Chapter 36
Rohan
Ican’t believe I shoved down my pride enough to ask Tyson out on a date.
Even with everything that happened in the game.
Or that I think happened, I probably would’ve let him ask me on the first date.
Listen, I like him and everything, and Understory showed me that, but that doesn’t mean I’m chasing him.
But this is a special circumstance, and I just couldn’t help myself seeing him again.
I miss him.
I tried to log into the game to no avail.
Then I received an email saying that Riserr was no longer putting any effort into Understory due to a change in leadership and issues with the game.
I do remember Tyson talking about that in game that his team was unable to make it work for them, though Ty and I never experienced the problems they were reporting.
I think we probably understand why that is now that we beat the game.
Or at least I think we did.
Because right now it feels like I lost, pretty fucking terribly.
I run across the street, stepping over a puddle at the crosswalk, the rain coming down harder than when I left work only thirty minutes ago.
I forgot my umbrella, and the hoodie I’m using to cover my head isn’t doing much to shield me.
Thankfully, I was only a few blocks from where I told Ty to meet me.
When I round the corner, he’s waiting under the awning of my favorite low-key spot.
I sometimes come here after work to grab a bite before heading home if I have a few extra bucks.
He’s looking down at his phone, wearing all black as usual, with a cigarette in his mouth.
I wish I could run up to him and jump into his arms again, but that would be weird with him not remembering anything.
So, I contain myself and approach him as normally as I can.
“Hey, sorry I’m late. I’m coming from work and … shipment came in last minute,” I mumble.
“It’s alright, you’re all wet.” He chuckles, pulling me out of the rain and closer to him after putting out his cigarette. My ears start to burn when he takes off his jacket, draping it across my shoulders.
“Oh, uh, thanks.”
“Let’s get inside,” Tyson says, gesturing for me to move past him.
He feels exactly like he was in the game.
The girl at the door asks us how many people we have with us and leads us through the restaurant to our seats.
I slide into the booth, wrapping Tyson’s jacket around me a little tighter.
It’s going to be a while before I’m all dry, is what I’m telling myself, and not that I want to take in his scent for as long as I possibly can without being weird.
“So, how long have you been waiting to ask me out on a date?” Tyson smirks.
“Of course you’d ask something like that.” I roll my eyes before looking down at the menu as if I need it. I get the same thing every time.
“I mean, I still think I must be dreaming or something,” he snickers.
“Dreaming … you dream about me?”
I hope he does.
We lock eyes for a minute, the air around us shifting. I notice Tyson swallow hard. “Not at all,” he mutters, checking the menu for himself.
“Right…”
When the waitress comes back around, we both put in our order.
Tyson asked me to get whatever I recommend.
After she’s gone, it’s quite awkward. And I’ve only now just realized how weird this could be without Tyson having his memories.
His rival, who usually can’t stand to be in the same room with him for longer than ten minutes, suddenly asks for a date and wants to roll around in his clothes afterward, hopefully.
“I should’ve offered to come get you, by the way, sorry about that. I know you don’t do well with water and all,” Tyson chuckles.
I don’t do well with water?
“Why would you say that?” I swallow, my brows pinched.
“Oh, um, I don’t know, must have seen somewhere. You can’t swim?” He looks confused by his own statement.
“Yeah … I can’t.”
So, he might remember, but in pieces, and I’m not going insane.
Something has gone wrong with Tyson’s memory after getting out of the game.
There’s no way he could know I can’t swim.
I’ve never revealed that anywhere, in any interviews or any publications.
It’s not even in my fun facts on my gamer profile.
There’s only one way he would know that.
“I’ve got you guys’ food right here,” the waitress says, approaching us with plates and placing them down in front of us.
“Thanks,” Tyson says.
“Let me know if you need anything else.”
I pick at my food as Tyson begins to eat, wondering what else he might remember or if there’s a way I can get him to recollect.
“So, how’s work been?” I murmur.
“Hm, it’s been okay. My manager that was leading our current project quit out of the blue though. A little strange, I guess.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah, we’ve been working on this game, Understory. But they scrapped it since it was his project.”
I try to stifle my gasp at the mention of the game.
“Did you like the game?”
“Sure, it was pretty fun. Had a lot of potential,” Tyson says, pinching his brows. “Kinda became a part of my night routine … I miss it.”
“You miss it…” I mumble, looking up at him through my lashes as he stares down at his food.
* * *
Tyson cuts the engine of his car, and we both get out before heading toward the elevator of our building. “I’ll walk you up,” he says.
“Thanks.”
I still have his jacket around me when we make it to the door of my unit. Turning to him, I’m hoping he doesn’t ask me to give it back, and I can just pretend I simply forgot to hand it to him.
“Though this was very odd of you, it was nice. Finally not being a sore loser.” Tyson smiles down at me.
“You’re such an asshole, don’t make me regret trying to make peace, okay?”
“Hmm, you can keep my jacket if you like,” Tyson whispers, so close I can feel his breath warm against my cheek.
“I wasn’t going to keep it.”
“Looks good on you.”
“Tyson…”
“Hmm?” he hums, his eyes flicking to my lips.
“Can … can we kiss?” I murmur, shifting on my feet.
I know this sounds absolutely insane, but I not only really need it, but what if kissing him will jog his memory a little? It’s worth a shot. I have nothing to lose. Not when I already feel like I’ve lost everything. Just want to feel his lips against mine again.
Tyson doesn’t say anything, instead, he pulls me flush against him, tilting my head upward and kisses me.
It starts soft and unhurried before turning into something burning and passionate.
I moan into his mouth, fisting the front of his shirt as I lean in harder.
Tyson threads his fingers in my hair and slips his tongue in my mouth before sucking on mine long and slow.
We separate when I rub my erection on his thigh.
I’m gone.
“Ro…” Tyson says, his face pulled together in confusion. He looks dazed, and not in the way of being kissed to oblivion. He keeps blinking and staring off into the space around us.
“Are you okay, Ty?”
“Yeah … I, um, just don’t feel good. I’m sorry.” He chuckles. “Not the kiss though, that was great.”
“Oh, okay, do you wanna come in and lie down?” I ask.
“You were waiting to say that, weren’t you?” Tyson smirks.
“You’re the one who said you feel sick!”
“Yeah, but I live upstairs, Rohan.” He smiles.
“Okay, fine, so go upstairs then,” I huff.
“Let’s go in,” Tyson whispers.
I open the door to my apartment and pull him inside, the door clicking softly behind us.