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“You mean, you didn’t come prepared?” Jase teases.

“Kind of hard to do that since I didn’t know you’d be here.”

“A pleasant surprise, right?”

“Well, it’s definitely a surprise.”

Jase gives me a look but breaks it with a chuckle. Nora smirks and raises her eyebrows hubba hubba style. Before I can shoot her a glare, she greets Jase’s friends.

“Hey, how’s life?” Nora asks like she’s known them since pre-K.

“You know, life’s life,” Andy says, talking to her just as casually.

“Wow, that’s deep.”

It looks like Andy’s taking in Nora’s outfit—a long-sleeved blue romper, white boots, and wavy hair tied in a half-ponytail. “Are you supposed to be D.Va?”

I only recognize this name because Nora plays Overwatch at least an hour a day.

“The one and only best girl.” She, Andy, and Karthik debate over who, really, is the best girl of Overwatch.

“Instead of talking about characters no one but you guys know,” Michael chimes in, “how about we introduce ourselves?”

I can see why he’s the band’s leader. If Jase is in charge of hyping up the audience, Michael must be in charge of getting everyone situated.

We all introduce ourselves, and I learn that Michael’s girlfriend, who he’s been dating since freshman year, is named Hannah.

“So,” Jase begins, nodding to the air hockey table, “can we join?”

Before I can juggle between yes or no, Nora answers for me.

“Of course!”

Crap, I’m about to embarrass myself in front of Jase and all his friends for the second time. The only differences are that instead of ice cream there’s air hockey, and Michael’s girlfriend is here, making it one more person to witness me making a fool out of myself.

“Who wants to play first?” Michael asks. He and Hannah raise their hands first, followed by Andy, Nora, Karthik, and Jase. I don’t raise my hand at all. Michael lists the order we’ll play, pairing everyone off tournament style. We have an odd number, so it works out that I’m not playing.

“Ughhhh why do I have to be last?” Jase says.

“You raised your hand last,” Michael says.

“You can finally learn to be patient,” Hannah adds.

Jase groans again.

Ignoring him, Hannah asks me, “What about you? Are you playing?”

Just as I’m about to say no, Jase replies, “I’ll play against her.”

“Of course you will.” Andy smirks. He exchanges looks with Nora, though I can’t quite figure out why they’re smirking at each other.

I almost protest, but Michael and Hannah already split off to opposite sides of the table. The rest of us watch from the side. Beside me, Nora, Andy, and Karthik continue their three-sided debate on the Best Overwatch Girl.

“Fair warning, I suck,” I tell Jase.

“So do I,” Jase says like it’s something he’s proud of.

“You haven’t seen me play.”