“Sounds like a pretty incredible team you had,” Mia says softly.
It really was. They all knew my family; they may not have known the full extent, or maybe they did. My coach knew what my father did, but with the money they poured into the school—no one said anything for fear of retaliation.
I never blamed them for it, though. I was just as terrified of the man as they were, so whatever I had to do to keep the one solace of that game I had…I endured.
“I suppose that’s ‘why baseball.’ The family I found in my team was more than enough for me.”
Mia’s lips fold together. I can tell she wants to dig deeper, but I’m sure she’s picked up that that’s all I can give her for right now.
“What I’m curious about is how you got so good at all those arcade games?”
Mia’s smile comes back. “My mom’s favorite vacation is a cruise. Dad was always sure to get the boats that had a lot of options for kids, like an arcade. The strategy for many of those games repeats, even if it technically is a new game. And…well, Skee Ball hasn’t exactly changed much.”
“No, I’d say not. When I was in the minors, my buddy Jett and I used to tear up these games on the road. I’m a good sport, but the Mario Kart loss really hurt.”
Mia’s face lights up. “Good! The feeling is mutual with Pac-Man. That one was my second favorite!”
“I could tell. You get the same look of contempt on your face when I call you sweetness.”
All amusement on her face dies and her eyes narrow. “This one?”
“Yes, that’s the one.” I smile. “It’s still beautiful.”
Everything about Mia softens and we lock into a weighted gaze. “Thank you. You’re not too bad to look at either.”
Maybe I did lie to Callie…I thought I was good, but looking at this woman across from me now, I can’t help but feel like everything in my life would be better if I got even the smallest bit of her every day.
After eating our pizza, I toss out the suggestion to skip bowling and have a rematch in the arcade. Might have been another strategic move on my part with navigating through the small games and crowd. Plenty of moments where Mia took my hand and let me lead the way or leaned back against my chest while we waited in line for a game.
It’s been the most fun I’ve had in years. I would have stayed there until they kicked us out. As we walk out to my car, all I can think about is putting in a call with Father Time. I’d beg him to slow this night down because I swear this feels like the last first date I’m ever going on.
“So, am I taking you back to Winedown?” I ask, opening the passenger door.
Mia slides in the seat with a frown. “Damn, yeah, my car’s there. I parked in the parking garage around the?—”
“I can take you to work in the morning if you don’t want to drive tonight.” The idea came out before I even registered the thought. Might sound a little clingy, but fuck, I don’t care.
Mia’s eyes cut to me and her smirk tilts up. “That’s awfully presumptuous of you, All-Star. I might’ve had a good time tonight, but on the first?—”
I hold my hand up and chuckle. I don’t hate the idea of spending the night with her, but tonight isn’t about that.
“I meant I can come back and pick you up in the morning. You know, maybe bring you one of those drinks that you won’t finish?”
She hums. “Or I could get a cab and buy my own drink.”
“You could.” I hand her my phone with maps pulled up. “But you could also let me pick you up. Not because you can’t afford the cab or because you aren’t capable of handling yourself, but because my day would be a whole lot better if I got to see you again.”
Her mouth slightly gapes before folding her lips to hold back a smile, then she takes my phone.
Rounding the car, I pray that she lives across town.
When the GPS says fifteen minutes, it feels like a punch to the gut. Maybe I could take a few wrong turns? At this late hour on a weekday, I’m not sure how much traffic I can count on, but I’ll take anything.
“So, what is your order?” I ask, pulling out of the parking lot. “You said you prefer matcha to coffee, right?”
“I’ll drink coffee if it’s the only thing around, but my drink of choice is an iced matcha with coconut milk.”
“Got a favorite place to get it from?”
