“Hmmm, I guess I’ll go along with it,” Jacob said, his attention quickly switching to the buzzer as it sounded over by the apartment’s door. “Nice! Ricki’s here!”
Jacob buzzed Ricki into the apartment and moments later the two of them were getting ready to have some fun together.
After greeting one another, Jacob and Ricki walked into the video games room and Jacob took great pride in showing Ricki his brand new imported Neo Geo console, an old relic from the distant past that was almost legendary back in the day. Well, according to Tane it was anyhow.
“I’ve seen these on YouTube. This will be the most fun,” Ricki cooed, bounding over to the gaming chairs and getting himself comfortable.
“Hell yeah it will,” Jacob giggled. “I’ve had a little go on it already and it doesn’t disappoint.”
The two friends then began to lose themselves in the world of peak retro gaming.
As much as Jacob loved the thrills and intensity of hockey, sometimes it was difficult to switch off. But with a games controller in his hand and a friend to play with, Jacob was able to truly let go and let his true gamer side come to the forefront for once.
“I love this,” Jacob said. “I used to think that the only way to switch off from hockey was through partying, but now I can see that I really don’t need that in my life.”
“Did Tane help you to see that?” Ricki asked, applying a special combo move that lit up the enormous screen before them in a blaze of color and old school sound.
“Yeah, he was a big part of it,” Jacob said. “I think… no, I don’t want to say it.”
“Noooo! You can’t do that,” Ricki giggled. “Just say it. I think I know what you’re going to say, but I want to hear it come out of your mouth for real.”
“I think Tane might be my Forever…” Jacob squealed, the excitement pouring out of him as he flicked a huge splat of color onto his canvas. “I think I’m totally in love with him! Is that nuts?”
Ricki turned to Jacob and seconds later the pair of them were jumping up and down together, their games controllers bouncing off the gaming chairs in the commotion.
“That’s awesome,” Ricki said, full of pure joy for his friend. “You’re so lucky. And so is Tane to have found a guy as cool as you.”
“Nawwww, that’s so sweet,” Jacob said, laughing. “You’ll find your man too soon. There’s probably at least a hundred guys in the city all desperate to date you.”
Jacob noticed that in that moment, Ricki looked like he wanted to say something but stopped himself. This could mean only one thing… therealready wasa man Ricki had his eyes on.
“Spill,” Jacob said, a knowing look in his eyes. “You’ve got some big-dicked stud on the down low, or you’ve seen someone you like… which one is it?”
“I definitely don’t have a big-dicked stud,” Ricki said, blushing. “But…”
“Who?” Jacob said, excitedly bouncing on his tiptoes.
“It would never, ever work,” Ricki said. “And even if he liked me… he’s just too scary. Like not even remotely a possibility. Not really.”
“Wait, you’re not talking about Antonio Cardini are you?” Jacob asked, shocked but suddenly thinking that Ricki and Antonio might actually be a good pair.
“Here’s the thing,” Ricki continued. “I started to crush on him a while ago. I mean, he’s hot. And there’s something about his dangerous vibe that is undeniably sexy as hell. I’d started walking past his office on a regular basis to try and increase the chance of him seeing me and us having a conversation or whatever.”
“Yeah, sounds like a good plan,” Jacob said, eyes wide open in anticipation of more juicy details.
“But a few days ago I was doing my usual walk past his office and I couldn’t help but overhear Antonio’s side of the conversation,” Ricki said, an ominous look coming over his face. “It was… scary. I mean, seriously fucking frightening shit. The things that Antonio was talking about weren’t good at all.”
Jacob felt his heart skip a beat, and not in a good way.
“Was it… crime stuff?” Jacob said, almost too scared to ask for any more details.
Ricki simply nodded and the two of them silently agreed that this would bring the conversation to an end, for now at least.
“Come on, let’s get back to the game,” Jacob said, desperate to lighten the mood again.
Ricki smiled a big smile of relief, and the two of them were soon enough totally engrossed in their gaming once more.
Jacob knew that the Cardini family weren’t exactly normal team owners, but hearing Ricki speak about Antonio’s phone conversation was hard to process. Still, with plenty of Neo Geo games to show Ricki, there was more than enough to distract them both for a good while yet.
