Chapter 7 Vincent
SEVEN
VINCENT
It’s a toss-up on whether Beau is going to meet me here tonight. I purposefully left without giving him a chance to respond. I’m hoping that means he’ll show no matter what, if for no other reason than to let me down gently.
I spot him when he’s a block away, still wearing the tight trousers I love so much, just like I asked. Not that I plan on keeping him in them for very long. Though what’s the fun in not getting to look my fill before slowly stripping them off him?
“Hey, am I late?” He checks his watch with a frown.
“Nope, you’re right on time.” I don’t mention that I got here early, not that it took a lot of effort since we’re right outside my home. He doesn’t need to know that. Yet.
“So, um, what are we doing?” There’s a mischievous look on his face. I doubt he’s the type to jerk off in the office, which means he’s spent the last few hours worked up and ready for tonight. Too bad I have plans before we get a chance to be alone. Never let it be said that I’m not a gentleman.
“I hope you’re in the mood to have a little fun.”
“Oh, um, yes?”
I thought so. “Good, this way then.” I lead him down the street to one of my favorite places to blow off steam.
I figure he’s got a lot of pent-up anger and aggression that could use some release.
And while I have plenty of other suggestions for how we can do that later, for now I want to have a little fun and get to know each other better.
Plus, Jacklyn said Beau could use a little more excitement in his life. I guess that’s what I’m here for.
We walk down the block in silence for a few minutes before I can’t stand it anymore. “So, tell me about this job that you hate?”
“I don’t hate it,” Beau says, scoffing.
“You could’ve fooled me.” I know I’m lucky, getting to pursue my passion and do precisely what I want.
Most people don’t have that luxury, but he should do something that he at least cares about.
Even when he’s sitting at the table, reading financial pieces, it feels like it’s what he’s supposed to do. Not what he enjoys.
“It’s just…my boss left the company a few weeks ago, and things aren’t the same.
He trusted me, gave me lots of opportunities, and never made me run bullshit errands.
Now, I work for a bunch of different folks.
They all treat me like I’m some low-level office assistant.
Mostly, I make them copies and update the calendar. ”
“And what is it that you want to do?”
“What do you mean?” He shoots me a confused look, his brows knitted tightly together.
“I mean, if you could pick your tasks at work, which ones would you do?”
He’s quiet for a long time, so I rephrase. “What are the things you were doing before that you miss getting to do now?”
“I guess the basic work of compiling client files. I always got to look at them and prepare notes for Matthias, my former boss. He’d have me run basic numbers and such as well.”
I hum. The picture is slowly coming into focus. “Sounds like he was training you up for a bigger position.”
“Oh, no, he wasn’t…son of a bitch. He was training me for a junior-level position. How did I not see that?”
My guess is his old boss was very good at hiding it, though I don’t want to say anything. “It’s hard to see when you’re in the thick of it.”
“Shit.” I let him think about it for another block, sensing he needs a little time to come to terms with his recent discovery. A few minutes later, we arrive in front of one of my favorite places, Above Board.
When I stop, Beau nearly runs into me. “Sorry. Why are we stopping?”
“We’re here.” I point to the big sign over the doorway.
“What’s this?”
“You’ll see, come on.” I grab his hand and drag him through the front door, into the dimly lit space. It’s a cozy shop, filled with plenty of little areas tucked away from the main crowds. It’s crowded as usual on a Friday. Lucky for us, I may have called in a favor.
“Vincent,” Amanda calls to me.
“Hey, Amanda, thanks for making room for us on short notice.”
“Anything for you. And who did you bring with you tonight? A virgin, perhaps?”
I wish I’d brought my camera, because the look on Beau’s face right now is one that I want to remember for the rest of my life.
“Be nice,” I chastise her. “Amanda, this is my date, Beau. Beau, this is Amanda. She owns Above Board.” I hope he’s okay with me officially introducing him as my date. My intentions for tonight were pretty clear, but there’s still a chance he thinks we’re out as friends.
He shakes off whatever’s left of his haze and finds his manner. “Nice to meet you.”
“Oh, you’re going to have fun tonight.” I hope her teasing doesn’t scare Beau too much.
“I’ve got you guys set up down in the corner.
