Page 26 of The Wedding Fake
“Okay, okay,” Mom said, sounding displeased. “It’s two-two.”
Hudson lifted us to standing and I smoothed down my shirt, righting my chair and sitting once more. He sat back down next to me, smiling widely.
Mom continued, “The next question is for Hudson. “What’s the biggest way your lady wastes money?”
I watched Hudson’s face as he thought. I didn’t think there was any way he would know this, but I liked the way his eyes squinted just the tiniest bit when he was thinking. “She doesn’t,” he replied, and I smiled. It was a good guess based on what he knew about me, but not correct, and everyone could see it on my face.
“Probably clothes and shoes,” Grant said with a chuckle.
“I’m sorry you have to find out this way,” I said, never taking my eyes off Hudson, “but I have an addiction to…” I held up the card, which said “shoes,” while I wiggled one foot in his direction.
“Well, perhaps this game will prove enlightening,” Hudson joked.
“Ethan, how about you?” Mom said. “How does Nora waste money?”
“According to her or me?” he said with a laugh. Nora’s eyes narrowed, and Claire wondered if this game was liable to start a fight between the two. “Journaling supplies,” Ethan said, pairing the words with a dramatic eye roll for effect.
Nora sighed, holding up her card. “Books.”
“Okay, the score is still tied. Next question to you, Ethan. What is Nora’s greatest fear?”
Ethan didn’t hesitate on this. “Spiders.”
“Yes!” Nora said, shuddering and tossing the matching card in the air. “They’re gross.”
Mom looked at Hudson. “What’s Claire’s biggest fear?” she asked.
“Being trapped in an elevator,” Hudson said.
Grant held up a single finger as if he’d unlocked some old memory. “Heights,” he said triumphantly, and Grant was right, but it didn’t matter. I’d never told Hudson my greatest fear, but he’d witnessed me dealing with my second greatest.
“Being trapped in a small space,” I said with a grin, holding up my card to show the answer. Grant was frowning. “It jumped to number one when it really happened,” I lied smoothly.
“Final two questions, and the score is tied,” Mom said. “Ethan, you’ll answer first. How many kids does she want?”
The question was cheap, since everyone on all of Earth knew Nora didn’t want kids, but I bit my tongue. “Zero,” Ethan said. Mom frowned deeply as the answer was verified and Ethan and Nora hugged.
“Hudson,” Mom said, moving on quickly, “how many children does Claire want?”
We’d talked about both wanting kids, so he wasn’t about to embarrass us by saying none, but we’d never gotten into specifics. “Three?” he said tentatively, his hesitation noticeable.
Damn. “Two,” I said, holding up my second to last card.
Hudson smiled that tender, genuine smile I rarely got to see. “Me too,” he said quietly.
“Last question,” Mom announced, interrupting my moment. “Hudson, what does Claire think is the most important thing for a relationship to have?”
Our eyes were locked, and though we’d probably lose the game, I didn’t care anymore. As terrible an idea as it was to make this fake date real, I wanted Hudson. “Honesty,” Hudson said, his eyes never wavering from mine.
I grinned, saying nothing, but holding up my matching card, and he leaned in to give me a kiss.
Mom cleared her throat. “Ethan, how about you? What does Nora say is the most important thing for a relationship to have?”
He pursed his lips, then said, “Passion.”
Nora held up her card. “It’s the same thing,” she said. Her card read, “LOVE.”
“It’s not the same thing,” Tessa said, shaking her head, her desire for accuracy apparently overpowering her desire to win the bet.