Page 57 of When You Had Me Adapting

CHAPTER 26: PIXIE?

LACEY

Empty metal pizza trays and beer glasses litter the table. Our waitress stops by to refill our water cups and begins to clear off the used dishes. The restaurant is empty other than the trivia teams and the staff that is starting to wind down for the evening.

“Last call,” our waitress says.

“One more round?” Jace asks. A large, handsome smile erupts across his face. Most everyone agrees and the waitress disappears toward the bar.

“Okay, folks, we have made it to the last round of our game,” Leonard announces as he plays a sad sound effect over the speaker. He begins to recap each team’s score and it’s a close game.

We are currently in a three-way tie for first place with the Trivia Terminators and the Quiz Daddies. If we want the cabin we have to get every point this round.

“This round is for the lovers.” Some nineties love ballad begins to play in the background. There’s a dramatic pause and I watch as Logan’s eyes find Poppy’s. I turn my gaze to Chris, but he’s finishing his last slice of pizza and doesn’t even look inmy direction. When I turn to grab my beer, I find Jace’s eyes locked on me and I allow myself to stare back. Warmth pools deep in my belly and my heart rate quickens. I know I shouldn’t be staring, but I can’t help myself.

“Book lovers, movie lovers, and music lovers,” Leonard says, finishing naming the categories.

“You okay?” Jace asks, causing me to break my gaze and stand abruptly.

“Oh, yeah. I’m great. Just thinking about what we have to do to win the cabin. I, um, I’m going to run to the bathroom, do one of y’all want to come with me?” I turn to my friends. All three girls stand at the same time.

“Hurry back,” Tanner yells as we begin to move away from the table. “We’ve got asses to beat.”

I roll my eyes and the four of us finish making our way to the restroom. The door swings open and I make a beeline for the sink. My hands grip the laminate countertop and I try to shake away the leftover feelings from the stare contest I just had with Jace.

“Chris seems nice,” Wren says, running her hands through her red hair.

“Oh yeah, he’s great. I’m glad y’all like him.”

“He’s definitely the safe choice,” Gray adds.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” My eyes find her in the mirror and she shrugs.

“Nothing. He seems fine,” she explains. “Safe. You know?”

I don’t know what choice she’s referring to. Chris is nice. He has a good job. After years of making the wrong choice, the safe choice feels like the right one. Plus, choice would mean I have other options and I definitely don’t. I shake off her words. Poppy walks out of one of the stalls and begins to wash her hands. “What do you think about Chris?” I ask.

Her eyes dart toward Wren and Gray.

“What? None of y’all like him, do you?” I question my friends.

“No, no one is saying that. He’s fine. If you’re truly happy with him, then I’m happy.” She dries her hands with a paper towel and walks past me towards the door. We all follow her out.

I sit back down next to Chris and the final round of trivia begins. “Our first category for our lovers round is book lovers. This series by Julia is set during the regency era and features stories about siblings Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and ____?”

The answer pops into my head immediately, but before I can get the name out, I watch as Jace grabs the answer sheet from Poppy and jots something down.

“Come on man. Now’s not the time for you to try to answer questions,” Logan says.

“Yeah,” Poppy adds. “Everyone knows Lacey’s the reader.”

“Okay, then.” He hands me the piece of paper with a cocky grin and I read his answer.He got it fucking right.

“How’d you know?”

“I read,” he says, like none of us should be surprised.

“You knew the answer?” Chris questions.

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