Page 86 of Faking It
“I love detours,” he says with a chuckle. “Where to?”
Zane holds out his phone so Mick can see whatever is on his screen.
“My kind of detour,” Mick says.
“Zane?” I ask. “What are you doing?”
“I’m giving you what you asked for.”
“WHAT DID YOU DO? CALL ahead and rent this place out? It’s empty.”
“I’ve got my connections,” he jokes.
I look around the arcade on Main Street in what could literally be any small city in America. There are two teenage attendants wiping down machines and flirting with one another and an older gentleman in the front who looks like he’s going over receipts. Other than those three and the tons of blinking lights on the numerous arcade and pinball machines in here, it’s just us.
“What’s left to play?” I ask.
“Well, we said we had to play every machine in here a
t least once before we leave, so”—he motions his hand to all of the machines on my left that I’ve yet to try—“take your pick.”
“You said Galaga was your game, right?” He nods. “I bet I can beat you at it.”
“Is that so?” He quirks an eyebrow up at me and I can already tell he’s game.
“You’ll just have to play and find out.”
“And what does the winner get?”
“Hmm . . . whatever the winner wants.”
His grin is lightning fast and so are his hands as he spins around and has his hips trapping mine against a machine. Just as quickly, his lips close over mine in one of those kisses that are quick, violent with desire, and leave your lips parted and breath hitched when he steps back.
“I have a lot of wants,” he murmurs before stepping back, laughing, and swatting the side of my hip. “Be ready to lose.”
I give myself a second to recover from that unexpected kiss before following behind him.
“Ladies first,” he says before sliding a token in the machine’s slot.
“And you’re even paying for my game too?” I say and hold a hand to my chest.
“What can I say,” he says, blowing on his knuckles and rubbing them against his shirt. “I’m a big spender.”
And so we begin a little video game war. A two game duel becomes a best of five when he didn’t show complete dominance in score, then became a best of eleven when I pulled ahead by one, then moved onto a best of fifteen.
“Watch and learn, Nicks.”
“I’ve learned plenty.” I say with a smug smile when he looks my way. “I’m up one win on you. This is a do or die here.”
“I know, but uh, after this game, I will be the official Galaga champ of the Main Street Arcade.” He throws his arms up in victory and hisses like a crowd cheering its winner.
“Not so fast, Phillips. I have a few cards up my sleeve yet.”
“How is that?” He asks as he drops a coin in. “I’m about to win right now.”
He turns toward the game. Toward the little shooter spaceship and the flying alien bugs you have to zap. His hands beat frantically at the button and his feet shift as he anticipates what to do next.
When I know he’s clearly going to beat my score, I decide it’s time to bring out all the stops.
