Chapter Twenty-Five Arcades and French Bistros #2
We spend the next few hours roaming around the mall, going from store to store as I show Zander the finer points of retail therapy. He’s a very willing model as I pick out outfits for him and have him try them on for me like an eighties movie makeover montage.
I do the same for him, trying on sexy dresses and short skirts that make his jaw clench. It’s thrilling to tease him. Zander is so sweet and polite and well mannered, but I do enjoy watching him struggle a little bit as he fights the urge to grab me and bend me over in a dressing room.
When we finish shopping, he takes me to the arcade, as promised.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever actually been in one of these before,” I confess.
“I’m sure you were way too cool for the arcade,” he jokes.
I give his shoulder a playful shove. “Please, not at all. I was not cool at all. I spent my free time reading or hanging in the library. Arcades were intimidating. That’s where boys were, and I was not slick with guys back then.”
“Well, you’re about to get a crash course in how to own this place.
” He tugs me toward a row of machines along the back wall.
I recognize a few of the games - Pac-Man, Mortal Kombat, Tekken, Donkey Kong, Street Fighter - then there are quite a few I’ve never heard of, but they all follow the same basic formula.
Wiggle the stick thing, push the buttons, win the game.
“We’ll start easy,” he says, stopping in front of the PacMan game. “Eat the fruit. Avoid the ghosts.”
“I know how Pac-Man works.” I bump him to the side with my hip. “Move aside and let a natural show you how it’s done.”
He lets out a playful growl and grabs my hip, pressing himself against my back as he bends down to swipe the token card he loaded up at the front kiosk.
I can feel his length pressing against me and I bite my lip as heat pulses between my legs and I rub my thighs together to try and ease the growing ache.
No, no! He’s just trying to distract me, the sexy fiend. I need to focus on the little yellow ball man in front of me.
The game starts and Zander stays pressed up behind me as I play, but I wiggle against him and remain laser-focused on the game.
When I get a high score, I look back and up at him with a triumphant smile.
“Okay,” he murmurs, his brow furrowed in shock. “So I guess you’ve done this before?”
I shrug. “It’s Pac-Man, dude. I may not be a gamer bro like you, but I know my way around some good old fashioned pixelated fun.”
Laughing, he wraps an arm around my shoulders and presses a kiss to my temple.
“All right, smart ass,” he says. “Let’s try something a little more challenging then.”
We play our way through the arcade, trying out nearly every game there is including ski ball and Dance, Dance, Revolution, which I totally kick Zander’s ass at.
He wows me with his gaming prowess on some of the more complicated machines, and I end up having way more fun than I’d ever have thought I’d have in an arcade.
It’s only when the mall starts closing down that we force ourselves to leave.
“Oh, my God,” I laugh as we make our way outside to the truck. “I gotta admit, that was an excellent first date.”
“I’m glad you’re having fun,” he replies. “But it’s not over yet. Now that we’ve worked up an appetite, it’s time for me to feed you.”
My stomach grumbles and I realize just how hungry I really am.
“I could eat,” I shrug nonchalantly.
“Good.” He opens my door for me. “Get your pretty ass in the truck, then.”
I comply and he drives us away from the mall and back toward downtown. When he pulls up in front of a lovely little French bistro, I give him yet another surprised look.
“You continue to surprise me,” I murmur.
“I’m a man of many layers,” he smirks. “Shall we?”
I nod and we make our way inside. The bistro is small and charming, with a main dining area with tables of varying sizes, rattan chairs, a black and white tiled floor, and vintage art hanging on the walls.
A waiter leads us to a table for two tucked away in the corner. Zander orders us wine and black olive tapenade.
“I’ll also take the steak frites,” he tells the waiter.
“And I’ll have the quiche Lorraine,” I say.
“Very good.” The waiter jots down our order and turns to go, leaving us alone again.
I gaze at Zander, stunned. “I’ve never really had French food before.”
He looks suddenly uncertain. “I, uh, thought it would be kind of romantic… like in the movies… ”
Smiling, I reach across the table and lay my hand over his. “I like it. This place is really cute..”
He appears relieved.
“So, how does a big strong hockey pro like you gain a taste for French cuisine, anyway?” I ask.
