Page 50 of The Vacation Mix-Up
“Maybe you should zip it so I can hear.”
He runs his pinched fingers across his lips, pretending to seal them.
I sneer.
“Okay, trivia buffs, my name is Carlos, and I’m your daily trivia host. Woot!” Carlos pumps the air with his fist. “Don’t forget to write your team name on the top of the sheet. Andnocheating. Cell phones in pockets, and your arms will remain in their sockets.” He gives us all a playfully menacing look. “Are you ready?”
We call out, “Yes!” and he drums his hands on top of the piano he’s standing next to. “First question: Which singer’s real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta?”
“Ooh. That’s easy.” I scribble downLady Gaga, pleased we’re off to a good start.
Riley leans forward and assesses my answer, but he doesn’t have to, because I know I’m right. So I flip the page over so no other teams can see what I’ve written and then smugly sip my juice. One question down, nineteen to go.
Carlos hums “Poker Face” while waiting for everyone to finish answering the question, and I roll my eyes, annoyed.
“He’s giving it away,” I grouch. “That’s so unfair.”
“Ease up, Riles. It’s just a game.”
“No, it’s a competition.”
He scoffs. “Let me guess… you were Homecoming Queen?”
I clench my jaw. “No.”
“Class President?”
Damn it!
“As a matter of fact, yes.”
“Thought as much.”
I continue sipping my juice, ignoring him.
“Next question,” Carlos announces. “According to Greek Mythology, who was the first woman on earth?”
I flip the page quicker than a fish flips out of water and I jot downPandora.
Riley leans forward, assessing my answer again. “You sure?”
“A hundred percent.”
The corners of his eyes crinkle, and I have to look away. They’ll distract me, and I want that damn trophy.
“Question number three. What is the chemical symbol for iron? And I’ll give you a clue.” Carlos places his hands on his hips. “It’s not I-R.”
Pencil to paper again, my hand pauses.
Crap! I hated Chemistry.
“Cat got your fingers?” Riley asks.
“No. And it’s cat got your tongue,” I say, correcting him, “not fingers.”
He gently slides the pencil from my hand, his knuckles momentarily brushing mine, before he writes downFe.
Fe? Wouldn’t that be Fluorine or something?
