Dating For Decades (12 page)

“So, there’s absolutely, positively, nothing you
can’t
do?”

Of all the things to stump him on, this is not one that makes me happy. How arrogant does he have to be? I can think of a thousand things I can’t do, but you bet your ass that I’d give them all a shot.

“I’ve got it!” He takes a swig of his drink and pounds it back on the table. “I can’t birth a child.”

And he takes the easy way out. “That’s cheating.”

“How is that cheating? You asked me to name something I can’t do. I physically cannot birth a child. That’s an honest answer.”

“You know what I meant.”

“I may know what you meant, but that’s not what you asked me.”

“What on earth does that mean?”

“That means you asked me to name something I cannot do. What you should have asked me was to name something I’m unable to do in relation to work. Or to name something I’ve tried that I’ve been unable to accomplish.”

“You’re telling me that I need to be that specific with you in order to get an answer?”

“It’s more fun that way.” He clicks his teeth and taps my knee. I surprisingly don’t pull it away. “How about another drink?”

Technicalities. He’s getting away with this on a technicality. That’s so incredibly frustrating. Lucas irritates me to no end. But there’s something about this guy. While his remarks are a tad annoying, he kind of lightens up the mood. I’m laughing and actually enjoying myself. I can’t believe it, but I let him order me another drink.

A couple of drinks later, and we’re adding dinner to our little outing. We both order a cheeseburger and fries to share. To
share
. I hope that Lucas realizes what type of a commitment that is for me. I don’t share my fries.

“Well, your uncle tells me you just graduated. Where did you graduate from?”

“University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. I was able to attend mostly on scholarships. My parents made me start applying as early as I could, and they managed to pay for most of my tuition. The rest of the time I worked odd jobs and fixed computers around the dorms to make some extra cash. It came in handy because I was able to get a car and find a place to rent.”

“Impressive. Is your degree in networking?”

He takes a bite of his fry. “Programming, actually. It just seemed to interest me more at the time. But I can’t really see spending all my time living in a basement while I code things. I really think I want to take the same path you’re on.”

So this is it. This confirms he wants my job. I’ve now lost my appetite, thoughts of my being fired swirling in my brain.

“I don’t want your job.”

“Can you read my mind?” I never thought I had a
bad
poker face. I’m not the best at lying, but I don’t suck at it.

“My uncle got me this job because I need to stay close to home right now. My dad is sick, and I’m helping take care of him.”

“I had no idea. Is that Terrence’s brother?”

“No. My mom’s. My plan is to move out-of-state, but not until…”

“You don’t have to say it. That’s pretty commendable. Especially at your age.”

“I may be small in number, but I’m pretty damned grown up. I’ve got my head on straight, money in the bank, and I’m smart.”

And horny, I want to add. But this doesn’t seem like the appropriate time. Taking care of a parent is something I have never done nor want to do. I wonder if my mother is curious why I haven’t replied to her. I shake the thought away. Why do I care? Just because I’m here with a twenty-two-year-old man who has a close family and loves his dad enough to take care of him when he’s sick doesn’t mean I should feel any shred of guilt about my mother.
She
is the one who is covered in guilt and shame. Not me.
 

“Look, let’s get out of here. Let’s do something fun.” He takes my plate and shoves it aside as he motions for the check. “I’m sick of chatting. I honestly could talk for hours. Let’s blow off some steam.”

There are only two ways I blow off steam — yoga and sex. I wonder what he has in mind, and if it’ll get me in trouble because if there’s one thing I
don’t
want, it’s to do something I’ll regret.

Chapter

Fifteen

I slide my arm through the vest and fasten it in the front, careful when I detach the phaser from the clip, as though it’s a real gun. When Lucas mentioned relieving stress, laser tag was the last thing I had in mind. The flashing is playing with my mind, and I’m worried vertigo may set in. I practice my pranayama breaths as I wait for the rest of the participants to prep.

“Is this your first time?” Lucas holds up his phaser and practices aiming it. I’m really going to suck at this.
 

