Page 87 of The Weight Of Falling
“Kate’s a snow leopard,” Gideon offers. “She doesn’t trust easy and is skittish at sudden noises, but if you’re patient and gentle, she’ll come close.”
Kate looks at Gideon. “Brown bear,” she says quietly. “A big, gentle presence until you threaten his den.”
“Joel’s a wolf,” I supply. “Brooding. Watchful. Slightly scary.”
“Golden retriever,” Joel says, holding my gaze. “Eager to please and all heart.”
Sofia uncaps a marker and awards each team a point. “Next question,” she continues. “What’s a phrase your partner says way too much?”
Joel studies me thoughtfully. “Kenzie says ‘It’s fine’ when it’s absolutely not fine.”
“Joel doesn’t say much,” I counter lightly. “That’s the problem.”
Everyone erupts into laughter.
“I’m stealing that answer for Aaron,” Tess announces.
Joel shoots me a quick, crooked grin.
My skin warms. I like it when he smiles at me like that. I like it a lot.
“If your partner had to survive a zombie apocalypse with only one item, what would it be?” Sofia asks.
“Tess’s mouth,” Aaron says, deadpan. “She’d talk them to death.”
We all clap and cheer in agreement. Tess bows with a flourish, then drops a kiss on Aaron’s cheek like she’s accepting an award. They take the round easily.
Somewhere between sitting down and the second question, the space between Joel and me disappears. Our legs press together, warm and intimate. Joel doesn’t move away, and neither do I. But we’re both pretending nothing is happening.
While Sofia prepares the next question, I feel Joel watching me instead of the board.
“Focus,” I whisper, smiling without looking up.
“I’m trying,” he says, and it doesn’t sound like he means trivia.
“Guilty pleasure TV show?” Sofia asks.
“The Great British Bake Off,” Gideon answers instantly. “Kate cries when people get eliminated.”
“That’s because they try so hard,” she says, throwing a pillow at him. He ducks, slips an arm around her, and presses a tender kiss to her forehead. “Not many people realize she’s a marshmallow inside.”
“And I’d like it to stay that way,” Kate retorts, but her eyes are soft.
“Sherlock,” Tess says for Aaron, and they high-five like Olympic champions.
Beside me, Joel shifts just enough that our thighs press even closer together. We’re awful at this round and we might lose spectacularly, but somehow, it feels like we’re winning the thing that matters.
“Next question. What’s your partner’s favorite color?” Sofia asks. “Kenzie, you go first.”
I glance at Joel. Every mental snapshot is the same: black T-shirt, dark sweatpants. Like Aaron, he seems allergic to color.
I’m about to say black when a spark of mischief flares inside me. I want to win, but the urge to mess with him is stronger. This is a fun evening, so why not have a little fun?
A slow smile stretches across my face. Joel goes still, immediately suspicious. Clever man.
“I know Joel wants everyone to think his favorite color is black,” I begin. “But really, it’s pink.”
Aaron and Gideon both recoil, as if distance might prevent contamination.
