Page 54 of Mountain Bean Dream
I glanced down having momentarily forgotten I was dressed like a Rebel Leader.
“See you on the podium, Molly,” she said my name in two distinct syllables before sliding out of her seat and grabbing herplate of poppers. As she walked away, she gave me a backward glance.
“Where did that come from?” Jeremy leaned across the table.
“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to be rude, but it ruffles my feathers when I think someone’s being picked on.” I shook my head. “You looked incredibly uncomfortable and it sucked she can’t read the room. Who was she?”
He tipped his chin down with a heavy hit of a sigh. “A co-worker. She’s been asking me out for weeks.”
“And you told her you had a girlfriend?”
“Yeah, but I didn’t give her your name until Monday… after our agreement.”
“So, you’re being my fake boyfriend for Saturday night—”
“And any other moments in between,” he chuckled and glanced down quickly to my arm sling.
“Right, and I’m being your fake girlfriend for tonight?”
“Sounds about right.” He tipped his chin down. “Sorry I didn’t give you more warning. I didn’t think she’d be so aggressive.”
“Don’t worry about it. I can act the part just as well as you can.” I fired a wink n his direction. “Now, let’s brainstorm.”
Our dinner plates had been cleared away and I was on my second glass of wine when the trivia host called for silence.
“Alright, teams, are we ready for Round One? We’re going to start in two minutes.”
The crowd whooped in excitement.
“Bring it on,” I shouted along with Jeremy.
The server brought the folder with the five sheets—one for each round—and a pencil. All answers had a lone spot for a short answer.
“There will be zero hints, and a thirty-second time limit,” the announcer stated. “And any use of your phones or any electronic equipment will result in an automatic zero for that round.”
I searched Jeremy’s eyes, but there was nothing but excitement. He was practically bouncing in his seat.
“You probably have neater printing, so you can write.” He pushed the papers toward me.
I’d seen Jeremy’s penmanship and it was beautiful, however, I took the paper and pencil, looking at the first question. “Did we decide on a team name?”
Stretching across the wooden table, he wrinkled his nose. “What about Sans Organa?”
“Do you know whatsansmeans?”
He shook his head.
“It means without.”
“Ooh, then that doesn’t sound good,without Organa.Han is never without his Leia.” His perfectly plump lips split into a grimace.
“Well, that’s not always true. There was that time…”
“In spirit, they were always together.” His finger tapped the paper. “We need to focus. Any ideas for a name?”
“None.” I shook my head, trying to think of something fun and witty that was us. “What do you usually go by?”
“Jeremy Wentworth.”