24. A New Game
A New Game
Olli
“I’m proud of you,” Booker said, looping his arm around my neck when I stepped out of the taxi van.
“Shut up,” I grumbled, shoving him off me and looking over my shoulder to see if the second taxi was here yet. But they’d gotten stuck at a red light a few blocks away, so it’d likely be a few minutes.
“Don’t be bashful. You basically asked her to come out tonight. That’s a big deal.”
“I still don’t believe that’s how it went,” Gallagher said. “He doesn’t know that many words.”
I didn’t dignify that with a response, just leveled him with a glare.
“I’m glad you’re getting along better with her,” Christenson said. “But this isn’t about getting her to date you, right?”
“Christenson, come on, man,” Brooker whined. “I’ve seen this guy around Kodi, he’s so far gone for her, and too pathetic to do anything about it. Let him reach for the stars, he’s not getting off the ground either way.”
“Damn,” Gallagher said with a whistle. “That was kinda cruel.”
“I’m just trying to help. I don’t want Christenson cockblocking.”
“I specifically told you not to help,” I reminded him. “There’s nothing to help with or … cockblock.”
“Then why’d you say you’d only come if she joined you, then? That kinds sounds like you want more?”
Why did I say that? The simple answer was I wasn’t thinking.
Kodi suggested I go to bond with the team and I remembered how she reacted when Brooker said she was a part of the team, so I wanted her to come.
If the team was bonding, she should be a part of it.
And if she wasn’t … well, then I didn’t really have any interest in going anyway.
“You were the one literally begging for her to go,” I deflected.
“That was a little much,” Christenson muttered. “You better apologize when she gets here. Well-intentioned or not, you shouldn’t be pressuring anyone to go out, let alone a woman.”
Brooker rolled his eyes. “I know when a woman doesn’t wanna go out. Her hesitance was all because she was surprised Kean asked her to go.”
“You think?”
“Dude, you’re so dense,” Brooker groaned.
“Yeah, she might not remember you, but she does think you’re hot,” Gallagher added.
“What makes you say that?”
“I don’t think this is a productive conversation.”
“Shut up, Christenson,” I said, a little louder than I intended to. Brooker’s lips spread into a wide smirk and he opened his mouth to say something, but stopped when a taxi pulled up behind him and the rest of our party unloaded.
Ignoring Brooker, I went to the passenger door as Kodi was getting out, lending her my arm.
“Oh. Thanks,” she said with a slight stutter, her hand warm on my arm for the briefest of seconds as she stepped out of the car. But as soon as her feet hit the sidewalk, she let go.
Yeah, she was definitely attracted to me. Brooker and Gallagher are both full of shit.
I followed along silently with the group as we went through the security line, flashing our IDs before entering the dark and noisy club.
This was one hundred percent not my scene.
The music was too loud, the smell of sweat and alcohol repugnant, and there were so many people that we had to form a single-file line to get to the tables in the back.
“You already look like you’re miserable,” Kodi said, nudging me as we sat down on a U-shaped low couch.
“Well …” I shrugged, not sure what to say. I wouldn’t say I was miserable, but there was definitely the potential for things to go that way.
“Then why did you —” she started, leaning closer to me so I could hear her over the crowd. But then Jimenez cut in.
“All right, I’ll grab the first round. What’s everyone’s drink of choice tonight?”
Conversation diverted as everyone gave Jimenez their orders and I looked around for a menu on the coffee table in front of us.
“Kean?” Jimenez prompted.
“Do they have a menu? I want food.”
“I’m not gonna get you food, man. Give me a drink or I’ll pick something for you.”
I waved him off and he moved on to Kodi, who ordered something fruity. When Jimenez took off, Kodi leaned into me, her side pressed against mine.
“This is the menu. They really just have appetizers.” She held out her phone in front of me. “I’ll run to the bar and grab whatever you want. These kind of places typically take a while to get any food out, though, so you keep your expectations low.”
“You don’t have to go. I’ll get it.” I paused to swallow. “I’ll grab you something, too, if you want. I kind of forced you to come out.”
“I mean …” She paused to chuckle. “If we were gonna say anyone ‘forced’ me, that’d be Brooker. You were just looking for an out. Sorry I didn’t catch that until afterwards.”
“What?”
“Well.” She pulled her phone back, tapping the side of it against her leg. “I was kinda surprised you invited me, because this whole thing isn’t your scene. But on the way over, I realized you were probably hoping I’d say no so you could get out of going.”
“That’s not it at all,” I said immediately and her eyes snapped up to mine, widening.
