Page 26 of The Accidental Honeymoon

“You’re super smart, huh?” He looks at me admiringly. “That’s another very attractive trait. Score one for me, I guess.”

To hide my blush, I take a sip of my drink and sputter when it turns out to be a Buttery Nipple. Gross!

The next few questions fly by. We learn that groundhogs are part of the squirrel family, that the first Groundhog Day was celebrated in 1887, and that Bill Murray’s character relives the same day for an estimated 10,000 years. Jay guesses at most of the answers. He’s consistently, almost impressively, wrong.

I save us each time, much to his growing amazement and my smug satisfaction.

“Which U.S. President was born on Groundhog Day?” the emcee asks.

Jay presses the buzzer before I can stop him. “Lincoln!” he declares with the confidence of a man who’s just sunk a game-winning three-pointer.

“Incorrect,” the emcee says. “Lincoln was born on February 12th. Take a drink.”

I laugh as Jay mutters something about historical trick questions. He lifts his shot glass, and I clink mine against his. “To your stunning intellect,” I say.

He downs his in one gulp, then makes a face like he’s just bitten into a lemon. “That stuff is lethal.”

I sip mine, letting the disgusting brew trickle down my throat slowly. “It’s not so bad if you’re used to it.”

“Are you drunk?” Jay wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. “You’re full of surprises tonight.”

I shrug, sliding my shot glass to him with a laugh.

The emcee moves on to the next question: “In the movie, what song plays every morning when the alarm clock goes off?”

I press the buzzer. “I Got You Babe” by Sonny and Cher.”

“Correct! Sounds like someone here has a groundhog obsession.”

Jay calls out, “She’s a ringer. I demand a recount.”

The final question of the night: “According to folklore, if the groundhog sees his shadow, what does it mean?”

Jay slams the buzzer. “Six more weeks of winter!” he yells.

“Correct!” the emcee says. “Looks like we have some real groundhog experts here. Let me bestow the prize… a VHS copy of Groundhog Day!!”

“Oh god,” I groan. Jay grabs me and lifts me off my feet, cheering. My cheeks hurt from grinning. “I can’t believe we won.”

“Are you kidding? You demolished the competition.” He sets me down, letting his hands rest at my waist. “Thanks for hanging in for so long.”

I beam up at him, my heart beating so loud that I’m certain he can hear it. “I had fun,” I admit. “Can I keep the VHS?”

A laugh bursts from Jay’s lips. “Yes. I don’t have a VCR. I don’t even know anybody who does.”

“More for me, then. Maybe I’m just lucky.”

“You’re lucky, all right.” He squeezes me before reluctantly turning me loose. “Should I walk you home?”

“You don’t have to. I can see my apartment from here.” I check the time on my phone, sighing. “But I do need to get to bed. I’m supposed to work the early shift before we head to the first stop on our so-calledhoneymoon.”

“Are you sure you won’t stay at my house tonight?”

Looking at Jay, I know that there is no way that I can be in a room with him and just sleep. The chemistry between us is combustible. And the last thing I want to do is set fire to our new agreement.

We might be married, but only on paper. I’d do best to remember that.

“I need to stay at my place tonight. I have to get up at three-thirty anyway.”

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