a cold shower just to get myself under control before I took the stage. Now I just have to decide whether to let her win. I grab her hand, thread my fingers through hers, and lead her inside.
“I like the nail polish,” I compliment.
“Thanks!” she chirps. “I went for a manicure with my mom over the weekend.”
“That must’ve been fun. You guys close?”
“Yeah, I actually live at home still,” she tells me hesitantly. “My parents are a little conservative and won’t let me live on my own until I’m married. My sisters still live at home, too.” She shrugs. I wonder if she’s a little embarrassed by it because it never came up in our texts or phone chats.
“That’s cool. It’s nice that they still want to take care of you. I see my parents weekly. We’re really close, too.” Now would be the perfect time to tell her about Susie. Don’t be a coward.
“Yeah, I guess. And I come and go as I please, but I still have them there if I need them. I don’t mind it much. Just the lack of privacy gets to me sometimes. Do your parents live in South Miami near you?” she asks.
Shit, I’m not ready to tell her; I don’t want to ruin our date. Plus, don’t want to talk much more about my personal life, so I answer vaguely before I change the subject. “Nope, more North. Do you want anything to eat or drink before we start our adventure?”
She shakes her head. “I’m good, thanks. You want anything?” she asks, politely.
I raise her hand that I am holding in the air. “I’ve got all I want right here.”
She smiles shyly and I see my favorite blush again creeping its way up her neck. I better stop. As much as I love watching her blush for me, I don’t want to be walking around Game Zone with a hard on. There are families here, and there is nothing I can do to relieve myself. I’m not going to be the creepy guy jerking off in the bathroom of a family friendly game place. Could you imagine that headline? Anyway, since we are both ready to play, I need to find out what she wants to do.
“So they have video games, laser tag, bumper cars, batting cages, and miniature golf. We can do as much or little as you want.”
She just flashes me a look and I know exactly what she wants. “Mini golf it is. Care to place a wager, oh confident one?”
She starts chewing on her thumbnail, and I already know her tell so I make my own suggestion. “How about…if I win, I get to pick what we do on our next date. If you win, you get to choose.”
“So either way you win?”
I laugh. “You have me all figured out, huh?”
“Can’t get one past me.” She winks and we both chuckle.
“Okay, Tiger Woods, let’s do this!”
Seventeen holes later, and we are neck and neck. And to be honest, I couldn’t care less who wins because either way, we are going out again. Score one for me! I am having so much fun that I completely forget how nervous I was earlier. Jordan puts me completely at ease. It’s like he knows exactly when I am nervous or need a little push. He keeps me laughing, and conversation with him is so easy. I really like him and that actually kicks my nerves up a notch. I want him so badly but am scared to death of getting him. I know it makes no sense, but it totally does in my head.
As we get to the last hole, the score is pretty close, almost tied. Actually, I’m winning by one. I step up to the hole and he tries to distract me, but I’m not letting him get to me. I may be a little timid, but I have a competitive edge to me as well.
“Come on, Tiger, you’ve got this,” he says encouragingly.
I just smile and wink at him.
I take a few practice swings then hit the little blue ball pretty straight, but it stops inches from the hole.
“Dangit!” I groan in frustration, but he just chuckles, calling me cute.
I pretend like I’m offended, but I am eating it up on the inside. It takes me one more stroke to get the ball in the hole. Pretty pleased
A.S. Byatt
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