Play Maker(50)

“Very thoughtful,” I told her, though I still wasn’t sure what the actual thought was behind all of this. What was James doing? I had really prepared myself to never see him again, so I really hadn’t expected to come home to find him showering my family with gifts. And such thoughtful gifts at that. He seemed to really understand Mikey, to genuinely like him and appreciate his quirks, and that meant the absolute world to me.

Mikey tugged at my arm.

“Game?” he asked, pointing at the Playstation. “I want to play!”

“I thought we were going to go to the movies, buddy,” I reminded him, surprised that he had forgotten. I had meant it to be my apology for missing our movie last week. Then again, he seemed to be completely focused on the new game and game console.

Mikey bit his lip as if he remembered but was torn between wanting to play his game and go to the movies with me.

“Can I make a suggestion?” James asked, putting his hands on Mikey’s shoulders.

I arched an eyebrow at him.

“What if I help Mikey set up the game and then you and I can go out for lunch while he plays for a few hours? And then all three,” he glanced at my mother, “or all four of us, can go to the movies in the evening. My treat.”

It was an incredibly kind and generous offer and the way Mikey was looking at me, his eyes full of hope, I knew I was going to have a hard time saying no. Not that I wasn’t curious why James wanted to take me to lunch. And kind of nervous, too. But nervous in a good way. Like, palms sweating, pulse quickening, kind of nervous. Anticipatory nervous. Because I had a feeling this was more than just an apology. I knew a guilt gift when I saw one.

I turned to Mikey.

“Will you be ok if we go to the movies later?” I asked, even though I already knew his answer. He could barely tear his eyes away from the game in his hands.

“Can I play my game?” he wanted to know, his priorities now completely shifted.

I sighed. “If James can set it up, you can play it.”

“Oh, I can set it up,” James said confidently. “Don’t you worry about that.”

“Yay!” Mikey gave me a hug and slapped his hand against the one that James offered for a high five. He then ran into the living room, clearing aside DVDs and their cases on the TV stand to make room for his new toy.

“Thank you,” I told James, who had pulled out the instructions for the game.

“If this is what it takes to get you to go to lunch with me, it is more than worth it,” he said with a wink. I felt my knees go wibbly-wobbly and I wondered what I was getting myself into.





30





James





I was nervous. Like, really nervous. It didn’t make sense, considering I had been alone with Nicole in far more intimate settings, but for some reason taking her out to lunch felt much more important than it should. But I guess it was. Because I was about to tell her that I wasn’t going back to the UK. And that I wanted to spend time with her. Because I liked her. My throat got a bit dry at the possibility that she would tell me to get lost. Not that I would blame her after how I had treated her last night. I was lucky she was coming to lunch at all.

We got outside and I saw Nicole pause at my car. My brand new convertible.

“This is your car?” she asked, a million questions written all over her face. I was betting she remembered that the last time I had driven her here, I had been in a much more conventional rental. This was a cherry red Tesla.

“I’ll explain over lunch,” I told her.

She just nodded and I noticed she was chewing gum. I couldn’t help but smile, especially thinking of how adorable she had looked when she came into the apartment with gum on her cheek.

We got in the car and headed west. I couldn’t stop glancing over at her. She looked incredible. How she could make jeans and a v-neck a revelation, I’d never know, but I also knew that if it was on her body, it looked good. Because what a body it was. I realized I needed to stop trying to look down her shirt or we’d get into a major accident. Not that anyone would blame me for being distracted by her amazing cleavage.

With the top down, her hair was whipping around her face like a blonde cloud and she had her head tilted up to meet the sun, her eyes closed. The sheer joy on her face made my heart twist. It was also the first time she seemed truly relaxed. I was glad I was here to experience it, because goddamn, she was gorgeous.

We pulled up to the restaurant and she shot me a surprised look. For a moment I thought I had made the wrong choice in picking this place, but then a smile spread across her face and she laughed.

“You like it?” I asked, making a note to do everything in my power to make her laugh.

“I love it,” she told me.

There it was again, that twist in my chest. Too late to turn back, mate. You’re in this to win it. But my nervousness had gone, filled instead with an anticipatory thrill. I helped her out of the car and led her into the restaurant, feeling like I was the luckiest man in the world.

We walked into the famous Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles and were taken to a table in the corner. It wasn’t exactly quiet or secluded by any standard, but I still felt like we were completely alone.

“I have to admit,” Nicole said, picking up the menu. “This is not at all where I expected you to take me.”