Page 61 of Midnight Ink

Julian just smiles. “When I had breakfast this morning, I was looking for some shit to do around here. This looks like fun.”

“Golf?”

“Just wait.”

We walk through the doors and we’re greeted by a woman at the front desk. He pays her and she hands us two mini golf clubs.

“Thank you,” he says, easy and polite, then passes one to me.

We step through the door and drop into darkness. Then Julian opens another door. “Holy shit.”

Everything glows.

The hallway looks like we’re underwater, waves painted in neon blues and greens pulsing under the black lights around the room. For a moment it’s disorienting, like my brain needs to catch up with my eyes.

“What is this?”

“Just wait.” His neon shirt glows under the lights. He reaches back without looking and takes my hand in his, leading me down the hall.

We walk down the hall and emerge into a massive glowing arcade. The course, the walls, the tables, everything hums with color. “Oh shit, this is cool.”

Julian looks back at me proudly. “Right? I thought so. Xia was talking about this place.”

He lets go of my fingers and twirls his putter. The room is huge. A mini golf course weaves through the room. There’s an arcade to the left, and tables where people can sit. It seems like we’re the only ones in here right now, though.

“I say we make this interesting,” he says, grinning.

I turn to him, and I want to talk about last night, but any awkwardness that seemed to be between us is gone. I don’t want to poke at it yet, so I play along. “Oh yeah? How so?”

“If I win, I get to decide what we do after this. If you win, you choose.”

The words are innocent enough, but the air in my lungs feels so heavy. I’m still thinking about last night, but maybe Julian is granting me mercy and moving right past it.

“But . . .” he continues. “If we get the ball in within two strokes⁠—”

“Strokes?” I snort.

“Grow up.” He laughs. “If we make it within two strokes, we get to ask a question and the other person has to answer. No dodging.”

“I know everything about you.”

He snorts. “No, Ian. You don’t.”

“I’ve worked beside you for years, Jules. I’m observant.”

He smiles softly. “My truth might surprise you.”

“I don’t doubt that.” I smile at the look on his face. Lazy and effortless. Fuck he’s beautiful. Clearly, after last night I know he’s not into me, but it’s hard to just shut it off.

There was a moment, as brief as it was, where I thought he may feel something too.

Why would he, though? He’s seen me at my worst from day one. He’s had a front row seat to what a mess I am.

“Ian?”

“Yeah.” I force a smile. “Sounds good.”

We walk up to the first hole, which is decorated like a swamp. The neon-green alligator sits at the end of the course. Julian gauges the distance and takes the first shot. Easy and confident. The glowing ball curves toward the hole, dropping right inside. “I’m amazing.” He grins.