Page 96 of Seal the Deal
“Did you save it the day I sent it?” Mark asks, leaning close enough his hot breath ghosts over Andrew’s throat.
“Yes,” Andrew answers, barely repressing a shudder of revulsion. “The instructions in the e-mail said to.”
“Sure, that’s why,” Mark smirks.
“What do you?—”
“Tickets,” the employee at the head of the line barks. He taps the machine next to him, expression managing to seem both bored and impatient.
Squeezing through the group, Andrew holds out his phone to scan the first ticket, frowning when the machine beeps red.
“Invalid.”
“That can’t be possible. I checked the tickets before I left my apartment.”
“Try again,” Mark instructs, like Andrew wasn’t already going to do that. Being told to do what he was already going to do irks him beyond reason.
The second attempt to scan the tickets doesn’t work.
“Try again,” Mark demands. “Maybe you saved it wrong, Andrew.”
“There’s no wrong way to save a ticket,” Andrew gripes, uncomfortable with the amount of attention they’re garnering by holding up the line. He knows it’s not his fault but itfeelslike it, likely because the employee and his coworkers are all frowning at him and don’t seem to understand this is Mark’s situation and Andrew was only trying to help.
“Sir, you’re going to have to step out of line,” the employee instructs, waving his hand around the side of the stairs in clear dismissal. “The box office is that way.”
“Why?”
“All ticket issues have to be taken to the box office.”
“It’s fine, guys. And look, don’t worry too much Andrew.” Mark lays his hand at Andrew’s back. “I’m sure you didn’t do anything wrong on purpose.”
Unable to politely respond to the dig, Andrew takes an extra long stride to get away from Mark and his stupid overly friendly physical contact. The touch was so light, his skin was crawling. The touch was nothing like the firm, solid touches that Nicki has been giving him lately. He could go for one of Nicki’s necksqueezes right about now. Those giant, strong hands of Nicki’s always feel so good.
“Seriously, don’t overthink it, Andrew,” Mark continues, catching up to him in just a few steps. “You didn’t know you’d make a mistake. We have plenty of time to head to the box office before the game starts. Hopefully it’ll be quick enough that we have time to grab a bite before the puck drop.”
“I hope so, I'm starving,” Steve pipes up. “I’m getting food no matter what I miss.”
“You can mobile order—” Andrew starts, fully prepared to explain the system despite the fact that he’s never been here when Reuben claps his hands and interrupts him.
“Andrew’s mobile ordering for everyone.”
“That’s not what I meant,” Andrew sighs, reminded why he rarely goes out. Somehow, his desire to streamline and clarify things always means people assume he’s going to take over.
“We can just order in person,” Santiago says, giving Andrew a tight smile as they walk towards the box office. “Just so there’s no errors like with the tickets.”
“That wasn’t my fault,” Andrew points out.
“Hey, no one is blaming anyone,” Mark says. “Let’s all calm down and have a good time tonight. Word on the street is that Andrew's boy toy might get in a fight.”
“He’s not my boy toy,” Andrew protests, unsure why he dislikes that phrasing so much. “And why would he get into a fight?”
“Here, let me fix this little issue since the tickets are in my name,” Mark says, ignoring Andrew’s question and moving towards the box office.
Despite the long lines of fans who were waiting to get into both entrances of the venue, the box office only has a few people in line. Likely because like Mark, most people got their tickets online for tonight's game or might even be season ticket holders.Nicki mentioned a lot of the fans who are local come to most home games.
“Why would Nicki get in a fight?” Andrew asks, directing the question to no one in particular.
“Dude, how the hell did you bag a hockey player when you know nothing?” Steve asks.
