15. Heart’s High Score
As I walkedinto Liquor Labyrinth, the familiar mix of dim lighting and eclectic music set the stage for what promised to be a classic Friday night out with the gang. This place was a favorite for its quirky decor and craft cocktails that were as colorful as our conversations got.
I spotted Emily first, practically leaping into Spencer’s arms. Spencer had just returned from a work trip in Texas and looked every bit the dashing military man in his casual jeans and a crisp, untucked shirt—his usual ‘General at ease’ look. Emily, radiant in a flirty dress, was bubbling with excitement, playfully swatting at him as she teased, “Look at you, swooping back into town like you own the place, General!”
Their laughter was infectious, but the whirlwind that was Sadie soon overshadowed it. Bursting through the door with her husband Jack in tow, she beelined straight for the bar with a mission. “Ladies and gentlemen, the mommy escape pod has landed, and this rocket is fueled by tequila!” she announced, rallying the bar. Jack, the ever-patient astronaut to her space mission, just smiled and nodded, following her lead like a man who knew the universe revolved around keeping Sadie in orbit.
“No more sippy cups and sing-alongs tonight!” Sadie declared as she ordered a round of shots, her voice carrying over the clatter of the busy bar. Jack, trailing behind with his usual effortless grace, added, “You heard the lady; she’s off duty. This might get expensive, but happy wife, happy life, right?”
Before we could toast to Sadie’s temporary freedom, Everett strolled in, bringing a fresh wave of energy. His eyes scanned the lively scene until they landed on Spencer, meticulously organizing coasters at a corner table—a sure sign of his type-A, planner nature. “Looks like San Francisco hasn’t tamed the wild Beckett spirit yet!” Everett called out, his voice booming over the chatter, a smirk playing on his lips.
Spencer looked up, his rigid posture relaxing into a smile as he saw his younger brother weaving through the crowd. “You might find that this city only enhances it,” he shot back, standing to greet Everett with a firm handshake that quickly pulled into a back-slapping hug. “But let’s be real, you probably just missed having someone to bail you out of trouble.”
“Missed? Please, I was enjoying the peace,” Everett teased, his charm on full display. “But I guess someone has to keep you from becoming too much of a robot.”
Spencer chuckled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “And there’s no one better than my favorite troublemaker. How was your first week? Charmed the entire office yet? You didn’t even pick me up from the airport, so I assumed you wouldn”t miss me that much.”
Everett’s grin widened. “I wasn’t going to pick you up and see you and Emily’s reunion. I love you but not enough to be a voyeur. And I’m working on it. But hey, did you orchestrate this whole move just to get me here? Couldn’t stand to be the only Beckett causing a stir in the Bay Area?”
“Something like that,” Spencer replied, the twinkle in his eye suggesting he might not be entirely joking. “Figured it was my duty as the older brother to monitor you.”
“Sure, sure.” Everett nodded, clapping Spencer on the shoulder. “You just keep telling yourself that.”
Their easy banter, a blend of affectionate jibes and genuine fondness, filled the air as they settled in.
As Everett mingled with the group, Jack stepped over with a welcoming grin, extending his hand. “I’ve heard so much about you,” he said. “Sorry we haven’t been able to meet yet. Been working from home while we find a new nanny. I thought I was picky, but Jo and your brother want to do government-level background checks on everyone we hire.”
We all laughed. Yes, Spencer and Jo were extremely overprotective of Sadie and Jack’s baby. “I’d apologize, but Spencer is good at finding the best of the best,” Everett replied with a chuckle, shaking Jack’s hand. “Sadie likes to keep us all updated with baby photos every day in the office. She accidentally swiped to one where you got a massive poop blowout—diaper all down your shirt. I feel like I know you already.”
Jack laughed, a good-natured roll of his eyes accompanying his smile. “Of course she would show that one. There’s no such thing as dignity in parenthood, or in marriage apparently.”
Sadie, overhearing the conversation, joined with a playful shrug. “Sorry, honey, but it was too good not to share. It’s like a rite of passage for new dads, right? Immortalized in a photo.”
Everett grinned, clearly enjoying the lighthearted teasing. “Hey, I’m just glad it’s not me in those photos. Yet, anyway. Give me time.”
The group burst into laughter, the easy camaraderie making the evening feel lighter. Sadie winked at Jack, who shook his head, still chuckling. “You’ll get your turn, Everett. Just you wait,” he teased back.
As the laughter subsided, my mind couldn’t help but drift at Jack’s comment. The image of Everett, holding a baby with that same easy smile and infectious laugh, stirred something deep within me. I pictured him in a soft, early morning light, a tiny bundle cradled in his arms. He’d probably be the kind of dad who’d make up silly songs to soothe a fussy child, or invent outrageous bedtime stories that left kids giggling under their covers.
