Chapter 15

CHAPTER

FIFTEEN

NATIE

Firass : Do you guys think Always Horror Investigators the Card Game is an enjoyable experience, or too difficult?

Hamadi : The fans love it, I think.

Dylan : Are you fishing for compliments about your game?

Me : We're hella busy trying to make an expansion that ups the difficulty.

Hamadi : I've been preoccupied with Andres's and my new business, otherwise I'd come over.

Me : We just wanted to know if you thought it was easy or hard.

Dylan : You know I love hard things. (devil smile emoji)

Firass : Glad to hear that Vil hasn't changed you, Dylan.

I 'm sipping my third mug of coffee while Firass stares at the papers in his hand. Pens, highlighters, and index cards are strewn about our kitchen table. We've been at it all afternoon, and Arjay let us work from home. Typically, I'd be down for a deep research and development session for his successful board game. This is, after all, what I get paid to do part-time. But I'm feeling extra distracted today. Maybe it's because my mind is mush from working at Great Big Sea Games and the resort.

Or perhaps I keep replaying memories of getting laid a few days ago. I don't know what gets me hotter, recalling the taste of Santos's tongue or his orgasm face in the theater.

I sigh and put my mug in the sink. My best friend doesn't seem to notice my distracted attitude. I want to be a good employee, so I re-read the notes in front of me. "We know what part of the game the fans find too easy, right?"

"Yes," Firass mutters. He pushes up his glasses and scribbles more notes. "With enough experience points, the end of a campaign can be a pushover. Or so the feedback surveys say."

I sift some papers around. "Then why don't we target the last few scenarios and work backward?"

Firass looks up, taps his chin, then back down to his papers. "That could work. Hopefully, it ends up hard enough to please."

I snicker, but my bestie is too busy scribbling to notice. The words "hard enough to please" remind me of grasping Santos's cock. He was so fucking sexy, so into me, and I'm hoping he's down for a repeat. I doubt I could snag him to be my boyfriend; I've never had a long-lasting relationship, and Santos couldn't possibly want me after I messed with his head as a teenager. But if he wants to fool around again, I wouldn't say no. We've been texting as usual for the past couple of days. Maybe if he's free this weekend, I could go to his place, push him onto a couch, undo his pants, and…

My horny thoughts are interrupted by the door unlocking. Johnny strides in, wearing a black tie over a white business shirt. I check my phone —shit, it's already late afternoon. The workday is done, and Firass and I still don't know how to move forward. If I wasn't working two jobs, maybe I'd have the energy to pull my weight at GBS Games.

My self-doubt spiral is interrupted when my brother leans down to kiss my best friend. Ew . I get they're in love, or whatever, but after two years, I still don't want to see their PDA.

"How was school, babe?" Firass asks.

"It was good. No tantrums or meltdowns, so that's always a plus. And you guys?"

"We're hitting walls in the development department," Firass replies.

"But we're done for the day. I'm beat," I remark, gathering a pile of papers.

"Whatcha got there?" Firass asks.

"Early dinner. Seafood calzones for all of us." Johnny holds up a white plastic bag filled with boxes.

"Yum yum." Firass chuckles and grins at my brother, and it warms my heart. I've never had romantic feelings for my best friend, but I've always wanted Firass to find his happily-ever-after. I'll bet my salary these two are endgame. Since the two most important dudes in my life make each other happy, I can be happy for them.

"Enjoy, guys." I stand up but Johnny raises a finger.

"Actually, I wanted to know if you want to have dinner with me."

I quirk an eyebrow. "Me, you, and Mom and Dad?"

"Nope. They went out to see Mom's friends. I meant just you and me, a brothers thing."

"Brothers thing?"

"Yeah. We could chill on the beach like old times." Johnny nods eagerly at me, and I try not to seem too perplexed. Since when has Johnny opted to spend time with me instead of Firass? They literally snuck around for weeks and hooked up because they didn't want me to know. With them officially dating, they're almost attached at the hip —other than during Single Gamer's Society sessions.

