“That you were practically holding someone’s hand and undressing him with your eyes.”
“I was notun—”
“You don’t need to tell Beau and Adrian anything,” Darren sighs.
Ignoring more of the trivia I’d come here for, I think back to the night Beau had done everything but ask me outright if I was sleeping with his ex-husband. I’d told Darren then that Beau knew something was going on, but I don’t know how much they’ve talked about it since, and I won't bring it up now. And Noah is too easygoing to worry about his excitement being dismissed, so he and I drink our beers and refocus on the quiz while Darren remembers how to tease and flirt and have some fun.
It’s all a little easier when we’re asked the next question.
“The Café Parisien and the Verandah Café permanently closed on the same day due to what historical event?”
I’m thinking it might have something to do with a war, but I honestly don’t know.
One look at Darren’s dimples tells me he does.
“Was there a battle?” I ask. “An invasion or attack of some kind?”
“Nope.”
“Were they in Europe?”
“Nope.”
“Were they near each other? Not in entirely separate states or countries?”
“Yep,” he smiles. “Very near each other.”
I’m out of time, and wouldn’t cheat with Darren’s answer anyway, that line left empty on my paper when I writethe response to the question that follows. But I’m stubborn and curious, so I stare him down once he’s done pouring shots of whiskey for a couple who might’ve ridden in on a bike like mine.
“What century?”
He smiles again. “Twentieth.”
“Will the year give it away?”
“Weren’t you alive for most of the 1900s, old man?”
“Shut up,” I growl. I get another answer correct, and stay frustrated by the one I don’t know. “Fine, just put me out of my misery.”
Darren leans forward, his arms crossed on the bar and his face too close to mine when Noah is still right there. “The restaurants didn’tcloseso much as they sank to the bottom of the ocean.”
Jesus.
“Wait, they were on theTitanic?” Noah asks.
“They were on theTitanic,” Darren says.
He’s gone without gloating, though he deserves the opportunity and might take it later. Noah and I wrap up the round, and I’m careful not to look toward the pool tables because I’m not that thirsty and I could have another hand on my thigh if I bother to ask for it. Not tonight, though. I’m already getting tired, and Noah is checking the time on his phone before he pushes his empty bottle toward Darren, along with the kind of tip we’d leave for anyone.
Noah waves goodbye to Riley and rests his hand on my shoulder. “I’ve got an early meeting, so I’m gonna take off. I know it’ll be tough, but I’m sure you can handle the final round just fine onyour own.”
An adorable grin follows, and then Noah nods at Darren one more time before walking away. I do what I can with the last of trivia night, even when my mind still wanders, and Darren’s involvement is limited while he’s closing out tabs and charming as many people as he can until they’re on the other side of the barn doors. My beer is mostly gone by the time the host announces the winners, and I need to work in the morning too, but I get another silent plea to stay where I am, and I find it difficult to move.
I do it eventually, only because I want to use the restroom before I go. When I’m done there, I get stopped by Riley’s smile and the chance to ask a question that surprises me even as I open my mouth.
“If I were to host a pool party, would you come?”
They tilt their head. “It would be at your house?”