Chapter 17

CHAPTER

SEVENTEEN

NATIE

Me : I'm inviting someone over for board game night.

Me : So everyone be cool.

Dylan : I don't appreciate the implication that we're anything but cool.

Me : Then be chill.

Hamadi : Name one time I haven't been chill.

Me : That time you tried to get us to join a pyramid scheme.

Hamadi : When I read the reviews online, I thought that was some sort of Egyptian compliment!

Firass : We'll do nothing to embarrass you in front of Santos. (winking emoji)

Dylan : You're dating that guy you hated in high school?

Me : Make fun of me all you want but just not in front of Santos, please.

Me : I'm begging you all.

Dylan : We'll be the best wingmen ever.

Hamadi : Single Gamer's Society, time to initiate Operation Get Natie Laid.

Me : Get laid again. (winking emoji)

I 'm leaning on the counter near the register of the café. I alternate my gaze between the front door and the man behind the register. It's rude to watch someone struggle at their job, but I can't help it. Mr. Harpoon stares in concern at his ancient point of service computer on the wooden counter. It's obvious he's struggling with a customer's recent exchange, and I tamp down the urge to help him. I've been a regular here at Harpoon Game Café for years, so I'd like to think I have some liberties here. I've personally funneled hundreds if not thousands of dollars here on games and products. Still, I'm not his employee.

I just need to fixate on something while I wait for Santos to arrive. He was more than happy to join our game night, but hanging out with my friends just makes me more nervous. What if he doesn't like how nerdy I am? What if I beat him at a card game and he gets sad? I thought having a group hangout would put me in a home-field advantage, but instead, I'm sweating under my graphic T-shirt at our impending date.

When Mr. Harpoon hits the wrong button and groans, I scoot closer. "Mr. Harpoon?"

"Yeah," he says, not even looking at me.

"Have you tried returning the item and ringing up a custom item?"

He turns to me, gives me a quizzical expression, and then smiles. His white beard is reminiscent of my parents, and he truly does remind me of home. "Why didn't I think of that? After six years, you'd think I'd get the hang of this."

I snicker. "I've never had any complaints when you ring me up."

"That's because you buy things full price." He clicks around and seems to get his numbers right. "And you're a good guy, Natie. Arguably my number one customer."

"Yeah, that's because I pay for things full price," I say facetiously. We both guffaw and he locks the register. "Hey, Mr. Harpoon, why don't you try a digital POS?"

Mr. Harpoon turns to me and shrugs. "I've barely gotten the hang of things here. I don't want to throw another wrench into the system. You know, overreach my business?"

I nod. "I wish my parents felt the same way."

"Things going poorly at the resort?"

Mr. Harpoon seems trustworthy, so I lay it all out there. "They're struggling with all of our business demands. And they bought another beach for an expansion." I hang my head dolefully. "I don't know if I'm invested enough to stay, especially with all these new struggles."

He hums in agreement. "Son, you need to find what you love. I took the plunge and started this board game store when no one thought I would succeed. Maybe you need something new to shake things up."

We both turn when we hear the door open; the man walking in wearing a brown jacket makes my heart flutter. "Speaking of new things…" Mr. Harpoon's voice is dripping in insinuation, and my cheeks warm.

Santos walks up to me and hesitates, then nods at both of us. "Welcome to Harpoon Game Café! How may I help you?" Mr. Harpoon asks with a smile.

"I'm here for b-b-b-board game n-n-night." He looks to me for help, and I smile. His deer-in-the-headlights act is damn adorable. It's just a board game store.

"And he's my date." I turn to Mr. Harpoon and nod. "I already paid his admission."

"Of course." He not-so-subtly wags his eyebrows at me, and my smile falls. What is with my parental figures all trying to embarrass me in front of Santos? "You boys have fun."

I clear my throat and square my shoulders. "We will," I reply with my chin held high. When I take Santos's hand, his face lights up like a summer sunrise.

Our little group settles on a cooperative game so that we're less inclined to strangle each other over a victory. Santos sticks close to me, while Firass, Hamadi, and Dylan sit on the other side of the table. This all feels very reminiscent of one particular game night last year; Dylan introduced the guy he started dating to us over games as well, and he and Vil are going strong. On that night, the rest of us were cool, but I understand why he was so nervous—I'm introducing Santos to my people.

When Dylan gives me a contentious smirk, I know he's reading my mind, so I glower at him from across the table.

The five of us play Sentinels of the Multiverse, each taking the mantle of a different superhero. Santos quietly asks me the rules as we play, and I use it as an excuse to cuddle closer to him on the bench. He seems almost as nervous as I am, but once he gets the hang of his character, he's playing cards just as quickly as the rest of us. He even defeats a minion all on his own, garnering laughs and cheers from my friends.

After an hour-long battle, it's down to the wire for us, the players. Hamadi and Dylan are already knocked out, and it's Santos's turn.

"We could lose right now," Firass mutters, reading the cards on the board.

"Or we could win with enough luck," I retort, eyes never leaving the table.

"Santos, you're the final hero player," Firass says. "You could save us."

"N-n-no pressure." He chuckles nervously, and I turn to look at him.

