No boy likes admitting a girl is way better than them, especially when she practices less. No wonder they think of me as one of the boys. It’s less of a threat to their manhoods. I guess that’s why I’m not attracted to any of my friends. That kind of thinking isn’t exactly attractive.
I hold the controller out to Milo. “Come on, you give it a try.”
He holds his hands up like the controller is a gun. “No way. I’ll suck at it and ruin your progress.”
“I just passed a save point,” I reply, swirling the controller. “You literally can’t mess up.”
Milo gives me an uneasy look. “I dunno. I’m really fine with just watching you.”
“Go on,” I encourage. “It’ll give me some entertainment. I don’t have any of the other guys around to poke fun at.”
Milo huffs. “So you just want to tease me?”
I sit back, composing myself. “No, I don't want to tease you. I genuinely think you’ll find it fun.”
Milo stares into my eyes and a rush of goosebumps fly down my arms.
He takes the controller and his fingers brush past mine, sending a thrilling spark inside me.
“Okay, I'll try,” he says, looking over the controller. “So, what buttons do I press?”
I quickly go over the controls and the game mission. As Milo moves the character around the environment, I give him pointers and tell him what to look for up ahead.
It takes so much strength to hold back my laughter the third time his character respawns after dying.
“It shouldn’t be this easy to fall into those pits,” Milo complains, pointing the controller at the screen.
“Mhmm,” I mumble, rubbing my lips to hold back the laugh.
Milo looks at me and rolls his eyes. “Oh my gosh, just let it out. You look like you’re gonna burst.”
I swallow hard and shake my head. “Nope, I’m good.”
“Well, what am I doing wrong? How can I avoid those pits to hell?”
I hold up my hands like the answer should be obvious. “Walk around them.”
Milo groans. “But then there are spikes and hanging swords in the way. And if I go left, there’s an ogre-looking-thing that wants to kill me with an ax.”
“You do realize you need skills to play video games,” I say. “It takes practice just like everything else.”
“I have no idea how you don’t give up after one try. If it were my console, it’d already be in the trash.”
“Geez, such a defeatist.” I click my tongue. “What would you say to me if I threatened to throw my copy of King Lear in the trash?”
Milo huffs. “To take a breath and keep working at it.”
I lean closer and pat his upper arm. “You haven’t let me give up yet.”
Milo looks down at my hand, and I notice his Adam’s apple bob. When his hazel eyes look into mine, an electric charge hums between us. I should lift my hand off him, but I seem unable. Or unwilling.
“I won’t let you because every day I see you improving.”
When my lingering hand starts squeezing his arm, I pry myself away. “Sorry,” I breathe.
Milo smiles. “Don’t be.”
My eyes haven’t shifted from his eyes. I don’t know if it’s his glasses or not, but I swear Milo’s eyes are more green than Kai’s. I thought identical twins would have the same colored eyes. But maybe it’s a symptom of Kai taking up all the room in the womb. I’m still so annoyed about Kai doing that. Still, to this day, Kai takes up most of the space in their lives. That’s why it’s so rare to see Milo chilling in this living room.