My mouth hangs open. "Um…"

"That sounds great!" Firass takes out a box and pushes the bag toward me on the table. "You dudes have fun!"

"Really? You don't mind?" I ask.

"I should go call my parents. And brothers should spend time together." He waves his hands at us. "So, shoo."

"Yeah. You heard the man!" Johnny wraps his arm around my shoulder, then I wriggle free.

"Okay. I suppose a dinner outside wouldn't hurt." I glance at Firass one last time, and he gives me a pointed look. According to our best-friend-telepathy, he genuinely wants me to spend time with my brother. I guess I can't fight both of them.

Ten minutes later, we're seated on a bench by the north beach. Several folks are outside on this gorgeous sunny evening. As I munch on a calzone, I watch an older couple walk their dog along the sand. The seagulls squawking and the waves crashing blend into the soothing soundtrack that's been playing my whole life.

"So…how's it going?" Johnny asks in an insinuating tone.

I eye him, then turn back to the ocean. "I'm good. You?"

"I'm great. Actually better than great."

I wait for him to expound on that, but he's quiet. I watch as a couple rollerblades past us on the cement path, then turn back to him. We finish eating, and after a minute of staring off, he adds, "I bought a ring yesterday."

"A ring?"

"I'm gonna ask Firass to marry me."

I gasp and turn to see him grinning. "Shut up," I whisper.

"No."

I pat his back and he chuckles. "Congrats!" An odd piece of my heart swells up. Knowing that their wedding is going to be a real, tangible event that's coming soon has me sighing in happiness. "Holy shit," I whisper.

"Yup. I'm gonna wait until the school year's over, but I'm gonna pop the question." He smiles, and I lean back. Firass is gonna be my brother!

"I'm happy for you." I dramatically wave my hand in a bowing gesture like he's royalty. "You have my blessing."

He laughs and shakes his head. "Didn't need it, but thank you."

"Isn't that why you wanted to talk to me?"

"No, I wanted to tell you because you're my brother, dumbass, the most important person in my life." He slaps my head softly, and I jerk forward.

"Hey!"

We laugh, then calm down and go back to watching the ocean.

"Now I get to ask you something."

"What?"

"I answered your question, so now you have to answer mine," Johnny states.

"I asked you how you were!" I knew my brother had a trap up his sleeve.

"Okay, so I gotta know…" He ignores me, then leans forward on his knees. "What's going on with you and that guy Santos?"

He looks at me, and I turn to my left, and huff. What is going on with us? In the distance I spot the railing where we kissed for the first time. Remembering the taste of his tongue makes my pulse quicken. Shit, should I spill the beans? What beans are there to spill?!

"Would you believe me if I said nothing's going on with us?"

Johnny sniggers. "If that's really the story you want me to accept."

"What do you believe?"

"The man came over to chat books with you. And you've been going on walks and shit with him."

I turn to my brother and frown. "We're just friends who talk about reading. You know, that thing with the paper and ink? You may have heard of it." I'm hoping my nasty tone distracts him.

"Sure," he says sarcastically. "Didn't you guys go see a movie together?"

"With Mom and Dad." My voice is getting louder.

"Mom told me you went on a nighttime walk with him afterward."

I huff. "So what if I did?"

"I just need to know that the guy my baby brother is dating is treating him right."

"We're not dating!" I yelp.

Johnny leans back and strokes his chin. "Huh. Firass bet me money that you two hooked up. But I guess I was wrong."

I grunt and run my hand over my face. "It's…complicated…"

"How is it complicated?"

"Well..." I'm not about to tell my brother about my sex life. It would probably gross him out. On second thought, he's grossed me out plenty, so time for some payback. "Just because Santos and I had a sexual encounter does not mean we're dating."

"Shit, you did hook up? Was it recently? Does Firass know? I owe him money."

"No, he does not know," I say through gritted teeth.

"Why not? I thought he was your bestie."

