6. Adam
Adam
Mia’s eyes light up as we walk into the massive building with overwhelming neon lights, nineties music slightly too loud playing over the speaker, and retro black and white flooring.
I could have asked every single guy on our team for a first-date spot, and I can almost guarantee you that not a single one of them would have said this place.
I nearly ditched the idea, to be honest, when I saw her standing on the sidewalk.
Mia deserves to be wined and dined, but something in my gut knew this was better for a first impression.
I can take her to a fancy restaurant on our second date.
But for tonight, I want to lean into this playful chemistry we’ve had, and sitting at a candlelit table just isn’t the place for that.
“So, what’s first?” Mia asks, trying to mask her glee, but with the way she keeps eyeing the arcade, I think I know the answer.
“I was thinking I’ll kick your ass in the arcade, then we’ll grab some food from the concession, then maybe I’ll let you win at bowling.”
Mia scoffs with amusement. “I know you’re baiting me, but I prefer that order, so I’ll allow it for now.”
“Trust me, Mia, I’m looking forward to you beating me at every single game.”
Mia sends her hair over her shoulder. “You could have warned me, and I would’ve brought my hair clip.”
“Strategic move on my part. I need any advantage I can get here.”
Stepping up in line, I get us unlimited-play wristbands, and Mia raises her left arm for me to put it on her.
“Adam,” she says cautiously. “It’s possible that I get a little out of hand with my competitive streak, so before we start, I have to say, this was a great idea. You’ve impressed me…but only a bit.”
“My ego isn’t fragile, Mia.” Letting go of her arm, I meet her eyes. “In fact, with that comment it might be just a little inflated.”
Mia chuckles, poking one finger against my chest. “Let’s go pop it, shall we?”
Holding out my hand, I let her lead the way.
Mia walks through the entire arcade, taking note of every game available. I can see it written all over her face—her plotting my demise. It’s something to admire. Mia carries herself in a way that leaves zero room for guesses or interpretation.
She pauses toward the back wall and this mischievous grin comes to her face as she spins on her heels. “Alright, All-star, I know you can throw a ball, but can you roll one?” Mia holds her hands out, showcasing the Skee Ball machines in front of her.
“You’ll beat me at more than one game—but not this one.”
Mia scoffs, stepping backward toward the row of alleys, with this wicked gleam in her eyes.
Spinning away from me, she scans the band on her wrist. The balls tumble down the alley, clacking against each other.
She picks one up and doesn’t hesitate as she rolls it. It sinks right into the corner spot.
Looking my way, she doesn’t say a word, simply pinches her fingers as if she’s holding a needle, then mouths, Pop.
I can’t help but laugh. Squeezing in next to her, I scan mine on the lane to her left. A gentleman would probably take it easy on their date, but that’ll seal my fate of never getting to take her out again.
Rolling the ball up to the hundred spot in the corner, it goes right in, and I can’t help but send a cocky wink her way.
“Thank god, I was afraid you were all talk.” She sends the next one to the corner hundred again.
She’s completely locked in, and I’m in awe. It takes her two more rolls going in the fifty to pull me out of the trance that she puts me in.
“Shit,” I mumble.
Going into the same laser focus as Mia, I send all but the very last Skee up the ramp. Looking over at Mia, she’s throwing her last one to give her a total of 850 points.
“Not too bad,” I say as cocky as I can manage while looking at her beautiful face.
She looks from her score to mine. “Seven hundred and ninety…you’re going to have to make the corner to win.” Stepping closer, Mia leans in, teasing. “Impress me, Reyer.”
Holding her eyes, I don’t spare a glance toward the board in front of me, letting muscle memory take the lead. I only look to Mia to find out if I make it or not.
Her smile pulls slightly. “Eight hundred and forty. You lose.”
Finally, pulling away, I look at our scores then back to her. I can’t say I feel the least bit like a loser standing here with her.
“Round two or next game?”
“Next game.” She pats my forearm. “Keep your chin up, we can try this one again later.”
Mia proceeds to kick my ass in air hockey, Guitar Hero, Mario Kart, and at least ten more. I can’t say I minded most of it, but I won’t lie, the Mario Kart loss got me. However, when I got a higher score in Pac-Man, I thought Mia was going to cuss me out. It was adorable.