"You got this."

"What should I play?" He shows me his hand of cards, and I take it as an excuse to wrap my left arm around his shoulder and lean into him.

"Wow, you have really poor eyesight," Dylan mutters with a smirk.

Without looking up, I flip him off, and he giggles. Then, I point to one card in particular. "What about this?"

"I d-d-didn't even notice that card," Santos says.

"It gives you the power to discard your cards, then draw that many. That could help you dig for something useful."

"You think I should do it?" We look up at the same time, and his face is inches away from mine. I can see the flecks of brown in his eyes and recall the way his plump lips taste. He smells good, too. No way am I kissing him right now, so I pull back.

"Definitely, man. Redraw your hand…Hand." We snicker and I lean on my elbows. "It's your cards. Up to you." I wink, and he grins at me.

A minute later, Santos reads his new hand of cards. Then, with a grin, he places one down. "With this, I take all the damage for everyone for the rest of the round."

"Holy shit, you saved us!" Firass pushes up his glasses and beams at Santos.

"You did it!" I grab his shoulder and jostle him around again as my three best friends cheer. We may be causing a ruckus in the café, but Santos's smile is so worth it.

The five of us play another round of Sentinels, and closing time is almost upon us. While I clean up, I sense two new people appear in my periphery. Considering the smiles from Firass and Hamadi, I know exactly who's shown up.

"Hey, babe." Johnny wraps his arms around Firass.

Meanwhile, Hamadi all but leaps up to hug Andres. "I take it game night was fun." Andres's voice is muffled against Hamadi's shoulder.

"Hell yeah!"

Andres laughs then turns to Santos. "Hi. You're new. I'm Andres."

"I'm S-S-Santos." They shake hands, and Andres grins at me.

"You're, uh…how do you know…each other?"

Santos's eyes widen and his jaw drops, but no sound comes out. Oh crap . I know this is only our second official date, but still, we should have had this talk sooner.

"He's my…Santos is…my um…" I gulp, then turn to him.

"Date." Santos smiles at Andres and puffs out his chest. "I'm Natie's date." He puts his arm around my shoulder, and I melt inside. In that moment, I swear a halo forms around Santos's head, because nothing is sexier than a sweet, friendly guy claiming you as his.

The rest of the SGS smiles at me, while Andres shares a knowing grin with Johnny. "Ah. Nice to meet you," Andres says.

"Yes." I clear my throat and stand closer to Santos. "He's my date. We're dating. It's new but…" With a surge of courage, I pull his face toward mine and kiss his stubbled cheek. He smiles with a mixture of shock and affection on his face. "It's serious."

Dylan wolf-whistles while Hamadi howls, and we all laugh. There's so much love for me in this café, and it truly feels like my life is looking up.

While the others finish cleaning up, my brother approaches Santos and claps his shoulder. "Welcome to the group, buddy."

"Th-thanks."

They shake hands, then Johnny turns to me. "See? Aren't you glad I tricked you into asking Santos out?"

Shit . Johnny laughs, but I feel Santos's shoulders tense up. He turns to me and asks, "Johnny t-t-tricked you?"

"No!" I say, shaking my head with vigor.

Johnny calms down and says, "More like I peer-pressured. I baited him into calling you because he was too afraid to. My brother here doesn't have a good track record with dating, and―"

"Seriously, Johnny?!" I hiss.

He shuts his mouth, while Santos looks down in thought. His mood is completely drenched, and I wish I could go back in time sixty seconds. Hell, I wish I could go back to high school and kiss Santos in the locker room.

"It's not like that," I say. "What happened was—"

"It's cool." He gives a fake smile to Johnny and waves at the others. "It's late. I'm gonna head out."

"I'll walk you to your car!"

He shrugs, and I follow him out the door. We're alone on the sidewalk out here in Newlantic. In the dark of the night, the warm spring air has given way to a cool breeze. Santos isn't much of a talker, but I know a cold shoulder when I feel one. I can't let this go on.

We make it to his car in record time, and I feel my chance slipping away. "You should know that…Johnny didn't trick me."

"So then he was lying?"

I bite my lip. "Well, that's not what he meant."

"Then w-w-what did he mean?" Santos opens his car door and barely looks at me.

"He means…" I run my hands through my hair. "He means I was too afraid to ask you out, so he told me to do it, put the pressure on, and so I did." I sigh and look away. "When I say it out loud, it sounds like he forced me to—but he didn't!"

"Uh-huh." Santos is halfway inside his car, still avoiding eye contact. Shit, have I already ruined things?

"Santos…"

"Natie, I don't want someone who requires pressure just to ask me out. I want someone who likes me."

"I do like you!"

He shrugs. "Doesn't feel like it."

"Santos, it isn't like that."

"How would you feel if the p-p-person you were dating was coerced, manipulated into starting a relationship with you?"

I bite my lip then confess, "I wouldn't be thrilled." I put up my hands. "But I wasn't coerced! I wanted to ask you out!"

Santos looks up at me, discomfort written all over his face. "Then ask me out again one day. But this time, make s-s-sure it's what you desire."

With that, he closes the door and drives off, leaving a trail of dust and one broken heart in his wake.