When time ended, Dani held up her board.
WILL YOU STAY AFTER THE CHALLENGE ENDS?
The room disappeared. Those were my words, not hers. At Blake’s cue, I lifted my board. Dani read it and lost her public smile. The audience remained silent. For once, Blake did not turn the moment into entertainment.
“Both answers correct?” they asked gently.
Dani held my gaze.
“Yes,” she said.
I made myself accept the answer. “Yes.”
We received four points. It moved us into first place. No one celebrated immediately. Then Tessa began clapping. The room followed. Dani smiled at me. It was not her public smile. It was smaller. Almost frightened. We won the quiz by two points. Blake handed us matching medals made from plastic hearts. Dani put mine around my neck.
“Relationship expert,” she said.
“You forgot your greatest fear.”
“One error.”
“Statistically significant.”
She smiled. Then her gaze moved to my board, still resting on the chair.
“Tomorrow,” she said.
“Tomorrow.”
After the event, people crowded around the stage. Tessa hugged me. Rose hugged Dani. Evelyn and Vanessa remained near the exit. I expected Evelyn to approach. She did not. That felt like progress. Blake asked Dani and me to film a short reaction clip. We declined. They looked physically injured.
“We need privacy,” Dani said.
Blake glanced at the quiz boards. For once, they agreed. We left through the side door. The night air was cool. Dani walked beside me toward the corner. Neither of us spoke until we reached the crosswalk.
“I was wrong about your fear,” I said.
“You were right about the important one.”
“Realistic dolls are important.”
“They know too much.”
“That is not an explanation.”
She smiled. The walk signal changed. We crossed. At the far side, Dani stopped.
“Can we do Thursday now?”
“It is Wednesday.”
“I know.”
“You want to tell me tonight?”
“If I wait, I’ll spend twenty-four hours inventing reasons not to.”
Fear made the honesty more credible. I agreed.