There are so many things that go through my mind with that question. No, I’ve never done something like this and I never intended to in my life. I’m pretty sure I’ve passed that stage in my life to participate in things like this. Being stealth in the dark while trying not to get shot is not really my idea of a good time. I’d much prefer to be sharing a glass of wine over my TV show. I didn’t want to admit my obsession with
Dancing with the Stars
, but that may have been a better option.

“It’s okay if you’ve never done this, Cassie. I’ll walk you through it.”

The two other people who are joining us in our game keep putting on their gear but look over at me, and I’m sure they’re judging me. The young couple, so madly in love, trying to impress each other. The woman is tall, sun-kissed hair falling in curls over her shoulder. The man looks like he’s straight out of a heavy metal band. But they’re young, agile, and easily entertained.

Why couldn’t Lucas’s friend own a coffee shop or a bookstore or anything other than something that involves running around like a teenager? I’d even a settle for a comic book store and force myself to read the latest Superman comic.

“No, I’ve done this before.” I brush off his doubt in me quickly to avoid showing my depressing poker face. “It’s been a while, that’s all.” As in thirty-nine years.

“Probably since college, right? So almost twenty years?”

I point my gun at him and pretend to shoot. “You better watch yourself, boy. Never ask a woman her age and
definitely
never comment on it if you want to survive.”

Valley Girl and Bret Michaels giggle and the girl whispers something to the boy. This behavior annoys me. We’re standing three feet from them. Whispering is very impolite.

Lucas takes a hold of the gun and moves it out of his way so he can approach me. “We’re on the same team. Don’t worry, amateur, I’ll protect you.” His lips meet my cheek, and I slightly bow my head when he pulls away. Now I’m certain he’s flirting with me and even I have to admit it’s not the worst thing in the world.

“Well, let’s meet our opponents.” I reach my hand out to the woman. “I’m Cassie and this is Lucas.”

“I’m Renee and this is my boyfriend Marty.”

“Oh! Like Marty McFly!”
Back to the Future
is one of my favorite movie franchises. Michael J. Fox was always one of my crushes from
Family Ties
to his movies. I once wished my boyfriend in high school was
Teen Wolf
. Lucas, Renee, and Marty all stare at me as if I’m speaking another language. “Sorry, before your time.” Am I really this old? I want to start this game already.

“Isn’t there supposed to be a third team?” Marty, who looks nothing like Michael J. Fox with his blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail and a mustache he’s trying so hard to grow above his lip, asks Lucas.

“Yeah, but it’s a slow night and my buddy who runs the place doesn’t really care if it’s two on two.”
 

Techno music begins to play through the speakers in the room. This is what I have to listen to for the entire event? I’m really starting to regret what I signed up for. This is loud and obnoxious.

“Okay, players, this is your Game Master.” A deep voice takes over the room. “You will enter the arena through the door on your left. Please find your base. Blue team you are base one. Red team you are base two. You will collect points by shooting at each other and trying to destroy each other’s base. The game will last fifteen minutes and you will hear an announcement when the game is over. You will then find the exit, which will bring you back to this room. Remember, there is no running in the arena, do not climb on anything or you will be disqualified, no physical contact, no lying down, and no foul language. This
is
a family facility. You’re here to have fun. Just remember that.”

I didn’t realize that this game had so many rules. I imagined us running around and shooting each other. I hope I don’t have to be too strategic because I don’t know how well I can do that in the dark.

The person on the loudspeaker begins speaking again. “You’ll hear a buzzer, which will allow you to open the door and proceed to your base.”

The buzzer sounds and I follow Lucas to our base, which is base one. We huddle in the corner, and I can hear him breathing. It’s not as dark as I anticipated, and I can still make out his face.

“What are we waiting for?” I whisper.

Another buzzer sounds and I jump, almost knocking Lucas over. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay. You go left and I’ll go right.” He not only has to direct me at work, but he has to direct me here, too. “Cassie, what are you doing? I can already see the red flashing lights coming towards us. Go, go, go!”

Adrenaline shoots through my body, and my heart is pumping overtime. I dart out of the covered area and quickly close the gap between my steps when I realize I’m running.
No running
. That was the first rule. The music is blaring, and I can’t hear Lucas or any of my opponents. I’m being hunted by Marty McFly and his girlfriend and quite honestly, with a flashing vest, there’s not really anywhere to hide. I slide against a wall and crouch down. I can wait here until I see the red lights coming toward me. Then I can shoot and keep shooting until I’m out of sight. I think it’s a good strategy.

