Page 12 of Playing For Keeps

Surprise me. Just tell me where and when.

I promise not to Google what it is.

Fuck.

Of course, she’d want the more challenging option out of the two. Sebastian hadn’t gone on a date, an actual honest-to-goodness first date in over a year, and it’d usually been dinner and a movie. Somehow, he doubted that would cut it this time. Besides, sitting in a darkened movie theater always felt fraught with tension, not close enough to take advantage of the shadowy intimacy, but still super aware of the person beside you.

Farren probably wouldn’t mind the movies. She seemed like a fun-loving woman, but it was basic, even for him.

He pulled up his search bar again, relying on the internet to impart something. Anything. His mind raced with all the potential pitfalls: did she have food aversions, did she drink?

She was competitive, he knew that much. She enjoyed board games. But Sebastian was garbage at it. Gaming was her world, something she was far more versed to show him. Perhaps something in a similar vein?

He stumbled across something he thought was low-key enough to be able to talk, but still included an activity to keep them occupied in case his conversation skills absolutely failed him.

Sebastian texted her the address and the time. Five PM. It was plenty of opportunity for her to change her mind if she desired. Enough time to practice getting his foot out of his mouth before he saw her again. He could run some errands; not that he had many, but the fridge was pretty bare.

It would give him time to tidy the little mess he made tonight, on the slim likelihood they might wander back here. It would also be a chance for him to start the car and ensure it was in running condition so he wasn’t just relying on the Metro.

Farren sent along her assent and a silly GIF of a cat putting on sunglasses with the text “I’m ready” following soon after.

It made him laugh, a little bit of those nerves dissolving with the plan in action, diminishing because he knew how he would pass the time between now and then. Sleep claimed him after he sent Farren a goodnight text, deflating, stress seeping from his muscles.

Sebastian woke to a sunny day, no pressing work emails, and that tiny buzz of excitement he slowly realized belonged only to her. He took the car for an oil change and had them check the battery since he didn’t do much but start and run it weekly. He even sprung for a car wash. There was a particular kid-like enjoyment at the large brushes scrubbing up along the car's sides, the suds accumulating on the windshield, frothy and sweet-smelling.

Grocery shopping came next. When he got back, he ran a mop with diluted Pine Sol over the floor until it was pristine and the room held the fine scent of the forest. By the time he’d finished—showered, dressed and sitting on the sofa bouncing his knee—it was a little after four PM and about time for him to head out. She’d been quiet all day, but he sent over a text, letting her know he was getting ready to leave.

Farren responded with a “see you soon,” and he took a few deep breaths before he started the car and headed out toward Penn Square. Sebastian got there embarrassingly early, sitting in the parking garage for ten minutes before going inside. Once there, he wondered if he should have worn something else.

He knew what the place offered, knew what they served, but somehow it eluded him to check what it looked like. He was in jeans at least. Dark jeans with a button up. And dress shoes. Stupid. Stupid. Who wears dress shoes to a casual date?

Skyward, the ping pong place he’d chosen, had definite warehouse-vibes. Not in a bad way. In a shouldn’t-have-dressed-up-this-much kind of way. He had no time to think it to death because he had to grab a table for them before she got there. It wasn’t too long after his own arrival, and she looked freaking gorgeous.

Her cheeks were pink, as if she’d been out walking, her dark blonde hair slightly windswept from the thick braid coiling its way over her shoulder. She wore jeans, the fabric hugging the thick curve of her thighs, sneakers, and a pretty shirt. A sweater or cardigan of some kind was draped over her bag at her side. When he caught her eye, Sebastian was awarded with a huge smile, and before he even thought about it, before it could be anything other than voluntary, his cheeks stretched in an answering smile.

“Hi!” she said, a little breathless, once she’d made her way over to the table. Farren lifted onto her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck in a quick hug. Sebastian had enough time to snake an arm around her waist, give the briefest squeeze, and was assailed by the sweet spice of her shampoo before she stepped back.

“Hey. I’m really glad you could make it,” Sebastian said, and although it was generic, he very much meant it.

“I’m glad you reached out. You missed out on a good game night, but I get it. Luis used to work as a SharePoint contractor for the Army before he pivoted into teaching, and it used to drive Corinne crazy.” The names meant nothing to him; perhaps if he’d made it over there last night, they would have.

She seemed to realize it not long afterwards because she jumped in to clarify. “Corinne was the friend in line with me at the cafe last week. Her husband is Luis.”

He could picture dark hair, the vague impression of her during the silent exchange Farren had with her in line, but that was it. Sebastian nodded and smiled though, relieved she wasn’t too put out by his last-minute cancellation.

They sat, the table between them, and a server came over shortly to give them both menus and glasses of water. Upon second inspection, Skyward looked almost hipster-y. The place was distressed brick and dark metal, artwork and music adding a level to the atmosphere in a way that kept it from feeling run down or overly cavernous.

“So, ping pong?” she asked after they’d both taken a sip of water and pretended to look at the menu.

“You told me to surprise you,” he said, trying not to have it sound defensive.

“You did good.” The words washed over him, and Sebastian was a little uncomfortable to realize how much her praise meant to him.

It’s because you so desperately want validation from work. That’s all. You’re like a plant left out in the elements for too long without a drop of rain. Desperate. At least that’s what he told himself, and it wasn’t wrong. Not really.

“I figured since you like games, and seem fairly competitive, it might be a good way to hang out without it being too redundant—given I missed last night.”

“I’ll never say no to another day of playing board games, but this is a good change. Hopefully you didn’t bring me here to decimate me with your table tennis skills?” He knew it was teasing, and he smiled.

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