Chapter 2
To Nerds & Geeks
Logan
Sitting in an armchair in the corner of my room, still in my tux, I sipped on Macallan single malt, wishing the door to my room would swing open. I wasn’t like most guys; dating was the farthest thing from my mind. I was a football player through and through. Most women didn’t understand that I spent most of my offseason in the gym getting ready for the upcoming year. When I wasn’t running or lifting weights, I read classics and practiced writing articles. I knew I was an odd duck, but Ari seemed like one too.
I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but she seemed to march to the beat of her own drum—a refreshing quality that was far too rare in this day and age. I knew nothing about her but craved to change that. I should have led with that. I damned my actions from earlier in the night. Playing it cool, trying to be suave—that wasn’t me. I was a nerd who loved Tolstoy and Hemingway. I geeked out over alliteration and punny remarks. The wittiness of Ari’s banter had been the nail in the coffin for me. Yes, she was petite, gorgeous, and curvy with a jaw-dropping smile and breathtakingly kind eyes, but that was never what drove me. Passion and intellect where what really sparked my fire. It also helped that she didn’t throw herself at me; a little chase was always welcomed.
Grabbing my tattered copy ofA Farewell to Armsoff the nightstand, I returned to my perch in an ill-fated attempt at distraction. Getting lost in protagonist Frederic Henry’s tale of being a paramedic serving in the Italian Army as he attempts to exit the war and fall in love with a nurse, Catherine, was harder than usual. I knew the story by heart. It was one of those books I had reread over and over through the years, but that night, it wasn’t doing the trick.
My mind kept tripping back to all the ways I should have started my encounter with Ari. I should have led with some impressive quote from Jane Austen or began the conversation with questions about what she did for a living. Either of those would have been far better than just kissing her like a horny teenager at his first school dance.
To my surprise, the hotel door creaked open and Ari stood in the entryway looking radiant in yoga pants, an oversized T-shirt, and bare feet.
Relief washed over me as I threw the book to the floor and scrambled to my feet.
“I didn’t think you’d come,” I admitted, filling a glass of scotch for her.
Taking it from me, she sank onto the foot of the king bed. “I honestly don’t know why I did. Maybe I was just bored.”
“Then I am honored you chose to kill your boredom with me.” I sat back in my chair. The desire to be near her was unnerving, but I was getting a second chance to show her I wasn’t a dog in heat and I refused to waste the opportunity.
“Hemingway?” she asked, pointing to the discarded paperback.
I could feel my cheeks getting hot as I muttered, “I was trying to kill boredom too.”
“The world breaks every one and afterward many are strong at the broken places.” The words danced into the air in Ari’s singsong voice as my heart did a backflip.
“And just when I thought you couldn’t get any more fascinating, you have to pull that out.”
She pulled her knees up to her chest as a smile spread wide. “I didn’t think anyone read that book anymore.”
“Whoever doesn’t is missing out, in my humble opinion.” I thumbed the top of my glass, not knowing what to do.
“How are you such a jock but seem to be the smartest man I have ever met?” Her question caught me off guard.
“I was lucky to have a good education, and both of my parents are literature professors at Duke. I thought my dad was going to die a thousand deaths when I finally begged him to let me play football,” I admitted.
“Isn’t that the all-American dream for most fathers? My dad shoved a football in all three of my brothers’ hands right out of the womb.”
I shrugged. “My father wanted me to become the next great American novelist. The day I got drafted was very bittersweet in the Turner household.”
“You’re very intriguing, Logan. What did you major in during your time behind ivy-covered walls?”
I sat up a little straighter. “I studied journalism. I figured if my football career ended when college was over, I could at least try my hand at sports writing so I could be close to the game and not disappoint my folks too much. What about you? What do you do, Ari?”
She bit her lip for a minute before giggling a little. “Promise not to make too much fun of me?”
I held up three fingers. “Scout’s honor. I will not make fun of you. I’m merely interested.”
“I’m basically a geek.” She bashfully diverted her gaze.
“Luckily, I’m a nerd. You’re in good company, my dear.”
Pursing her lips, she narrowed her eyes at me. “I don’t usually admit this to guys I find attractive, but I’m a tester and programmer for Blizzard Entertainment.”
“Why the hell wouldn’t you want to tell guys you play video games for a living? I feel like that is a wet dream come true for most.”