The vision of him, so tender and playful, made my heart swell and ache at once. Would he look down at his child with that same spark in his eyes he sometimes had during our games? The thought of him navigating fatherhood with the same humor and charm he brought to every other aspect of his life filled me with a warmth that was hard to ignore.
Lost in my daydream, I nearly jumped when I heard my name. Everett was looking at me, an amused yet curious expression on his face.
“Rachel? Can I buy you a drink?” he asked, his eyes searching.
“Uh, what? Sorry, what did you say?” I stammered, my cheeks flushing with heat as I was yanked back to reality. The vividness of my daydream left me momentarily disoriented, the lines between what I imagined and what was real blurring just enough to make my heart race.
Everett’s lips grazed my earlobe lightly as he leaned in closer, his voice a soft murmur amidst the noise of the bar. “I asked if I could buy you a drink?” he repeated, the warmth of his breath sending shivers down my spine.
“Oh, uh, yeah, a cosmopolitan please,” I said, my voice higher than usual, my face surely a shade redder.
“Coming right up,” he replied with a wink, his tone smooth and playful, before he turned to signal the bartender.
As he walked away, I turned to face Sadie and Emily, who were both grinning from ear to ear, their expressions brimming with that ‘we’re definitely going to talk about this later’ look. The kind of look that promised this moment would be dissected and giggled over in excruciating detail.
Once Everett returned with drinks in hand, the group buzzed with energy around the high-top table. Sadie, with a playful roll of her eyes at her husband, Jack, raised her glass high as she passed around shots she had just ordered. “To friends, freedom, and a night off from diaper duty!” she declared, her voice cutting through the chatter of the crowded bar.
Jack chuckled, nodding in agreement as he took his shot with a practiced ease. “Definitely overdue. She’s been marking days on the calendar like a prisoner counting down to parole.”
Laughter erupted from the group, and Emily, who had been animatedly recounting Spencer’s tales from his latest military stint teaching in Texas, clinked her glass against Sadie’s. “And to reunions,” she added, her gaze flickering to Spencer with unabashed adoration.
Spencer, the ever-dutiful general, smiled softly, his hand finding Emily’s. “I’d fly back every night if I could,” he promised, earning him an eye roll from Everett.
As the evening wore on, Everett seemed to gravitate naturally towards me, his body brushing against mine under the pretense of reaching for napkins or leaning in to speak. Each contact sent a ripple of awareness through me, unsettling yet not entirely unwanted.
“So, how’s the first week been?” I ventured, genuinely curious but also fishing for some insight into his sudden change of heart.
“It’s been great, really. Learning a lot, meeting all sorts of interesting people,” he replied, his gaze holding mine a little too long.
“That’s great,” I replied.
Everett sipped his drink, his gaze flickering across the bustling scene before settling back on me. “I’m having a blast, actually. I lived in DC for a while, but I’m really digging the vibe here in San Francisco. Thinking about looking for places to live soon. I’m sure Emily and Spencer don’t want me crashing at their place forever,” he said with a chuckle.
Spencer, overhearing the conversation, jumped in with a laugh. “Yeah, go find your own place, man. Don’t make us kick you out.”
Everett shot him a mock glare before turning back to me. “Where do you live around here?” he asked, his interest seeming genuine.
“Oh, just a few neighborhoods over,” I replied, trying to sound casual but feeling a flutter in my stomach.
“Maybe you could show me around there sometime?” he suggested, his voice lowering slightly, laden with a hint of something more than just casual interest.
I swallowed hard, my nerves tingling. “Sure, I could do that,” I managed, hoping my voice didn’t betray the sudden acceleration of my heartbeat.
The clink of glasses and the indistinct murmur of the bustling bar set the backdrop as Everett and I delved into a spirited debate about the toughest bosses in gaming. He challenged me with a playful glint in his eye, “Come on, Rachel, you can’t seriously tell me that the Dragon of Eden is tougher than the Swamp Monster. It’s all about strategy.”
I laughed, leaning in to match his conspiratorial tone. “Everett, it’s not just strategy. The Dragon has that fire breath attack that’s nearly impossible to dodge if you don’t time your moves right. It’s about skill, which—no offense—you might be lacking if you think the Swamp Monster is a bigger challenge.”
He raised an eyebrow, his voice dropping to a mock-serious whisper, “Lacking, huh? Maybe I just appreciate a challenge that’s more about endurance than quick reflexes. Plus, you ever notice how the Swamp’s fog effects add an extra layer of difficulty?”
Our hands brushed as we both reached for the salted peanuts on the table, and a jolt of electricity seemed to run through the contact. I quickly withdrew my hand, masking my sudden nervousness with a chuckle. “Okay, Mr. Endurance, I’ll give you the fog. But that doesn’t help your case much.”
Everett’s arm grazed mine again as he animatedly described his last encounter with the Swamp Monster, his hand gestures wide and expressive. “You should’ve seen it last time. I was this close to losing but pulled through with a last-minute save.”
