Page 39 of Gloves Off

“When’s your birthday? Do you have any siblings?”

She stares like I’m the dumbest man on the planet. “Haven’t you been to a wedding before?” She catches herself. “Right. You don’t go to weddings. They’re not going to test us on boring stuff. They’re going to ask funny, cute questions. So fucking act like you like me,” she hisses through a smile.

We take our seats at the front, a hundred pairs of eyes on us. Miller explains the game—he’ll ask questions that the team and our friends have submitted, and we’ll write down our separate answers. If we were in a real relationship like our friends are, we’d know everything about each other.

“Question one,” Miller reads off a note card. “This one’s from Pippa Hartley. Who made the first move? Write it nice and big so everyone can see.”

Our markers fly, and when we hold up our boards to the audience, everyone laughs. I wrench around to see her answer.

We’ve both written each other’s name.

“I would never make the first move with you,” she says under her breath, pretending to laugh along with everyone.

“Like I would?”

“I see the way you look at my shoes, Volkov.”

“Because they’re ridiculous.” I sound defensive. “Not because I’m?—”

“Off to a rocky start,” Miller says into the microphone, and we wipe our answers away. “This one’s from Hayden Owens. Who’s the better kisser?”

The crowd laughs again when we hold up our answers. This time, we’ve both written our own names.

She lowers her voice so only I can hear. “Your teeth probably fall out every time you kiss someone.”

“Like I’ve told you a hundred times,I have all my teeth.”

“We knew they were stubborn, folks.” Miller’s eyes sparkle. “Incase you’ve lost count, you’re oh for two. Let’s try again. This one’s a two-parter from our very attractive and slightly terrifying physiotherapist, Hazel Hartley.” He winks at his fiancée and she rolls her eyes, smiling. “Part one: What is Georgia’s favorite gift from Alexei?”

I wrack my brain—what gift would I give the doctor? She’s materialistic and shallow.Jewelry,I write.

She holds her board up and the audience chuckles.A pair of fuck-me heels.

Our argument from earlier replays in my head. “We’re at a work event. You should be more professional.”

“God, you’re such a prude.”

“I’m not a prude.”

“Part two,” Miller says. “What is Alexei’s favorite gift from Georgia?”

She holds her board up again with the same answer as last time. The audience laughs again. Walker gives me an enthusiastic nod and a thumbs-up.Nice,he mouths.

The implication that the doctor gives me sexy gifts makes the back of my neck feel hot.

“Volkov, hold your board up,” Miller says, and I display my answer. “A cheap wedding,” he reads.

A weird tension ripples through the room, and some people laugh awkwardly. I glance at Owens. He’s pulled Darcy’s hand into his lap. He’d never write something like that for his answer.

I bet the doctor’s boyfriend wouldn’t say something like that, either. My jaw clenches.

“Nice,” my wife mutters. “World’s number one husband, right here.”

I let out a heavy exhale. I’m fucking this up. She’s getting under my skin, but everyone’s watching.Head in the game,I tell myself.

CHAPTER 19

ALEXEI

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