Page 48 of This I Promise You
“Uh… Trivia. Like questions about stuff. They do it once or twice a month with different themes. Tonight is Modern Comedy,” he says matter-of-factly, like I’m supposed to know what any of that means too. I mean, I don’t live under a damn rock, I know what trivia is, but I’ve never heard of anyoneactuallydoing a Trivia Night.
Easton shrugs then chuckles. “I thought it’d be a good laugh to watch you lose.”
Oh wow. He’s joking, obviously. He has to be. So I jab back and feign being offended. “Oh,I’mgonna lose?”
“I mean, you’re not going to win.”
This little shit is looking at me with so much pleasure set into his features. He legit thinks I’m not going to be good at this and he finds it so damn funny. I still don’t know what it’ll entail exactly, but I might have toactuallybe bad just to hear him laugh. Wait, I’ve never for real heard him laugh before. Little chuckles and near silent giggles, but nothing substantial, and now I will stop atnothingto hear a full belly laugh from him.
Oh, it’s on!
“Them are fighting words, Belle, and I will wipe yourasswith this so-called trivia. Prepare to get fucked.”
“Prepare to get— What?!” He leans away from me with wide eyes again.
“Come on, dude.” I shake my head, then chase him down for a kiss and win. “Do they have iced coffee?” I ask, then hop out of the car.
Easton
Why Do Moments Like This Have to End?
I’ve only been here a handful of times since my freshman year, but it’s one of those little places where you automatically feel cozy and welcome. I don’t know if it’s the smell of coffee and books swirling together or the mix of art and crafts scattered about the store. Either way, it’s pretty great.
We’re on the ninth round of trivia. Each one has been around a single TV show, and so far, it isn’t looking good for us. Oh, and we’re on the same team. I misunderstood that part when I read about it online, and now I’m wishing I wasn’t right about Paul losing. I know I got them all right for theIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiaround, but that doesn’t make up for the other seven rounds. I’ve only watched a handful of the others so far,SeinfieldandShameless, and today was the first I’ve ever heard ofThe IT Crowd. But hey, I’m doing better than Paul. I think he’s gotten maybe one question right so far.
He’s sitting across from me smiling, holding his second vanilla iced coffee with a splash of cinnamon, in the middle of winter no less. I can’t say anything. I'm drinking an iced chai latte, but I still gave him hell when I made him order first. The look on his face when I ordered next was priceless.
“Alright, quiet down. Time for the last round.” Scott, a heavyset man with a keen wit and the greatest side commentary, and also the gamemaster, settles us. I smile at Paul, ready to continue dominating, even if I sort of feel bad he’s not doing so amazing. In my defense, we’re a team. So if I win, so does he. Plus, I didn’t know what shows the trivia was on tonight and I didn’t think I’d do this well. “This round is on the award-winning hit Canadian show—”
He hasn’t even said the name of the show yet and I see Paul’s eyes light up. Huh?
“—Schitt’s Creek.”
“Yes!” Paul jumps in his seat and almost spills his drink.
“Uh… You likeSchitt’s Creek?”
“Do I like… I fu…” He lowers his voice to a whisper and tries again when he remembers where we’re at. ”I fucking loveSchitt’s Creek!”
“Guess we’ll do pretty good this round then.” Maybe this is our shot at third place out of four.
“Hell yeah!”
I laugh. His sudden enthusiasm is intoxicating. I want to lean across the table and kiss him, but that just seems a bit much in the middle of a little coffee shop. Is it weird that I actually miss his lips already?
“Okay. Cell phones away, remember to keep it quiet so other teams don’t hear your answers,Laura.” Scott eyes a pretty brunette a few tables down. She’s been so enthusiastic the entire night, and she might have yelled a few answers by accident. I’m assuming she’s a regular based on their banter. “First question.”
Paul leans over the table and swipes up one of the pencils. Our faces are close, hovering over the answer sheet. I wonder if he’s thinking the same thing I am, if he wants to kiss me again too.
Focus. Trivia. Not his lips. Trivia.
“What was the date of David and Patrick’s wedding? Don’t need a year, but a monthanda day at least.”
Before I have time to think about it, Paul’s writing. I spySeptember 3in his sort of messy but somehow elegant handwriting. How’d he know that? Like, I’ve watched the show. Love it actually, but the date of their wedding? All I know is that they got married and Moira officiated.
“Are you sure?” I crinkle my brow.
“One hundred percent!” He wiggles in his chair. This boy’s excited.