As we both laughed, I rested my elbow on the table and my chin in my hand, genuinely enjoying the banter. Our playful argument seemed to draw us into our own little bubble, oblivious to the world around us.
It wasn’t until I heard a loud round of laughter from our friends that I realized we had become the center of attention. Sadie was leaning back in her chair, arms crossed, an amused smirk on her face. Emily was nudging her, whispering something that made them both snicker. Jack and Spencer were shaking their heads, grinning.
Flustered, I straightened up, smoothing the front of my shirt. “Looks like we’ve got an audience,” I remarked, trying to brush off my embarrassment.
Everett looked around, then back at me, his smile reassuring. “Well, when you put two passionate gamers together, what do you expect?” he teased, his voice light but his gaze intense.
My heart skipped a beat, but I managed a playful roll of my eyes. “Guess we should tone down the game talk, huh? Don’t want to scare everyone off with our geekiness.”
“No way,” Everett replied, his voice warm. “Let them be intrigued. It’s not every day they get to witness a proper battle of wits.”
Our laughter mingled, easy and genuine, as we turned back to our friends, the brief moment of connection leaving a lingering warmth that I wasn’t quite ready to analyze—not yet.
Caught up in the moment, I felt a wave of self-consciousness suddenly wash over me. “Sorry, I guess I get a little carried away with my… nerdiness,” I mumbled, my enthusiasm dimming as old insecurities surfaced—echoes of my mother chiding me for not pursuing a “real” hobby.
“Why are you sorry?” Everett asked, his voice tinged with genuine curiosity and a hint of concern.
I shrugged, avoiding his gaze. “Oh, it’s nothing. Just old habits.” I tried to laugh it off, but the laughter felt hollow.
Everett’s voice was soft yet firm. “I like your nerdiness. In fact”—he paused, a playful yet sincere smile spreading across his face—“I like it a lot.”
His words hung in the air, and as I looked up, I met his gaze, finding an unexpected affirmation there. Heat crept into my cheeks, a blush that I couldn’t control nor fully understand. Was he just being nice, or was there something more to his words?
“Really?” I squeaked out, barely above a whisper.
“Absolutely,” Everett affirmed, his smile unwavering. “Never apologize for being who you are. Your enthusiasm, your excitement—it’s refreshing. It’s you, and it’s genuinely exceptional.”
His words felt like a balm to old wounds, soothing long-held doubts with a simple, heartfelt acceptance. In that moment, the background noise of the bar seemed to fade, leaving just the two of us back in our little bubble.
I smiled, an authentic smile that felt as if it reached deep into my soul. “Thanks, Everett,” I said, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. “I guess I needed to hear that more than I realized.”
He nodded, still close, his gaze lingering a moment longer before he leaned back, giving me space yet leaving an unspoken promise hanging between us. The connection, once digital and distant, was now palpably real, and as daunting as it was, it was equally exhilarating.
The warmth of his affirmation enveloped me, but as I basked in the glow of his words, a chilling doubt crept in. Wait, but he didn’t really like me… he liked Huntra. This moment, his kindness—it was just Everett being nice to a coworker. He’d made it clear before: I wasn’t his type. How could I let myself get swept away by a few sweet words when they weren’t meant for me, but for someone I pretended to be?
The reminder of his earlier disinterest felt like a bucket of ice water, dousing the brief flame of hope that had flickered to life. Why would it be any different now? Was I just setting myself up for more heartache, chasing a fantasy where he could actually fall for someone like me—the real me, not the avatar, not the persona I hid behind?
The realization hit hard, and I felt foolish, naive. Here I was, getting carried away with a moment of connection, when in reality, it was probably nothing more than a friendly compliment to him. My heart raced, a mix of adrenaline and panic, as the old protective walls rebuilt themselves around it.
“Oh gosh, I just remembered something,” I blurted out, the words tumbling from my lips as I clutched at any excuse to escape the situation that suddenly felt overwhelming. Sadie and Emily looked up, concern and confusion written across their faces.
“Wait, where are you going?” Sadie called out, her voice tinged with worry.
“Sorry, I forgot—I have to handle something!” The urgency in my voice surprised even me as I stood abruptly, the chair scraping loudly against the floor.
Emily’s brow furrowed in puzzlement. “But it’s Friday night!”
I couldn’t muster a coherent explanation, my mind too frazzled, my emotions too jumbled. “Really, it’s important,” I said, my voice shaky. Avoiding their probing looks, I hurried away from the table, from Everett, from the temptation of believing in something that couldn’t be.
As I walked away, the sound of my heart pounding loud in my ears, I felt the sting of tears threatening to spill. The laughter and music of the bar faded into a dull background noise as I navigated through the crowd, each step taking me further away from the warmth of friendship and the dangerous allure of what might have been.