Chapter 4 #2
“Okay, so this game was a bit of a bust.” I turn to my second monitor, sending an invite to Sookie for a different game. We jump into it together, starting up a brand new world. “This might be better. Much more chill. We can just hang out and talk.”
Sookie hums, his character appearing on screen across from me. This is an open world, sandbox type game. You spawn in with some basic tools and armor. Then you explore, upgrading your tools as you go along. You can collect materials, build stuff, cook food, and just basically do whatever you want.
We run around for a while, exploring ruins and collecting materials. It’s nice, just hanging out like this. I talk to chat, glad that a bunch of the people Rin sent over have grown bored and left. I like it when chat is small.
We decide to play twenty questions, going back and forth asking random things.
“What’s your favorite color?”
Sookie snorts. “Really? That’s what you’re going with?”
“Just answer the question,” I say, crafting some supplies as we start building a house together.
“Green,” he finally says. “Do you like men? Like romantically?”
Thank the gods I wasn’t sipping my water at that moment because I’m sure it would have gone everywhere. “Okay, Jesus,” I say, still sputtering. “Not pulling any punches, huh?”
“Nope.”
“Yes, I like men.”
There’s a long pause. I’m waiting for some sort of answer. Instead, I get, “your turn, Suga.”
“Fuck. Right,” I say, trying to calm my racing heart. I look over at chat, stealing a question from TenMonster. “What do you do for work?”
Sookie hums softly, his character moving along the house, adding some really cute trim to it as he goes. “I do a bunch of shit. I don’t really like to be tied down by any one thing. A lil of this, a lil of that.”
“Right,” I say slowly, “that’s not vague at all.”
“Not all of us wanna be in the spotlight. Not all of us have a face that belongs behind a camera.”
“Oh, shut the fuck up.”
Sookie chuckles and I find my chest warming at the sound all over again. Fuck me sideways. Do I have a real crush on this guy? Now that we’re not raging at each other, I’m finding his company very welcome. I like spending time with him. I like hearing him talk.
“What’s your go-to comfort meal?”
“Pepperoni pizza. It’s the meal I always had growing up any time there was a celebration. There was this one place called Pete’s Slice that I loved. It was my all time favorite but the guy who ran it retired. Haven’t found a slice that matches. Even so, I just love a good pepperoni slice.”
“Cute,” Sookie says and I suddenly find my cheeks heating up. Not enough for the camera to see but enough that I know.
“When was the last time you went on a date? Before today?”
The call goes quiet for a long time. I look over, double checking that Sookie is still there. I’m about to ask him if he’s alright when I hear a deep sigh. It’s like the sound comes from a place deep inside Sookie.
“That’s a long ass story,” Sookie finally says, sounding resigned. “Something I’m not talking about on your stream. Let’s just say, I don’t date much. I prefer to love 'em and leave ‘em, if you know what I mean.”
“I feel special then,” I say right away. “Because there’s no leaving me. You’ve got mod duties to do.”
“Who else would keep the horny heathens in line?”
“They’re behaving for once,” I say, looking at chat, hoping I haven’t completely jinxed things by saying that.
Azaad(mod): I’ve got the ban hammer ready, don’t worry!
SnowbodysSorry(vip): Suga, I need to take you to my usual pizza place
GuessWhat(vip): Anyone else feel like they’re actually creeping on a real date all of a sudden?
CherryCherry: They’re kinda cute…
OliverandCompany(vip): *watches through the crack of your door*
Sookieblahblahblah(mod): Just cause I’m part of this date doesn’t mean I won’t rip your VIP status away…
OliverandCompany(vip): *zips our lips*
I shake my head. “Fuck off,” I say with a chuckle. “Go zip them together or something.”
“Suga,” Sookie says, bumping me with his person in the game. He’s holding a green bed in his hands. “Put your bed next to mine! It’s the perfect way to finish our date!”
“Huh? By sleeping together?”
Sookie bursts out laughing. “Exactly! Come on! Give the people what they want!”
“Fine,” I say with a loud sigh, placing my own bed on the ground that Sookie has declared to be our bedroom. Then he places his down beside mine. We both get in, lying next to each other.
“On that note,” I say into the camera, flipping my screen until it’s just my face cam. “That’s a great place to end the stream. Thank you for being here.”
I look through who’s live and find someone to raid, sending my chat off with a final wave. Then I end the stream.
“That went well,” Sookie says with a snort.
“Could have gone better,” I can’t help but say. “You could have been nicer to me during that stupid escape room.”
“You could have tried harder not to be an idiot.”
I close my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose. “You know what? I think you like seeing me get pissed.”
There’s a pause before Sookie responds. “You’re not wrong.”
“What?”
“What? You heard me. I didn’t stutter.”
“You’re such an ass.”
“Yeah, I am,” Sookie says. “But so are you.”
Leaning across my desk, I grab a protein bar and start eating it. If I’m honest with myself, which I very rarely am, I don’t want to hang up yet. I want to keep talking with Sookie. I want to get to know him more.
“Hey,” I say between bites. “What do you actually do for work?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know.”
“I do, actually.”
“Why?”
I shrug. “Don’t know. Just wanna know you better. You frustrate the hell out of me, but you’re also someone who can keep up with my banter. I can be mean and you don’t care.” I hum softly. “I’m curious, that’s all.”
“Right,” he says right away, like he doesn’t believe me. “Fine, I’ll let you ask a few questions. Make them interesting or I won’t answer.”
“Okay, it can be a little game. We’ll start broad and slowly work our way into the details.”
“Go on.”
“Do we live in the same country?”
Sookie hums. “Mhmm.”
“Okay. Same state?”
“Yep.”
“You have multiple jobs?”
“I already said that.”
I growl at the back of my throat and Sookie chuckles in response. “Have we ever met before?”
“Not that I know of. We’ve been in the same place before though.”
“Really?”
“Yep.”
“Where?”
“I’m not answering that,” he says with a dark chuckle that curls warmth through my gut. “I’m not just gonna tell you, Suga. You have to work for it.”
I lick my lips, my mouth suddenly dry. “Hey, Sookie?”
“Yeah?”
“When it’s just you and me, call me Kei.”
“Oh yeah? Well, Kei,” he says, my cock jumping at the way he says my first name. “That’ll be all the questions for the night.”
“What? Why?”
“I already told you. You can ask so long as they’re interesting and I’m suddenly bored. Good night, Kei.”
The call ends. What the fuck? What the fuck was that? Just when things were getting good, he dips? Gods, he’s such a dick!
So why the fuck am I both intrigued and turned on? I stare at the screen for a long moment before covering my face with my hands and screaming.