“Do either of you two need pointers on how laser tag works?” The young girl working the front desk draws our attention back to her.
“Point and shoot?” I joke.
She chomps her gum and nods. “Yes. Through those doors. The lights will turn green when it’s time to start.”
“Roger that.” I salute her and grab Stevie’s hand to head into the room I booked for the two of us at a small laser tag place near the restaurant.
I should have known that restaurant wouldn’t be Stevie’s kind of place. I put so much thought into taking her somewhere special that I didn’t even think if she would like it.
Fucking idiot, I chide myself.
But seeing her happy face now? I’m okay with this change in plans. It’s more me if I’m being honest with myself.
“You think you can beat me, Bode?” Stevie asks.
“Oh, I know I can.”
If it means getting a second date with her, I’ll do everything in my power to win.
“You’re going down, Adams,” Stevie calls out.
The minute the light turns green, I’m ducking behind an oversized black mountain of sorts that’s lit up with pink lights. Other games are going on around us, but I’m trying to keep my eyes peeled for a certain blonde.
A few teens run by and at the end of the line is Stevie. Before I can jump up, she’s diving under a log and aiming her gun in my direction.
“Nice try!” Stevie calls out.
I pop out and move deeper into the room. I’m in the open too long and Stevie gets me, one of my lives flickering out.
“Ha.” Her voice echoes around the room as strobe lights flash and the bass from the music thumps around the room.
I’m laughing as I find protection in a tiny-ass cave. I barely fit, but do my best to curl up and wait her out.
There is no way I’m losing in laser tag.
Especially with a second date on the line. Even if my legs start to fall asleep.
“Come out, come out and play, Bode.” I hear her voice.
Peering out from my hiding place, I see there’s the smallest opening and I shoot, hearing the noise of success.
“Damn it!”
“Now, now, Stevie. Language.”
“Funny, coming from you, Bode,” she tosses back at me.
This is what I should have planned from the start. Having fun and goading each other.
I’m not a fancy guy. I don’t need a hundred-dollar steak and wine. This is better than I could have imagined.
Stevie makes another run for it and I get her easily.
“You only have two lives left, Stevie. Do you really want to lose to me?”
“I don’t plan on it, no.”
“So confident.” I get stuck trying to leave my hiding spot, and Stevie gets an easy two shots on me, resulting in her having one life over me. “Clearly you didn’t think this one through.”
