6 Samantha
6
SAMANTHA
X AVIER HAD GONE dark. Well, darker than usual.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“My friends are here.”
I turned to look around. “Oh, which ones?”
“All of them.”
A group was approaching. Three men and one woman, all smiling.
“Heeeey, look who’s here,” the tallest one said. He was tan, brawny, and handsome, like the AI-generated version of a football player. “I’m Mike,” he said, putting out a hand.
“Samantha.” I shook it.
Xavier did not look happy. “This is Chris, Jesse, and his girlfriend, Becca,” he said, like he was being forced.
I lit up. “Ah, Chris. I think I took your cruise ticket?”
“Happy to give it up,” Chris said.
He was also good-looking, but in a bookworm kind of way. Becca was pretty. His whole friend group looked like a lineup of Instagram models actually.
“What are you doing here?” Xavier asked.
“Golf,” Mike said. “Maybe bumper cars, nachos—”
Xavier pinned him with a look that didn’t faze Mike a single bit.
Mike put an arm around my cranky date. “Imagine our surprise when we found out you wanted to play laser tag. We just had to see this with our own eyes. You guys want to join us?” Mike said.
I brightened. “Sure—”
“Give us a second,” Xavier said.
Mike released him and put his hands up playfully and backed away.
Xavier brought me to the side. “I’m sorry,” he said, quietly.
I laughed. “For what?”
“You didn’t sign up to meet my friends. I didn’t know they’d be here. I wouldn’t have sprung this on you without your permission.”
“Awwww. That’s very sweet to consider. But honestly, it’s fine.”
He didn’t look convinced.
“Why don’t we play a couple rounds of miniature golf,” I said. “Hand them their asses, and then take it from there.”
“Are you sure this is okay?” he asked.
“I promise you, I will always tell you if things are not okay.”
He studied me for a moment.
“So you’re not a miniature golf kind of guy, huh?” I whispered.
“No. I asked you to come because I didn’t want to take you home yet.”
“I didn’t want to go home yet.” I nodded at his friends. “Still don’t.”
His friends were hovering, waiting to see what we decided. I looked back at him. “It’s kind of cute, actually. They’re clearly obsessed with you.”
“I think they’re more obsessed with you,” he said, his voice low.
“Huh.” I tipped my head up so my mouth was just a few inches from his lips. “Well, let’s give them something to talk about.”