Joey turns her head slightly, but doesn’t say anything about my slip and it makes me wonder what else I called her in the heat of the moment. The first question pops up:
What is the Invasion of Normandy also known as?
“D-Day,” I whisper into her ear, not even looking at the options available to us.
What’s the northernmost city in the contiguous United States?
“It has to be in Maine,” I say when the options pop up.
“Are you sure?” she asks, hesitating.
“Positive.”
Joey presses the button and we wait for the next question. The fact that the question is still on the board means that someone hasn’t answered. I want to win, but I don’t. I want to give her a date she’ll never forget, but leaving the sanctuary of the house scares the shit out of me.
In which three cities can you find ‘Sea World’?
This time there isn’t any multiple-choice answer to pick from. Joey looks at me mouthing two of the three, but I’m not sure what the last one is. The clock ticks down as I shake my head. “Just press something because I don’t know.”
Her face falls and I know she’s thinking that we just lost. She wanted to leave the house, too, not that I can blame her.
What does croquis painting mean?
“This is easy,” she says as she presses the button. I don’t have a clue as to what she just answered though.
“What’s the answer?”
“To draw or paint a naked model.” Her answer is so nonchalant that I need to know more.
“How do you know that?”
Joey shrugs. “I may have done some modeling early in college.”
My mouth hangs open, completely dumbfounded by her admission. Joey steps back, getting my attention. Only she doesn’t need to, she has it all. My eyes travel down her back and over her ass as images of her naked filter through my mind. I know I’m not doing her body justice. And damn if I don’t want to try my hand at painting later.
“Do you know this one?” she hisses, shaking me from my daydream. I squint at the screen, even though I don’t need to, and look at the question.
What actor plays Professor Charles Xavier in X-Men?
I press the button for Patrick Stewart and give her a ‘what the hell’ look. “You haven’t seen X-Men?”
She shakes her head. I mean it’s not the end of the world, but most women I know have the movies because of all the “eye-candy” as they call us men. Objectifying us every chance they get.
“Wow, I’m shocked.”
“Don’t be. My ex doesn’t like sci-fi.”
“Yeah well you’re married to me now, aren’t you?” Word vomit is what I’m suffering from. Joey stiffens and I know I’ve set her off again. I need duct-tape for my mouth.
“This is our last question,” she reminds me. At this point I don’t think we have a chance, but whatever.
What does RB stand for in football?
Joey pushes the button so fast I don’t have time to finish reading the question. “Do you think we got that one right?”
“I know we did,” she says confidently. I wish she’d turn around and look at me, but I’m getting the cold shoulder. The very cold one I deserve. Finding a way to fix my mistake isn’t going to be easy. Joey wants what I can’t give her even though I want to. I was never supposed to fall in love with her, or anyone for that matter.
Why’d she have to be so damn perfect?