Page 52 of Better Than Gelato
He smiles. “Half-hoping, half-dreading, I suppose.”
I don’t love conversations like these, but I’m glad Jake brought it up. I also like being on the same page.
“Well, I guess that means I’m sharing a bed with Carmen tonight,” I say dramatically.
“Yeah, better go work that out,” Jake says.
“I’ve been pretty insensitive,” I say standing up. “You and I became a thing, and if it works out with Valentina and Paolo, Carmen will be the only single girl in our group. That can’t feel good.”
“You’re probably right.” He takes my hand and starts tracing the veins at my wrist. “Do you feel like finding the rest of the gang and playing pool? Or would you rather hang out here a bit more?” His tone is casual, but the look in his eyes is not.
“I’m terrible at pool,” I say, and let him pull me onto his lap.
A long time later, we leave the library holding hands.
We find the rest of the group in the rec room finishing their game.
“Benvenuti ragazzi,” Paolo says. “You missed a great game.”
“If by great you mean completely demoralizing,” Carmen says.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean,” Paolo says.
“The boys beat us pretty good,” Valentina admits. “How about a new game? And maybe we switch up the teams.”
“What’s the matter, Valentina?” Diego asks. “Tired of being on the losing team?” Valentina nods her head unabashedly.
The game room has a pool table, a foosball table, and a ping pong table. And on one wall, waiting for me like an old friend, hangs a dart board. A tingle of excitement fizzes in my veins. I suck at pool, but I’m great at darts. We played for hours growing up. In college, I discovered I could make an easy twenty bucks off the jocks in the common room if I played things right.
“Let’s try one more boys against girls,” I say. It’s been a few months, but I think I’ve still got it.
I don’t suggest darts, but I try to get us there.
“How about ping pong?” Diego suggests.
“Doesn’t work for six people,” I say.
“Plus, we would demolish the girls,” Paolo says.
“How about foosball?” Diego asks.
“That’s four people at most,” Carmen says.
“And also, we would demolish you,” Paolo says again.
Finally Jake says, “How about darts?”
I hold my breath and keep quiet until everyone else agrees.
“Prepare to be demolished,” Paolo tells us.
“Actually,” I say, “I think me and my girls can take you three pretty easily.”
“Care to place money on it?” Paolo says. He grins at me, and I grin right back.
“I couldn’t take your money, Paolo. We’re besties.” I take a step closer. “But Icouldallow you to treat the girls to dinner tonight. To thank us for teaching you a lesson in humility.”
“Ooooohh,” Diego and Jake say, and it sounds like the beginning of a junior high fight.
