Page 194 of Game Night: Truth or Dare

“I’ll bring a coffee over tomorrow before you open and we can talk if that works?”

“That works just fine, Caleb. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Bye, Malcolm.”

He nods and turns around, bumping into the rack of postcards, before finally finding the door.

I watch him cross the street back to Ragged Chutes Coffee and my heart squeezes when he jumps and does a little butt wiggle on the sidewalk before entering.

There’s no sense denying I’m happy as he is.

Chapter 4

Caleb

“Are you going to finish making that coffee today or stand there and moon over it until closing time?”

“Oh shush. I just want it to be perfect, Dad.”

It’s not every day I get to bring a coffee to the hot, nerdy bookshop owner. Who has a name now, and it’s Malcolm. The very same guy who asked me on a date!

“You’re doing it again.”

“Huh?”

Dad gestures to the take out cup I’m sprinkling chocolate curls on. It’s now more chocolate than coffee. And my shaker is empty.

With a sigh, I pass the shaker to my dad and start a new coffee. Again.

He gently nudges me aside and finishes making the drink for me. Now that it’s made, I have no reason to keep stalling. It’s time to speak to Malcolm.

Malcolm, who still asked me on a date after all my awkward stumbling and almost passing out in front of him.

“Wanna know what I think?”

My dad slides a maple leaf-shaped cookie into a white cellophane bag, placing it next to the coffee cup. After leaning against the counter enough to block my exit, I surrender and give him my attention.

“Okay, Dad. What do you think?”

“I think you know he’s the one, so you’re just extra nervous.”

“What!? That’s ridiculous. Until yesterday, I didn’t even know his name.” I raise an eyebrow. “Have you and Pops been drinking that weird mushroom tea again?”

“Yes, but not recently, and this isn’t about me. Listen, sometimes you just know and it’s scary. It’s like you’re the last one to know and now that you know, like really know, you’re just extra nervous. You do more awkward and embarrassing things because this is the one, you know?”

My dad, god love him, thinks this is a rousing speech. He probably even thinks it should make me feel good.

“Forgive me, dad, but that just makes me even more nervous. The one?” Shaking my head, I clean up my mess on the counter while my stomach flops all over. What if he’s right? I mean, not likely, but what if?

“I’m just saying, keep an open mind with this Malcolm guy. Don’t view it as a date. View it as—,” he pauses, a dramatic sweep of his arm through the air, “—a meeting of two souls.”

“Dad. Fuck off with that. Now you’re just irritating. I’m going on a date.”

“Of course you are.” He steps aside and I snatch the coffee and cookie off the counter with a huff. The thing is, my dad is ultra romantic and I just don’t buy into it. I see him and Pop getting mushy with each other all the time and it’s great. But it just doesn’t happen like that. And also, I can’t tell my dad I really, really, really just want to get laid.

That just crosses too many lines in the father son relationship. Sure, it would be great if things went farther than one night, but I mean, come on…the one? He’s been inhaling too many oven fumes, I think.

Striding to the front door, with coffee and cookie in hand, I’m determined to not be as awkward this time. I’ve met my crush, and he asked me out. This is just me trying to get to know a little more about him before we actually go out.

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