Page 119 of Naughty November
I grinned. “You’ll have to wait and see.”
THREE
IGGY
I stood at the trivia contest podium, my mind racing through the archives of facts and figures stored away from years of voracious reading. The student guild had outdone themselves this year, transforming the dreary university hall into a vibrant arena of intellect and competition. Our team, Brainy Bunch, was ready for the challenge, but my mind was only half on the questions.
Wade and Jenna, my teammates, were huddled together discussing the first question—the capital of an obscure country. Easy peasy. I tried to pay attention, but my gaze kept drifting toward the entrance. I scanned the crowd, searching for that familiar face, but each time I came up empty, a pang of disappointment hit me.
He’d promised to be here. Kieran never broke his promises.
“Iggy, some help, please,” Jenna whispered.
“Time!” the time master announced.
“Sorry, Brainy Bunch, but the question goes to the Quizzards of Oz.”
“Iggy, you’re not focused.” Wade frowned. I could have said theanswer was so obvious they shouldn’t need me, but I swallowed the words. I was upset because Kieran was a no-show.
“I’m sorry. I…”
A whisper traveled across the room, and heads swiveled toward the door. Someone giggled. Someone else coughed. Kieran slipped into the room quietly, looking damn scrumptious in a tight pair of black jeans tucked into high-tops, a red T-shirt, and his black leather jacket. He carried his helmet under one arm, tugged off his riding gloves, and walked toward an empty seat at the front, seemingly oblivious to all the attention.
He shot me a thumbs-up and pointed at his shirt, his lips spreading into a grin.
Iggy’s Number 1 Fan.
That was one promise I wouldn’t have minded him breaking. My face burned, but I couldn’t resist grinning back at him.
“Settle down, students,” the quiz master said. “Quizzards, your answer is incorrect. Brainy Bunch, do you want to attempt the question?”
“No,” Jenna said at the same time I said, “yes.”
She raised her eyebrows, and I nodded. “We’d like to answer. The answer is Immanuel Kant.”
“That is correct. Your question now, Brainy Bunch. Which country is home to the oldest known continuous civilization?”
“That’d be China.”
With Kieran in the crowd, I felt the need to show off. I answered questions rapidly, and soon it became obvious I was playing against myself. During the five-minute break before the last segment, I rushed over to Kieran. Had those girls been sitting around him all this time, or had they moved to be closer to him? I didn’t like it at all.
“Hi, Kee, you came.”
“Sorry I was a little late. I underestimated the traffic.”
“You’re here now. That’s all that matters. So what do you think?”
I beamed at him. Did he realize I was the smartest person he knew?
“You’re doing great,” he said softly. “It’s obvious you’re the one to beat, but, Iggy…”
I frowned. There was a but? “What is it?”
“You’re on a team. You’re not playing alone. Even if you know all the answers, give your teammates a chance to participate in your victory. Do you understand?”
His words stung, but I considered them and glanced back at Wade and Jenna, who wore similar expressions of sadness. We were winning. They should be happy.
“You’re right. I’m such an idiot.”