He exited the car and opened her door, leading her to the entrance. While the establishment might have appeared to be for kids, Elias knew more adults frequented it. They had an immersive dinner menu and some of the best drinks he’d ever had. The atmosphere and light shows on any night weren’t over the top, and they were even more chill when no kids were around. They also incorporated different games depending on the night.
When they were seated at their table in the dining area, he watched Eri look around. The surrounding walls were a soft, illuminated blue; the table a warm glow of mint.
“How big is this place?” she asked.
“About twenty thousand square feet,” he responded. He didn’t know for sure but knew that was close.
“Really?” she asked.
“The other side houses all the fun rooms, a light maze, and interactive games.”
Their server approached the table, taking their drink orders before leaving them to look at their menus. Elias had been a few times, so he knew what he wanted, and when Eri put her menu down a few minutes later, her eyes came to his.
“Are we playing games after dinner?”
“A few,” he responded.
“Which ones?”
“Whichever ones you want to play.”
She nodded as she turned her attention to the table and tapped it with her finger, resulting in ripples. She briefly placed her hand on the table, picked it up, and watched the ripples start outward in the shape of her hand before it was distorted. Elias couldn’t help but smile at the amusement she seemed to find in it.
Their server returned with their drinks, and they placed their orders. Once alone again, Eri asked, “What drink did you order?”
“An ocean breeze.”
She took a sip of her drink. “It looks pretty.”
He chuckled. “I didn’t order it because it was pretty, but I guess so.” In all honesty, he never thought about how it looked, even less so when the one she’d ordered was far…prettier, as she’d put it. “Do you want to taste it?” he asked.
She bit her lip before nodding. “Sure.”
Elias passed her the glass, and she took a sip. When she passed it back to him, he deliberately turned the glass to where she’d drunk and took one of his own, her eyes on him the entire time.
“Did you like it?” he asked.
“Um,” she cleared her throat. “Yeah, it’s good.” She glanced down at her drink before her eyes returned to him. “Do you…want to try mine?”
“Do you want me to?”
“It’s only fair,” she responded.
Again, it wasn’t a yes or a no, and he realized she was good at giving him those types of answers. This time, she’d placed the ball in his court. If he had to guess, it was because if he said no, then she hadn’t truly offered, and it wasn’t a rejection, and if he said yes, then it didn’t matter that she hadn’t asked.
Elias took the glass from her. It was sweeter than what he’d ordered, but he assumed it would be. He handed it back to her, and she tilted her head at him.
“Well?” she inquired.
“It’s pretty good. Not better than mine,” he teased. “But good.” She glared at him playfully before taking another drink. “Valentine’s Day is around the corner,” Elias shifted the subject. “Big plans?”
He watched as something flashed across her face before she shook her head. “No. Valentine’s Day is a useless holiday.”
“Useless because you don’t like it or because you end up disappointed?”
She was silent for a second before responding, “What about you? Any big plans?”
Elias got the sense that whatever the reason she found it useless was, it wasn’t pleasant, and he wouldn’t push. “No,” he replied. “Not yet.” But he would soon.
