Page 8 of One Lustful Summer
“Now that we’ve met, are you ready to beat everyone?” Rowan asks, a smirk on his lips.
Thankful for the subject change, I lean close. “Yeah, I’m not the best at trivia, but I’m very interested in seeing how everything goes.”
Someone places a kiosk on our table, and after a lot of back and forth, we settle on a team name. Lauren gets our name, Two Squared, typed in and then we’re listed along the other teams on the TV screens around the bar. It’s a really cool set-up and my excitement grows.
“We will play three rounds tonight. The first round is about beverages. As usual, It’s twenty questions. Each question is a point in this round. And let’s get started,” Carl announces. “First question—What is the oldest dark colored soft drink in America?” The TV screens display a thirty-second countdown as background instrumental music plays.
“It’s Coke,” Lauren answers and starts typing into the kiosk.
“Wrong,” Rowan replies. “It’s Dr. Pepper.”
“No way,” Lauren states.
“He’s right,” I add. “It’s Dr. Pepper. Trust me.”
“Okay, let me change it real quick,” Lauren answers as she types away at the kiosk. She hits submit and then our team name is on the board with 3 seconds to go.
“The answers are locked in. If your team’s not on the screen, you didn’t get your answer in on time.” Carl states. “The answer is … Dr. Pepper. Let’s reveal your answers.” The screen shows each team’s answer next to their team’s names. Checkmarks and X’s stating who got the answer right.
“Thanks for the backup,” Rowan says while he leans in closer. His woodsy, masculine smell taking over my senses.
“No problem,” I answer, giving him a smile.
Carl asks question after question and before we know it, we are on the last question of the first round. “For the final point in this round. What alcohol is made from potatoes?” Carl asks.
“Vodka,” I answer quickly, and everyone nods.
Lauren quickly types it in and we wait for the answer. When Carl announces that the winning answer is indeed vodka, it’s a round of high fives around the table.
As the evening progresses, I’m more confident in my surroundings. As we talk out answers, my chair has gotten closer to Rowan through the rounds. Our thighs and arms brushing against each other as we lean in with our answers.
Once we complete all three rounds, we secure third place. Not too shabby for my first time. And it comes with a free drink voucher for next week, so that’s a score in my books.
“I think I’m gonna take off,” I say to Lauren as I finish my water. I had a glass of wine with dinner and then switched to water after we sat down for trivia. She gives me a little pout and I laugh at her antics. “I know it’s lame to leave before ten, but I have a lot to accomplish tomorrow.”
I stand up and grab my purse from the back of the chair. Approaching Lauren, I gave her a quick hug. “Thanks for the invite. I enjoyed myself.” And it’s the truth. It was great to meet her friends, Susan and Nikki. As well as her brother and cousins. Especially the one who I sat next to for the last hour.
“I’m so glad you came. Next week?” Lauren asks with a grin.
“Yeah, next week sounds good,” I answer.
I take a step back and hit a solid wall. A warm wall that steadies me at my hip.
“I’m headed out as well. I’ll walk you out,” Rowan says at my back, his fingers digging in slightly.
The light pressure holding mecaptive. “Okay,” I breathe out.
Rowan makes quick work of saying his goodbyes, while Lauren raises her eyebrow at me and smirks. I wink back at her, showing my confidence. But I know my face is flushed.
“After you,” Rowan states. I take the lead to the exit, Rowan on my side and his large hand pressed against my lower back, leading me through the crowd.
The electricity and warmth from his touch is an exhilarating feeling. It seeps through my cotton dress and wraps itself around me. I have never felt so alive from just a single touch. I have to tell myself to breathe. In and out.
A few steps from the door, Rowan steps forward and opens the door. His hand leaves my back for a few seconds and I instantly feel a chill. The tether between us broken.
“I over there,” I tell Rowan, point towards the back of the lot.
The parking lot was full when I got here earlier, so I ended up parking towards the back of the lot. Rowan replaces his hand on my back and directs me towards my vehicle.
