Chapter 3

Chapter Three

VANDER

I was completely out of my depth with Everson and Corbin. But I couldn't deny I felt a pull of attraction to the amusement park prince.

It was ridiculous when he was everything I wasn't, but I couldn't help but be drawn to his warmth. It was like feeling sunlight after a frigid winter. The unexpected common ground of a shared love for Final Fantasy made him even more intriguing.

"I'll be right back," Corbin said before he got up to head back to the bathroom.

"How uncomfortable will it make you if I ask for your number?" Everson asked once his friend was out of earshot.

It was a simple question, but it blew my mind. "Why would you want my number?"

"Because I'm thanking all my lucky stars I got a second chance to run into you. I'd rather not rely on them for another meeting with you."

I blinked in surprise. "You want to see me again?"

Everson bit his lower lip to hold in a laugh. "I do." He typed in his phone before handing it over to me.

I arched an eyebrow when I saw he had created an entry for me in his Contacts under the name Sir Grumpsalot with an avatar picture of Squall. The playfulness of it disarmed any hesitation I might have had. I entered my number and returned his phone.

He saved the information before texting me. "Now you have my number, too." He hesitated for a moment. "I don't suppose I could push my luck and ask if you'd like to meet at the Sunnyside Pier after I finish work tomorrow?"

"To hang out or as a date?" It seemed like an important distinction for setting appropriate expectations.

His smile was charming. "Which one is most likely to make you agree to see me?"

I took a chance by stepping outside my comfort zone. "I'm not opposed to either option."

"Then I guess it's a date." Everson radiated happiness. It made me feel a lot better about my decision. "I'll text you when I get off work. We can grab dinner, then watch the fireworks with some ice cream if you want."

It wasn't a typical date for me, but then again, nothing about Everson seemed typical. "I'd like that."

Corbin returned, sitting across from us. "So, did you work up the nerve to ask Vander out on a date, or do I have to meddle?"

Everson rolled his eyes, but a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I was a big boy and asked him out all on my own, thanks."

"That's great, then. Now, I don't have to beg him to end your perpetual singledom."

The last part surprised me. "Perpetual singledom?"

Corbin answered before his friend could respond. "Yes, somebody likes to live in Fairytalelandia and is waiting for some dashing knight to sweep him off his feet in a grand romance. He can't be bothered with real men because they're ‘too disappointing' compared to the fantasy world in his head."

Everson made a noise of protest. "That's not entirely true."

"Which part is the lie?" Corbin crossed his arms over his chest with an expectant expression.

"Okay, fine ." Everson huffed with annoyance. "It's not a lie, but you make it sound so much worse than it is! There's nothing wrong with having high standards to protect your heart. And something tells me Vander would agree with me on that."

I didn't need to think about a reply. "Absolutely. The last date I went on in law school, the guy ordered a filet mignon, then blew up at the server because, ‘I ordered the fish, and you bring me a fucking steak ?' After that, I decided to skip casual dating."

The two friends cracked up in peals of laughter. Everson recovered first to ask, "Seriously?"

"He honest to god thought a filet anything meant a Filet-O-Fish sandwich like at McDonald's, so he assumed mignon was a type of fish filet." I shook my head at the memory of that train wreck of a date. "He wasn't even contrite once I explained why he was in the wrong. I tipped the server extra for putting up with his bullshit."

"Well, luckily for you, I only eat chicken, so I won't be making the same foolish mistake," Everson said, then gave me a reassuring smile.

"You're also not that ignorant," Corbin added.

I held up my glass in a mock toast. "Then we're already off to a great start." To my great shock, it actually felt that way. It was a pleasant change of pace from the dread I usually associated with going out with someone.

Everson clinked his glass against mine. "Here's to a great first date tomorrow."

Corbin joined the toast. "Wishing you the greatest happiness in the world. Thanks for giving me hope that all isn't lost with my own disastrous dating life." He wrinkled his nose before taking a drink. "You'd think wanting to fuck with no strings attached would be easy, but noooo , everyone wants to get their fee-fees involved. The last guy I hooked up with asked me to meet his family the next day at brunch because he thought we were ‘getting serious,' even though all I had done was plow him."

"You're such a hopeless romantic," Everson said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I can't imagine why you haven't been able to find a partner to settle down with yet."

"Hey, some of us are just looking for a good time. I don't need anything more than getting my rocks off."

"You say that, but we both know you want a Prince Charming of your own." It was clearly an argument Everson was used to having with Corbin. "If you open your heart to the possibility of love, it'll find you."

Corbin shrugged. "Right now, I'm only interested in opening my bed, not my heart."

"So you say. But I don't believe that for a second."

"That's because you're the hopeless romantic between us. You keep hoping my horndog heart will have an awakening for Mr. Perfect, but I know better."

Everson snorted. "Sure. Yeah, we'll go with that."

As they continued bickering like old friends, I found comfort in Everson being so strongly #TeamRomance. As someone who was a secret hopeless romantic, it was nice knowing we were playing for the same team and he wasn't interested in a meaningless hookup.

Tomorrow was looking up already.