Page 33 of The Beachside Rental

“Next question.”The announcer’s voice drew Jenna from her thoughts.“This band was popular in the eighties and nineties.They sang about roads without names.Who are they?”

Jenna grinned as she selected the correct answer.Her gaze moved to the display screen up on the wall to make sure her answer was locked in.It was.

She glanced across the table to Simon.He smiled back and nodded.She took it to mean that he’d watched her log in the answer and that it was correct.

“And the answer is the group U2.We’ve got ten correct answers,” the man said.“But only one of them can be our winner.And the team with the correct answer that responded the fastest is...The Smarties.And now we have two teams up on the leader board.Who will be the next to join them?Let’s find out...”

As the evening went on, Jenna found she knew more about eighties rock than she’d ever imagined.And she learned that Simon was really good at trivia.And when he didn’t know the answer, he was a good guesser.If she came back to trivia night, she was bringing Simon with her.He was her lucky charm.

It was after nine by the time the game was over, and they were getting ready to head home.They hadn’t won.That came as no surprise to Jenna.She hadn’t expected to win the whole game.She just wanted to beat her brother in a round or two, and they’d done that.But in the end, The Smarties had a few more points than they had.

As though thinking about him had summoned him, Neil stepped up to them.“Good game.”

“Thanks,” Simon said.“You too.I didn’t have a clue on that last question.”

“Neither did I,” Neil said.“They like to throw some really tough questions in there every now and then.You’ll have to come back next week with my sister to play again.My usual partner should be back then.The mayor is really good at trivia—better than me.”

Jenna knew Tony must be really good for her brother to make that sort of admission.She arched a brow at Neil.“Did you just challenge us to another game?”

“I didn’t.But I am now.We’ll have to bet on something.Any ideas?”

Jenna’s mind was seriously tired after all of those questions.“I’ll leave that up to you.”

“Good.I’ll see you two next week.”Neil smiled, and there was a look in his eyes like he was up to something devious.“Did you get Mom’s message about dinner at her place tomorrow night?”

Jenna nodded.“Any particular reason she wants to have dinner?Did I forget someone’s birthday or something?”

“Not that I know of.I think she might be worried about the storm.”

“Oh.You’re right.Why didn’t I even think of it?Without Dad around, she’s going to need some help getting the place secure.”

“Don’t worry about it.I’ll have Caleb and Darby get on it.”

“I can help too,” Jenna said.

“I’ll let them know.Although, you’ll be busy at the market.”

That was right.She forgot that she was working the early shift.“I can help after work.”

Neil turned to Simon.“You should come to dinner too.”

Simon’s brows rose high on his forehead.“Thanks.Uh...but I don’t want to intrude.”

“You won’t be,” Neil stated flatly.“People are always bringing someone to dinner.Aren’t they Jenna?”

It was one thing to take Simon to lunch at the Lighthouse Cafe.After all, it was part of her showing him around town.No big deal.

And tonight, she’d invited him to get out and meet some of the island’s residents so he would start to feel at home.It appeared to have gone well, and Simon had made some new friends.

But taking Simon to her parents’ house to meet her family, that, um...It felt too personal—like something someone would do if they were seriously dating someone.And they weren’t dating.

Although, she did clearly recall them bandying that word around when they’d been making plans for this evening.But neither of them thought it was a real date.Did they?

However, when she noticed her brother giving her an expectant look, she swallowed hard.“Sure.My mother would love to have you.”

“I don’t know,” Simon hedged.

Neil was already on his phone.His fingers moved rapidly over the screen as he typed out a quick message.“There.”He pressed Send.“I let our mother know that you’re bringing a guest to dinner.And don’t forget to do some prep for the storm,” he said in his fatherly voice that he now used all too frequently at the market.“I know they said it wouldn’t be severe, but you live at the beach now.You’re going to feel it more than most of us who live in town.”