand. “We’ll take that bet.”
“For heaven’s sake,” Logan said. “Why do I hang out with you guys?”
“I’m so confident that I’m ordering the onesies right now from my phone.” Max tugged his phone from the back pocket of his jeans. “Red plaid. With the drop seats.”
Logan nodded, getting into it despite himself. “And big fuzzy reindeer slippers.”
“How does Max always get out of everything smelling like roses?” Nolan asked. “He’s the only one with nothing on the line.”
“It’s just the way of the world,” Max said. “I’m the golden child—and you all know it.”
The microphone squealed with feedback as Kris tapped it, the sharp sound cutting through the buzz of conversation in the room. He surveyed the crowd. “Okay, folks, let’s do this thing. The moment you’ve all been waiting for—the most anticipated trivia match of the year.”
The crowd whooped and whistled.
“But tonight,” Kris continued, “it’s not just a family throwdown. We’ve got a full house of competitors ready to fight for the prize: dinner for two at Mia’s.”
He swung an arm toward the bar. “In the back corner,The Mooseketeers, led by our favorite bartender, Maggie. Let’s hope you can spell better than you pour.”
The crowd laughed, Maggie lifting her pint in a mock toast.
Kris pointed toward the dartboard. “We’ve gotThe Library Lions, both a book club and a trivia team.”
A group of silver-haired ladies cheered from the back of the room, one of them waving a fist over her head. “We’re here to win, Kris.”
Next, Kris gestured toward the mail carriers in matching hats. “And, of course,The Sugarville Santas! My fellow postal warriors. They know every mailbox in town, but can they name the capital of Vermont?”
The Santas jingled their hat bells, getting booed good-naturedly by their neighbors.
Finally, Kris turned toward a small table near the center. “And we have a new entry this year: Mia Bianchi and Remi Hart, competing under the name La Dolce Vita. Very clever. But not to worry, folks. They won’t take the prize of dinner at their own restaurant. That will go to the runner up.”
