Page 29 of Houston, We Have a Problem
When Tamlin meets my gaze, I do my best to convey the message that it isabsolutely her. If I’m in a bad mood, it’s because she put me there.
“Let’s just get this over with,” I grumble, knowing before we’ve even started that I’m going to be wearing Kit’s costume next week. And I’m not looking forward to finding out what it is.
Chapter Thirteen
Darcy
Well, I love trivia night, and not just because Brooklyn and Jordan are thecutestcouple. Not that they’re actually acting like a couple. Apparently it’s still a secret, and they’re trying to act normal, but every time they look at each other, Brooklyn turns red and Jordan has to try to hide his smile before it gives his feelings away.
I don’t blame him for being into her. She’s so sweet and gentle, though she’s not afraid to get loud when she knows a trivia answer, and she is clearly very comfortable in her own skin. It’s probably hard not to be when she looks like Blake Lively, but she’s also quick to admit when she is wrong, especially when Jordan is right.
And Jordan, unlike before, is quiet tonight except for those rare moments that he throws out a trivia answer. Other than that, his focus is entirely on Brooklyn as she tries her best to ignore him, and it’s a miracle Houston hasn’t noticed and figured out that they’re a thing now.
Not going to lie, Houston is the most entertaining part of the night so far, partly because he’s really into trivia but mostly because it’s driving him crazy every time I get an answer right.
That’s not to say heletsme answer right half the time. He’s still sulking over me joining the team, and even when I am absolutely certain that I know the right answer, he questions it, like he can’t even get it into his head that I might be smarter than him. He’s smart too—more than I would have guessed. But if the guy isn’t willing to accept that his nemesis got where she is for a reason, he’s got bigger problems than losing at trivia night because he won’t accept my answers as the right ones.
The longer the night goes on, the more frustrated I get with him, and I am so glad I didn’t let him kiss me this afternoon if this is how he’s going to treat Tamlin.
I hadn’t planned to interact with him tonight. Like Connor said, the goal was simply to let Houston see me, then gauge his reaction before heading back home. I got to the bar early and set myself up in a conspicuous spot, but then I got distracted by the drunk who decided I should go home with him the moment he saw me. I didn’t even know Houston was here until he said my name. And when Jordan invited me to join the game? It was too perfect an opportunity to pass up. I’ve learned a lot about this man over the last hour.
When the game host announces a ten-minute break before the lightning round, I decide to test something and excuse myself to use the bathroom. While Houston hops over to talk to the table next to ours, which holds a couple of his sisters and their beaus, I find a decent hiding place and text the number I was pretending I don’t have.
I know, I know, but this is important, okay?
Me: This work is impossibly boring, and now I’m wishing I had just come out with you tonight.
Houston grabs his phone almost immediately, and the smile that blossoms on his face, dimples and all, makes my insides catch fire. Or smolder a little, at least. He types back quickly, making my heart jump up into my throat. Maybe this was a bad idea.
Houston: Who is this? You’re right irregardless. I am way more fun than work.
His little smirk tells me this wasdefinitelya bad idea, especially after what Connor told me to do, but I continueforward regardless. (Which is the right word, by the way. Not what Houston used.)
Me: Definitely not your needy neighbor who dropped her entire basket of clothes in your living room when she saw a spider. I’m sorry if you find any stray socks.
Houston: Did you kill it? I happen to be terrified of stray socks. And spiders, but mostly socks.
Me: But scorpions are okay?
Houston: Of course not. Why do you think I wear the slippers?
Me: You really need to get different slippers.
Me: Irregardless isn’t a word, by the way.
He takes a little longer to respond to this one, even though he’s scrolling through something on his phone, but his response makes me snort out loud and draw a couple of unwanted glances my way. Yeah, okay, it’s a little weird to be laughing behind a fake plant, but this is way more fun when I can see his face and all the expressions that come with it.
Houston: It’s totally a word. I just looked it up. But I might have meant regardless.
Houston: You never said what you do for work. Clearly it isn’t exciting, if you’re texting me, but that brings us back to the fact that I’m more fun than pretty much anything.
Unless he’s doing his best to hate me, of course. He hasn’t even noticed that Tamlin hasn’t come back, which could either be because he’s actively avoiding me or because this text conversation has him completely riveted. Maybe it’s both. He is certainly oblivious to Jordan and Brooklyn behind him, whoaren’t being even the least bit subtle now about how they feel about each other.
I really shouldn’t be encouraging Houston by texting him, but none of this feels like flirting. Connor didn’t say anything about not being friends with Houston—the opposite, in fact—and that was my original plan anyway. If I can keep him at a distance physically but build up the friendship this way, maybe everything will work out.
Me: It’s data control.
Me: It’s about as boring as it sounds, but I can do it away from an office, which is nice.