” She gives me a little wink. That area is about as private as it gets in the store.
“Everything’s ready. If you want food or drinks, come on up to the bar and I’ll get them for you. ”
I give her a quick peck on the cheek before grabbing Beau’s hand again and leading him toward our table. As soon as we get there, I remove the reserved sign and flop down in one of the oversized high-back chairs that make me feel like a king. “So, what do you think?”
BEAU
This place is…nerdy. That’s the best description I can come up with.
It’s a café designed for people to play board games together.
And not the Chutes and Ladders kind, but big ones that require a twenty-page instruction guide.
It sounded outrageous the first time I heard a colleague mention it in passing. Who would go out to play board games?
A lot of people, apparently, because this place is packed. And Vincent is royalty. Several people stopped to say hi to him as we passed through, and even more waved from across the room.
“It’s interesting.” And completely unexpected.
“You’ll love it. I already picked out a game for us.”
I don’t think I’ve played a board game since elementary school.
He pulls up a box with seams that look like they might fall apart at any minute. That must mean the patrons love it. Maybe I should feel lucky that we’re getting it tonight? “This is one of my favorites. It’s easy to learn and play, but it’s also a great way to blow off steam.”
I have no idea how that’s supposed to work, but I decide to make the most of it.
Vincent has managed to be full of mostly good surprises since we met, so I’m hoping he continues that streak.
Plus, I’m hoping that the scene he described over lunch is still on the table for after. If I’m on my best behavior.
“What’s…” I look at the box on the table, expecting something along the lines of Monopoly. Instead, I’m looking at a box covered in…evil lawn gnomes. “Invading Gnomes? Really?” I’m starting to reconsider agreeing to this date.
“You’re going to love it.” Vincent starts pulling out the supplies, which consist of a big game board, lots of cards, and tiny gnomes.
“You can pick first,” he says, extending a hand with a bunch of little enamel pieces.
I decide on a grumpy-looking one holding what appears to be a pitchfork.
“Good,” he says, dumping most of them back in the box and holding onto the one that’s holding an armful of flowers.
If we were basing this game on the pieces alone, I’d be winning.
Something tells me that’s about to change. Vincent goes through the rules quickly, but none of it sinks in. Ten minutes later, I don’t think I could even repeat the name of the game, let alone tell someone how to play.
Lucky for me, he’s a patient teacher, walking me through my choices each turn, never once giving me a hard time for not knowing what to do next.
“Okay, so now you could play a helpful critter if you have one. Something like a mole or a gopher would be best, but if you don’t have those, you could play a grub.”
I hate to say that most of that sentence made sense to me. I look through the cards in my hands to see if there’s anything good. No moles, but I do have a groundhog. It’s got a bunch of information listed that means nothing to me, but I put it on the table anyway.
“Whoa,” Vincent says. “That gives you a huge attack.” He does a little bit of math in his head, mouth moving as he does whatever it is he has to do. “You win.”
“What?” I stare at the board on the table, covered in a mess of ridiculous cards.
My little rebel gnome has managed to get across the whole table, leaving behind a bunch of destruction.
Or at least cards that indicate destruction.
“It’s over?” I still haven’t figured out the rules of this thing.
I’m not sure I even knew what would end the game.
“Yep, and you must have beginner’s luck. Or you’re secretly a huge nerd and hustled me.”
“Wouldn’t that mean we bet on it or something?”
“Well, I think the winner gets something.” He licks his lips. “Prize still to be named.”
And there’s that big flirty energy. Not that it ever left. I’m pretty sure he had an innuendo for every card played. Not that it’s hard, considering the game includes plenty of references to gardening tools and holes.
“And what does one have to do to claim this prize?” I lean forward in my chair.
I don’t know how Vincent managed to do it, but apparently, I enjoyed this experience.
I never would’ve walked into the place. When I heard about it, I figured it was a place for people who couldn’t get dates. I mean, board games?
“Hmm…that depends.”
“On what?”
“On whether you think the date went well.”
“I’d give it a solid seven and a half.”
“Only a seven and a half?” He holds his hand to his chest, like my little gnome stabbed him. “What would bring it up to a solid nine?”
“My reward.”