“My sisters are obsessed with Emily in Paris and have been on a French food kick,” he explains with a shrug. “They insist on ordering it whenever I’m home now.”
That makes me giggle, imagining a little Zander being dressed up by his sisters and forced to play tea party with them.
“You’re close with your family, huh?”
“Yeah,” he nods with a small grin. “I was pretty lucky growing up. Mom and Dad were crazy about each other and loved the shit out of us kids. It was Lauren, Paige, Rosie, and me bringing up the rear.”
“And your sisters are all married?”
“Yep. All married with kids… kind of. Lauren has three, Paige has two, and Rosie is pregnant with her first.”
“Wow.” I raise my brows and shake my head. “That’s a big family you got there.”
“Hopefully I can add to it one day.” He gives me a hesitant look. “What do you think about kids?”
The question catches me off guard a moment and I frown as I think about my answer.
“I, uh, guess I haven’t really thought about it too much,” I finally answer.
“I mean, it’s not that I don’t want them, but having a family hasn’t really been a huge priority for me.
I didn’t grow up with the best example. I have my Mom, and she’s the best mom, but…
it’s mostly just been us my whole life since Dad and my older brother, Aiden, left. ”
I don’t want to admit how lonely it was growing up sometimes. Mom was great and supportive and always looking out for me, but she also had to work and have some sort of life of her own.
A lot of times, it was just me and my books.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Zander murmurs.
Shrugging, I reply, “It’s whatever. I mean… it sucked, I won’t lie. Not having my dad and brother around growing up was hard sometimes, and I was definitely hurt… ”
I trail off because I’ve said more than I actually meant to. It just kind of slipped out… I wasn’t really thinking…
“Have you ever confronted your dad or brother about how they made you feel by leaving?” he asks in a gentle tone.
I tense, but force a shrug. “Why would that matter? They clearly don’t care if they never bothered to ask.”
I try to sound nonchalant, like I don’t really care that my dad and brother abandoned me when I was a kid, but my voice wavers. I’m also clenching my jaw so hard, it aches and I have to force myself to relax before I crack my teeth.
Zander hesitates a moment before saying, “That’s crazy to me because you’re so easy to care for and love…
” He stops, cheeks flooding with color, and clears his throat.
“I mean, maybe they have their own shit going on and they don’t understand how their actions affected you.
Sometimes people need things spelled out for them. ”
I lick my lips nervously, considering his words carefully. I guess I’ve never thought of it that way before, but… I don’t know. So much time has passed and the lines of communication seem all but shut down.
Still, I shrug and murmur, “Yeah, maybe.”
Zander wraps his hand around mine and gives it a tender squeeze.
“Sorry… I didn’t mean to overstep.”
I offer him a small, reassuring smile, my heart warming at his concern and care.
“You didn’t,” I assure him. “It’s just… complicated.”
“I’m sure it is.” He raises my hand and presses my knuckles to his lips. “You’re an incredible woman, you know that? Smart, gorgeous, confident. So confident it’s fucking intimidating sometimes.”
My cheeks heat and I feel shy again. Damn, this man just knows how to turn me into putty in his hands. I’m a little surprised that he thinks I’m so confident. Most of the time I don’t think I’m confident at all.
“Thanks. I try.” I wink and he chuckles, and my heart feels like it’s not really in my control anymore.
After a delicious dinner that’s left me full and content, Zander drives us home in his truck. I rest my head against his shoulder and let myself drift off. I’m so relaxed and happy… so at ease with the man sitting next to me.
I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.
I don’t realize I’ve dozed off until I feel Zander’s arms slipping around me.
He picks me up out of the truck and carries me up to the apartment.
He doesn’t put me down until we reach the bedroom, and doesn’t say a word as he helps me undress and put on my pajamas.
Pulling the covers back, he helps me climb into bed, then strips off his clothes to his boxers and climbs in after me.
“Good night, Wildcard,” he whispers, wrapping his arms around me and pulling my back to his chest.
I snuggle into his hold, and I feel a deep sense of belonging. This is exactly what I need - what I’ve always needed. To have someone who makes me feel completely safe and wanted. Who accepts me for all that I am. Who takes care of me and goes out of his way to make me happy.
Who I trust to be there when I wake up in the morning.
Now that I’ve found this - found him - I never want to let him go.