I’m waiting for what feels like hours, but I’m sure was only less than two minutes, when I hear footsteps. Someone’s coming my way, but I can’t see any lights flashing. Which way are they coming from? “Lucas?” I say in a loud whisper. “Lucas? Is that you? I’m over here.”

I begin to stand and as the muscle tenses in my leg I realize crouching was probably not a good idea. When I’m finally in an upright position, I stretch my body and my bones crack. I get my phaser to be safe. The beating of my heart thumps so hard I can feel it between my ears. I force a swallow, as hard as it is.

“Gotcha!”
 

I scream as a flash of red lights appear in front of me and shoots me in the front of my vest. I aim my gun and nothing happens. “I can’t shoot! I can’t shoot!” I pound on the gun and try again. “What’s going on? Why isn’t this working?”

“Cassie,” I hear Lucas running up behind me. “You can’t shoot for ten seconds. Hide!”
 

I panic and bolt to the right, away from whomever shot me. I’m running and I realize this is against the rules, but I need to hide like Lucas said. I’m using my hand to maneuver around the arena and as I turn a corner I smack right into somebody and fall on my ass.

“Are you okay?” It’s Lucas. He reaches his hand out and pulls me up, though my worn out body takes a second to find its balance again.

“Yeah. Are you?”

“I’m fine. You weigh like a hundred and twenty pounds. I didn’t even budge.”

I’m flattered that he thinks I’m only a hundred and twenty pounds, but a little more than slightly embarrassed about how I freaked out and knocked right into him. “I’m sorry about that. I kind of panicked when I got hit.”

“Remember that I said I would protect you?”

“Yes.”

“Wait here.” Lucas steps in front of me and aims his gun at the opponent coming toward us. He shoots everywhere he can, in the shoulder, on the front, on their phaser. Both Marty and Renee are frozen. Lucas grabs my hand and we quickly make our way to their base. “Shoot the base! Keep shooting!”

I take his direction and pull the trigger. I shoot until the lights go out. Lucas wraps his arm around my waist and yanks me so I’m against his body. “I’m pretty sure we’ve won.”

I think so too, and I can’t believe it, but I think I’m having the time of my life, and I don’t want the evening to end.

•••••••

My head hurts.
Really
hurts. Like I feel like it’s going to crack open and my eyes are going to pop out hurts. I drank
way
too much last night. The sun blinds me and I cover my eyes as fast as I can to avoid it. “I don’t want to get up…”

“Well, tough luck. You have to.”

I widen my eyes to Lucas standing next to the bed in boxer shorts, his perfect six-pack bulging out, among other things, and he’s handing me a cup of steaming, hot coffee. “Lucas?”

“That’s me. In the flesh. I bet you’re suffering from quite the headache.”

“Yeah…” I manage to sit up and take the coffee from him. This roast is amazing. Dark, fresh, perfection. The second the coffee splashes into my mouth, my headache starts disappearing. “What happened last night?”

His eyes pop. “You don’t remember?” He rubs the top of his head. “Damn, I wish you could.”

“We … ” and I
do
remember. I wasn’t
that
drunk. After laser tag, we came back to his place for a few drinks. We laughed and played Never Have I Ever until there were hands everywhere, lips on every inch of our bodies, touching, clothes ripping off, the passion so strong I could barely breathe. I hoped it was all a dream. “Damn it. I broke my rule.”

“What rule?”

I sip my coffee and don’t make eye contact. “To never get involved with a coworker.” And such a young one, at that.

“I’m glad you broke it. Last night was totally worth it. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. This was my first time with such an … experienced woman.”

“Did you just call me old?” I slam my hand onto the covers and my coffee spills onto the sheets. “Sorry.”

“That’s fine, and no, I didn’t call you old. I called you experienced. Two entirely different things. Girls my age, they’re not as … ”

I shake my head and wave my finger at him as I drink more coffee. “I don’t want to hear it. Never talk about other women, especially with the woman currently in your bed.”