This time, my answering smile is uninhibited. “That’s cute as hell.”
She snorts and shakes her head. “I wound up never seeing much beyond the cities of the northwest. So much for satisfying my wanderlust.”
“I can’t wait to show you the cities we’re traveling to. The tour limits how much time we’ll have in any of them, but I’d like to take you to all my favorite places.” As the words come out, I briefly wonder if it’s too much, if I’m showing my hand too soon. Then Sin reaches over to squeeze my thigh.
“That sounds amazing.”
A little while later, I park in a car lot in the sleepy town of Whispering Pines, just outside the discount store and right by the chain coffee shop. The two of us then head down the street, which doesn’t have a lot going on. We pass a couple of people on the street and they don’t pay us any attention other than a brief ‘hello’.
“Huh. I would have thought you guys would be bigger news, especially in a town like this,” Sin mutters as we pass by a bunch of kids who don’t give us a second glance.
I chuckle. “We’ve been here a few times a year for the past ten years. We’re old news and literally no one gives a shit about us. That’s the beauty of this place.”
Keeping our fingers tangled together, I lead Sin down the main street, past the hardware store and the library. Continuing on until we’ve gone beyond the pub on the corner, I lick my lips as I pause at the mouth of an alleyway I know very well.
“This bit is going to seem kind of weird, but just trust me, okay?”
Sin eyes the alleyway and then the street and raises an eyebrow. “Sure. If it turns out we’re going dumpster diving, I have to tell you, I have a weak stomach when it comes to the smell of old trash.”
I chuckle. “I might be out of practice with this whole dating thing, but even I know better than that. I’m trying to impress you here, Sin.”
“You are?” She grins, batting her eyelashes and eeking out another little laugh from me. Fuck, she’s cute.
“Yes.”
I just hope I can pull it off. It’s not exactly dinner under the moonlight, like Cal’s planning to give her tomorrow night. Then again, it’s not a competition. Sin needed a break from the house and her workshop, and I have the perfect distraction for the next couple of hours.
“The Alleyway Arcade?” Sin says as soon as she spots the sign. I nod and push open the heavy metal door, revealing my favorite place in the world.
The place might look like a dive from the outside, but as soon as we step inside, it’s like being transported to a whole other realm. One that’s focused on fun and friendly competition, instead of all the bullshit that drags us down.
The lighting is dim beyond the flashes of light from the classic games lining the walls and the glow of screens. The air’s thick with the scent of popcorn and sugar and our feet stick slightly to the vinyl as we make our way inside.
I take in a deep breath and feel my muscles loosening already.
We approach the front desk, and I give Sheila, the owner, a jaunty wave. She salutes me right back with a wry grin. “It’s all yours, kid.”
Sin shoots me a look and I just shrug. I may have paid a boatload of cash to hire the entire place out so we can do whatever we want, undisturbed. It’s not unusual for when I visit, but usually that’sbecause I can’t cope with all the sensations surrounding me when this place is busy.
Sin spins on her heel, admiring the place, and I feel a surge of pride. I may have had some input on the choice of games they have in this place.
“Shit, this place is cool.” She gasps and grips my arm, pointing to the far wall. “They have Goblin Racing! I always wanted it, but we could never afford it when I was a kid.”
I had a feeling that Sin didn’t have a regular childhood, and her excitement at being here and the way she’s grinning freely has me patting myself on the back.
Yeah, this was the perfect place to bring her for our first date.
“It’s just you and me, Sin. Now, pick your poison.” I wave my hand around the room. “Where do you want to start first?”
Sin’s smile grows until it takes over her face. “I want to try it all.”
Four hours later and we’re both giddy and sugared-up from the snacks I’ve been regularly supplying us with. We’ve made our way through all the shooting games and Sin just spent the past thirty minutes trouncing me at Goblin Racing.
She’s got a foul fucking mouth when she’s shit talking and I love it. I can’t remember the last time I smiled so big or laughed so hard.
“Okay, I need to stand up for a bit,” she says. “My feet are cramping from pressing down too aggressively.”
“Are you saying you might be a little competitive, Sin?”
