Instead of chuckling, Mantis burst out laughing.
“This isn’t funny,” said Alegria, throwing her pen at him.
Mantis scooted his chair closer to hers. “Let me see your answers.”
“No,” she said, putting her hand over what she’d written.
“I’m changing the rules of this game. Instead of the groom, let’s see who knows the best man better than anyone else.”
“First question. Al, what did you write down for me?”
She glared at him and didn’t say anything. He turned to Mantis.
“What did you get?”
“Favorite thing to eat—burgers.”
Dutch made a noise like a buzzer. “Nope. Malin?”
At first, he thought she wasn’t going to answer, but then she smiled. “Spaghetti and meatballs.”
Dutch leaned closer and kissed her cheek, murmuring in her ear. “Whose?”
When she said “mine,” the little spot on her neck he loved so much, turned red.
“That’s right. One for Malin, zip for Mantis and Al.”
Mantis laughed again. “Knock it off, Dutch,” he said, smiling. “You’re proving your point.”
“Let’s skip number two. I’m curious, though, what did Alegria get for number three?”
“I don’t think you’re the least bit funny.”
“Yeah, well, that really isn’t the point of the game. Malin, what about you?”
“Cokabow Island.”
“Ding, ding, ding. We have a winner,” he said, kissing her cheek.
“Final question. What would I be doing if I could do whatever I wanted?”
Malin didn’t wait for him to look at her. “Eating,” she blurted. “This was too easy.”
“I guess what we’ve learned from this little game is that maybe we don’t know each other as well as we think we do, which means that maybe we don’t have any idea what’s best for each other either.”
“Dutch,” warned Mantis.
“No, I’m going to finish what I have to say. You,” he said, looking straight at Alegria, “stay out of my personal life unless I invite you into it.”
Dutch knew he was being hard on her, but part of him didn’t care. She had no business getting in Malin’s face about anything, but she had.
“Apologize.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You heard me, Alegria. Apologize to Malin.”
“Dutch, this really isn’t necessary.” Malin rested her hand on his.