“Oh.” Color started to bloom across her cheeks and she looked down at her hands, brow furrowed. “Why then?”
“Why what?”
“Why’d you invite me out if you don’t wanna be here?”
I tried to shrug it off, but she slapped my arm. Huffing, I gave her the best answer I could that didn’t involve confessing that I wanted to spend time with her.
“I thought you might enjoy going out with everyone, but would feel awkward going if I wasn’t here.”
“Oh.” Kodi shuffled some, creating a gap between us. “That’s really considerate.”
I hated the feeling of her pulling away. I hated the chill that set between us.
So I said something impulsive, something stupid.
“Plus I wanted to hang out with you, too.”
Again, Kodi’s eyes snapped to mine, her head tilting ever so slightly. She chewed at her bottom lip and my breath caught.
I couldn’t picture a world where Kodi liked me, where we could have a romantic relationship. But that didn’t stop me from picturing kissing her right now. I wanted to lean in, sink my fingers in her hair, bring her lips to mine, take a turn at sinking my teeth in that bottom lip.
“Drinks!” Jimenez shouted, setting a handful of glasses on to the table, quickly followed by a waitress who set down a full tray. When Jimenez set a beer down for me and leaned in to whispered, “Rosa’s in on the wingman plan.”
“What?” I pulled back in a panic because it was one thing for Brooker to be on this quest to get me closer to Kodi, it was another thing for him to be telling the others.
And complete hell for them to be telling their wives.
So I grabbed at his shirt and pulled him close to whisper, “Whatever you’re planning, cut it out. ”
“Chill, man. We’re not gonna take it too far.
” Jimenez pried my fingers open and walked away.
I would’ve glared at him as he went, but a shift of weight on the couch caught my attention and I turned to see Brooker crowding Kodi, showing her something on his phone.
Immediately I shifted closer so I could hear what they were saying.
“Can you believe it?” Brooker was saying and my stomach twisted into knots when Kodi laughed in response.
“I wouldn’t if I wasn’t seeing it.”
My eyes dropped to Brooker’s phone, which was playing a video of me walking a turtle across the street in a rainstorm.
It was from roughly a year ago, when we came out to a nearly flooded parking lot and a couple of turtles were crossing the only visible part of the road, nearly getting hit by somebody speeding through the lot to get out of the rain.
All I did was scoop them up and put them out of harm's way.
“Why’re you showing her that?”
“Just so she knows what kind of man you are.” Brooker shrugged.
“It’s sweet,” Kodi said.
“It’s irrelevant.”
“It shows that underneath all the grumpiness, you’re actually a good guy,” Brooker said, leaning around Kodi to give me a pointed look.
“She doesn’t need proof of that,” I said, voice low.
“That’s true,” Kodi said and we both pulled back to look at her.
“Aw, don’t tell me he’s been that much of an ass that the turtle video won’t change your mind.”
God, was I past the point of no return?
“Oh no, I meant I saw him with the kids last weekend.”
“Oh, yeah. I guess kids are cuter than turtles,” Brooker mumbled.
“Is that what this is about? You’re worried I think Kean’s an asshole?”
“I mean, he is, there’s no doubt about that. I just wanted to make sure you knew he wasn’t a complete asshole.”
“Well, rest assured,” Kodi said in a condescending tone as she patted Brooker’s shoulder. “I know he’s capable of kindness.”
For some reason, probably a pathetic one, I was relieved to hear her say that.
“Did you tell him I want the other job more than being your PA?” Kodi asked, pushing her weight against me, so close that I could feel her breath on my ear.
“No,” I said honestly.
“What was that?” Brooker cut in, leaning over Kodi to hear what we were saying. Kodi rolled her eyes, smiling, and pulled back to sit up straight.
“I was asking why you’re trying to sell me on him. Is this a poor wingman attempt?” Kodi joked and Brooker went rigid.
“What? No way,” he said, stumbling over the words with a forced laugh. Kodi snorted, then pressed her face into my arm to stifle her laughter.
I didn’t know how to respond. Was it really that funny that Brooker would try to be my wingman? Or was it funny that he was trying to wingman me to her?
“Is this your new way of annoying Kean?” Kodi asked through giggles, lifting her head to look at Brooker. “Because that’s a new level of annoyance. He might toss you out of the club.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because if I got the wrong idea, we’d both be in a world of trouble.”
“What if it’s not the wrong idea?” I asked, not thinking much of it until I heard Brooker whisper, “Oh shit.”
“Then …” She licked her lips, eyes going out of focus as she thought. Then she suddenly reached for her drink and took a long swig. “Then I’d ask if y’all pregamed in your cab.”