Page 62 of Unforgettable Player

“Can’t wait to kick your ass on Pacman.”

When we get to the coffee shop, Scout orders her caramel macchiato—diabetes in a cup, as my mom called it—and drums her fingers on the counter while she waits. The barista gives her an annoyed glance and she stops.

“I’m guessing this means you are into Gabe, then?”

I’m sweating. I feel like a married man having an affair. How do those sleazeballs do it? I feel like I need to take a shower.

“Sure.”

We take our drinks over to the comfy chairs in the corner and let them swallow us up. Scout takes a sip of her drink.

“Is it just a summer fling, or do you think you’ll keep in touch when you go back to school?”

A summer fling.

Images of Connor flash through my mind. Connor by the pool, water glistening on his bare chest. Connor above me in bed last night, fucking me. No, not fucking me. I’m not sure what I’d call what he was doing, but it was more than that.

“Hey, what are you thinking about?”

Your brother on top of me.

“Nothing.”

I reply to Connor’s text once I’m back in the car and Scout’s distracted enough by driving and singing along to her playlist to leave me be.

Can’t tonight, going to the arcade with Scout. Sorry.

14

CONNOR

“Oof.” I rub the spot on my chest where Brad just threw a fucking basketball at me.

“Pay attention, man.”

I shake my head, picking the ball up and throwing it back to him.

Obviously, I know Scout gets priority with Elliot. She’s his best friend and he made it pretty fucking clear he only wants to hook up with me. Casual. No strings or whatever. But it still sucked, reading that text.

I want to see him. If Scout wasn’t such a gremlin about me hanging out with them, I’d be happy to just tag along. I don’t need to be hooking up with Eli to enjoy being with him.

“Brad, you got any plans tonight?”

“Nope, why?”

“Wanna have a drink at the arcade bar?”

He shrugs before tossing the ball in the net. “Sure.”

We used to be obsessed with this place when we were growing up. Nothing’s changed since the last time we were here. The bar is still on the far side and most of the huge space is taken up by retro video games and pinball machines. There are some modern games like Dance Mania, which Scout almost killed herself getting the high score on.

I’m disgustingly sweaty by the time we make it across the main space and into the bar. What the fuck am I doing? Elliot’s gonna think I’m a psycho. But I’m here now. It’ll be weird if I tell Brad I wanna leave before we’ve even ordered a drink.

Have one drink, then suggest you go somewhere else. Maybe you’ll avoid seeing Elliot and save face.

Brad orders us both a beer while I scan the arcade for any sign of Eli and my growly sister. I shouldn’t be so disappointed when I fail to spot them.

We take a seat in front of a screen showing highlights from the previous day’s football game.