*****
As usual the meal was divine. I’d never liked Asian style food before AJ made me try his beef stir-fry. I hadn’t looked back. Mom tried to pull it off once. It was a disaster. So I saved up my Asian nights for AJ. After the meal, we cleared off the table and set up Trivial Pursuit.
“I’m going with Zach.” Elliot piped up before anyone else could.
“Don’t you think Dani should get to pick first?” Jaeda gave Elliot a pointed glare.
He looked across the table at Dani, his expression dry and unreadable. “Nope. I’m going Zach.”
Dani just grinned. “Fine. I choose Liesl then.”
Liesl jumped up from her spot and nudged me out of my chair while Jaeda plopped down next to AJ. “Don’t worry.” She tapped his arm. “We’ll kick ass with the Entertainment questions.”
“Damn right, little missy.” AJ rapped the table with his knuckles then looked to his girlfriend. “Okay, darlin’ pick a color wheel.”
The game went well. We all had to explain the rules to Dani first, who had never played. We were all surprised by that one. She just blushed and said her family had never been big on board games. In spite of the fact she was Trivial Pursuit virgin, she was damn good. I knew she was intelligent before, but the game just made me like her even more.
Damn it, Trivial Pursuit.
I wanted to cancel my plans for the morning, but I knew Uncle Al would never let me get away with that. Elliot and I won after seventy minutes of play.
“Yes!” He gave me a high five and looked all smug while the rest of the table sat back with a relieved sigh.
“Finally. It’s over.” AJ started packing up the game while Liesl giggled at him and started picking wedges out of color wheels.
“Now let’s talk weekend, peeps. What are we doing?” Jaeda flicked her hair over her shoulder and leaned her elbows on the table.
My eyes dropped away from Dani’s sweet gaze. I reached for the last wheel and started dislodging wedges. “I’m not around this weekend.”
“Where are you off to?” Jaeda flicked my elbow.
I didn’t have the guts to face Dani as I said it, so kept my eyes focused on the plastic game pieces. “Uncle Alex invited me to hang out tomorrow.”
“Oh, I love him. He’s so hot.” Jaeda squeezed my arm. “Can I come?”
“Firstly, that’s gross, and secondly, no. It’s just a guy thing.”
She slumped back with an exasperated sigh. “Okay, fine.” Her cute little nose wrinkled. I nudged her ankle with my foot and winked at her. Her huff vanished. “Well, I might just hang out with your girlfriend instead then.” She turned to look at Dani, oblivious to the fact that the air had been sucked from the room.
Dani’s cheeks flushed pink. I glanced away to spot Liesl’s bemused grin. I didn’t want to look at Elliot. He’d be seething. Me getting another girlfriend he’d have to rescue me from? He would not be impressed.
“You and me are hanging out Sunday, remember?” Elliot nudged my elbow. “Halo 2 rematch.”
“That’s right.” I nodded, hating that I’d agreed to that. Hanging out with Elliot was so not what I needed right now. If anyone could make me spill the beans, it was him.
I chose to pack away the game as slowly as possible, while the girls talked weekend logistics and I tried to figure out how I could get out of my Sunday plans with Elliot. My tired brain couldn’t think of anything. I’d just have to play it cool and keep my mouth shut.
Containing my yawn as I slid the Trivial Pursuit box lid on was impossible. It was only ten, but I was done. I needed to catch some zzzzs before tomorrow. I doubted I’d sleep much, but at least I’d be horizontal.
“I’m out. I’ll see you guys on Monday.”
“Me too.” Dani jumped from her seat. “Thanks so much for having me, guys.” She smiled. “I guess I’ll see you girls tomorrow then.” She looked nervous saying it, like she wasn’t really sure if she did want to hang out with my friends, but she was doing it anyway. For me? Or for other reasons I didn’t want to consider?
We said our goodbyes and walked to the door together. I couldn’t say anything. I was nervous she’d ask me more about my uncle or San Fran. Would she suspect what I was up to?
“Are you alright?” Dani’s nose wrinkled as we stepped out the front door.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I kept my gaze down as I pulled the door shut.
“You don’t seem fine.” She sounded nervous. “Have I done something wrong?”
I was stumped for a minute. What the hell was I supposed to say to her?
“Nope.” I gave her a tight smile that said otherwise.
The light in her eyes dimmed, her expression faltering as she took a step away from me, down the driveway, ready to walk home to who knows where. I tried not to let it rile me.