Coming back downstairs, I see a platter of food and a comfy setup for me. A new blanket is on the couch with some pillows as well.
“Making yourself comfortable, I see,” I say, surprised that he is so okay with moving and grabbing things around the house.
“Well, I have to be okay spending time in my future in-law’s home.”
I scoff as I wrap myself up, only leaving my hands free. He hands me the controller and then shifts me so that I’m lying on his chest.
This time I do lean in, relaxing against him.
“Are you sure you want to stay? Do you even like video games?”
“We had a GameCube as kids, but with six of us, we barely got turns for long. I guess I never picked up an interest because of that.”
“This might be boring for you, then.” I turn on the system and wait for the screen to load. Going to my current obsession, Motherland, I start up where I was before.
“Explain it to me, and then I can just watch you play.”
I perk up a little, turning to look at him.
“Okay, so in this game, the world ended, and humans were forced into space. They ended up setting up homes on other planets, andmerging with the alien life already there. Having grown up there, your character knows nothing else. But when they are accused of a crime, they have to escape. Unable to dock anywhere where there is life, they make the decision to return to Earth. When you get there, you discover that some humans survived and set up a community. They are all genetically different due to the exposure of still being there.”
“Okay, and is that where you are at?”
“Currently, I’m building a house and trying to find a dog to adopt.”
I move around the land, showing him a little bit of the landscape. It’s like this euphoric natural forest with unnatural colors and plants. Everything is dangerous and beautiful.
Explaining what I’ve learned thus far, I show him some of the things I’ve collected and places I’ve been. I break down the colonies and their different governments.
“So what’s the goal of the game?”
“It’s honestly low action, but you still go on adventures. There are monsters that you have to fight, and your metal from the planet you grew up on is able to cut through them better. The people hire you to kill things. I just want to see as much of the world as I can and earn the title of Slayer.”
He is smiling as much as I am. It’s clear that he is invested.
“Now that I know, I can enjoy watching you.”
“Are you sure? I can play this for hours.”
“Well, we have all day.”
That reminds me that he should probably be at work right now since it’s the middle of the week, but instead, he is here. I’m about to bring it up when he lifts my chin and kisses my nose. A stroke of his thumb down my cheek has me turning into putty in his hands. Iquickly turn to face the screen before he can notice that, unpausing the game.
While he watches me, his reactions seem to be on par with mine. We cheer together, tense up together, and talk about how cool the graphics are. An ease takes over us, making the time fly by.
Eventually, the room is swathed in darkness as the sun sets. Despite my best efforts, the whole day was filled with a familiar calm that brought us closer together.
When I go to detangle from him, my stomach gurgles, and I panic thinking it’s about to empty out everything I have eaten. I quickly realize it just wants more food.
This time I cook for him, and we settle at the dining room table with dinner and some sodas.
“I just want you to know, this is not a date,” I say, trying to keep a serious face.
“You’re right. This is a preview of our future,” he says, winking.
“You’re incorrigible.”
“And you’re stubborn.”