We don’t stop until every game has been played, Mia clearly ending with the upper hand.
After grabbing some food from the concession, we find an empty table.
“Okay, moment of truth,” Mia says, picking up her pepperoni pizza. “If this greasy pizza is everything it looks to be, this will officially be one of the best dates I’ve been on.”
“One of?” I fake offense. “Give me some credit, you thought I was boring at first.”
Mia purses her lips before lifting her pizza to her mouth. “And yet, your fate is being tested by arcade pizza.”
Mia takes a bite, and her eyes roll as she lets out a small groan. “Yep, every date we have has to be here now.”
I can’t decide what makes my dick twitch more, the reaction she had to the food or that she wants to go out again. All I know is that I have to lean back in my seat a bit now so my pants don’t feel so tight.
“That’ll make planning things much easier.”
Mia chuckles, reaching for a napkin. “For the record, I didn’t think you were boring. Just looked—”
“Too serious,” I quote her words.
“Could you really blame me? You have to admit…you have a resting serious face. The beard and huge stature just scream don’t bother me.”
I chuckle. “I’ll give you that. Going out with the team sometimes calls for that dissociative face. I can’t tell you how many weird signal suggestions Will and I get from fans.”
“I can see that.” Mia sets her pizza down and this odd look comes to her face. “Look, I know I flirted with Beck, but I swear—”
“Mia, stop. You don’t have to defend or even explain it to me. I told you my ego isn’t fragile.”
“I know, but you were right in my office earlier. I never really had any true interest in him. There’s not a single part of me that questions if it could have gone somewhere.”
There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that there could be something lingering for Beck. So what if Mia flirted with an equally available person? I could ask “why not me” to start with, but what would be the point in that?
I’d much rather focus on being here with her now then question why.
Part of me wants to respond in the same serious tone she did, but then how could I properly disprove her ideas of me being “too serious”?
Sitting up, I lean my arms on the table. “So, does that mean I was also right in calling you out on me being your type?”
Mia rolls her eyes. “Adam.”
“You just kicked my ass back there. Give a guy a lil’ break.”
Mia tries to stifle her laugh. “I thought you weren’t fragile?”
“No, clearly I’m not. You don’t give those guys actual chances, do you?”
This smirk tugs at the corner of her mouth. “No, I don’t, but our date isn’t over yet, Reyer.”
There’s that twitch again…
Picking up my pizza, I tease, “I think I got it in the bag. Have you tried the pizza?”
Mia’s laugh breaks free this time. Fuck, it’s such an addicting sound.
“Only the best for you, sweetness.”
“Ugh, points lost. You can do better than what that idiot uses to undermine me.”
“I know I can, and I will, but what fun would it be if I let go of how riled up you get at sweetness so soon?”
Mia shakes her head. “You know, I’ve almost told that man off countless times.”
“I’m a little surprised you haven’t, but after learning about some of the things my sister had to deal with—I know it’s not that simple.”
Mia’s lips fold together for a minute. “No, it never is, but I use that to my advantage when I can.” She sits up straighter.
“My father always had me in the office growing up. I loved watching him work—while my mom would say I was just a daddy’s girl, there was more to it.
My dad never discredited my intelligence.
He obviously would have to change the way he explained things to match my age, but he knew I was capable of doing everything he did. ”
Hmm, this weird pang comes to my chest. I wonder what it would have been like for me and Callie to have parents that actually thought we were more than accessories.
“That must have been nice, having all that time with your dad.”
“It was. Really where those opposite of daddy issues I was telling you came from,” she says with a chuckle.
“Watching him pour his passion into his business was what got me the most, though. I wanted to be just like him. He was loved by his employees—respected—and always in control of everything around him. That’s part of why I want my business to appear perfect to him because that’s how his work looked to me.
He never showed people his stress or hardships.
“I started working as one of his interns the moment I turned sixteen. I was determined to learn everything he did. We’d have weekly meetings at home going over every stock, sale—whatever report he had.
As much as I wanted to be like my father, I quickly realized it wouldn’t be possible to get the same respect from everyone like he does. ”
I huff in amusement. “From what I’ve seen, Mia, you’re all that and more. I’m not one to shy away from a bet, and I’d bet on you every time.”