"I didn't tell him because I don't want anyone to know." My pulse rises with every pressing question.

"Why? Are you ashamed of dating Santos?"

"I'm not ashamed of dating Santos because we're not dating!"

"So, you don't like him?"

I wave my hands around, and something inside me snaps. "Of course I like him, but every time I try to get serious with someone, they pull back, and the more I like them, the more likely they are to leave, and I've been lonely, which means I'm desperate, and to top it all off, I really, really like Santos, which means he'll never truly want to DATE ME!"

I collapse on the bench and take multiple deep breaths. There. The truth is out, a confession floating off into the ocean, swallowed up by the waves. When I turn to Johnny, he's smirking at me.

"Natie. Brother. Give yourself some credit."

I whimper and close my eyes. "I don't want to talk about this Johnny. I'm the last single gamer in our little group, and that means I'm destined to stay that way."

He snickers. "No. Think logically; that's what Firass always says." He pats my shoulder. "This just means it's your time to find someone. Someone who likes chatting books and wants to spend time with you."

"Psh, please. As if Santos could ever look past the way I treated him as a teenager," I mutter.

"Dude, you'll never know if you don't try. Besides, I'm pretty sure he likes you too."

I sit up. "Why do you say that?"

"Because he…" Johnny bites his lip and moves his fingers around, like he's trying to find the words. "He looks at you the way Andres used to look at Hamadi. He looks at you like you're the grand prize."

Damn . Those are big words because Andres used to have it bad. I wave my hand to dispel my brother's weird ideas. "You're probably reading it wrong. He doesn't like me like that. I screwed with him too much when we were in high school."

My brother pokes my shoulder. "Natie, call Santos right now and ask him to be your boyfriend."

"What?!"

"I dare you to ask him out."

I bristle and glare at my brother. "Dare me? That's fucking juvenile," I murmur.

"No, it's not. Now do it."

"I'm not gonna let you peer pressure me."

"But it's what you want. So do it."

"No, that's dumb!"

"It's not dumb."

I scoff. "Yes, it is. What am I supposed to do, whip out my phone?" I take out my cell in anger and wave it at my brother. "Pull up his contact?" In my rage, I unlock my phone and scroll through to find Santos. "And what, ask him out on a date?"

My brother grins and pushes the green phone button.

I glower at him, then shake my head. Before I realize it, the phone is ringing. Shit .

"Hello?"

Fuck, it's Santos on the line. Fear courses up my spine, but my brother bites back a laugh, the asshole.

"N-Natie?"

I want to hang up, but I'm frozen. My brother has somehow convinced me to ask Santos out and he's right there on the other line. I want a relationship, the real deal, so badly. But to do that, I need to shoot my shot.

I gulp. "Santos?"

"Natie? Hi. W-w-what's wrong?"

"Um…nothing. I was wondering…"

My brother beams at me and holds up two thumbs. I turn away and suck in a deep breath. "Wouldyouliketogooutonadatewithme?"

Good strategy, ask him out so fast he can't say no . Johnny is barely holding in his laugh, but I'm too mortified to be angry at him.

"Did you say…a date?"

"Yes. A date. With me. This weekend." I feel like I'm going to vomit. "But only if you want to."

"Yeah." Santos chuckles on the other line. "A d-d-date sounds fun. That would be great. How about I pick you up on Saturday at seven?"

"Saturday. Seven. Yes." Who needs full sentences anyway? "See you. On our…romantic date."

He laughs again, and it's a symphony I want to replay over and over for years. "Sounds good, Natie. I'm very much l-l-looking forward to it."

"Same here. Anyway…goodnight."

I hang up the phone and collapse onto the bench.

"See? Attaboy." Johnny shoves my shoulder, and I want to push him off the bench. But I can't muster any energy over the surge of anxiety flooding my veins. Santos agreed to go out on a date with me. I'm going on a real, romantic date with The Handyman himself. Commence internal freak out in three…two…