Page 80 of Confessions of a Virgin on a Dating App
But I barely even glanced out the window. My attention was locked on my phone screen as I begged for the typing bubble to appear.
C’mon, Devin. Please.
The last thing I needed was for him to be ambushed by my judgmental parents without giving him a heads-up.Creatures & Cryptswould be wrapping up right about now, which meant he’d be behind the counter ringing up final purchases and preparing to close the shop.
It took five minutes, which felt like an eternity, but Devin’s response finally popped onto my phone screen.
Sorry. Just finished C&C. What’s up?
Me and my parents are on our way to the shop.
Wait, what?
I’m so sorry. I couldn’t talk them out of it. They insisted on seeing the place.
So let me guess… you need me to play the part of the unassuming shop owner who is definitely not your boyfriend?
I’m really sorry.
Don’t be. I know you’re not ready for me to meet your parents yet. Honestly, I’m not either. I’ll keep quiet and stay out of the way.
Thank you. You’re wonderful.
Of course, sweetheart.
I put my phone back in my pocket just as we pulled into the parking lot. Our last-minute texting conversation made me feel a little better, but that relief was quickly replaced with dread as we stepped out of the car and approached the glass double doors.
I took a deep breath as I grabbed the metal handle, feeling like I was about to jump off a cliff.
All was well at first. The A/C smacked us in the face with a soothing chill that helped wipe the muggy Florida heat from our skin. SinceC&Cwas over, the shop only had a handful of patrons left, mainly stragglers lookingto buy supplies and the few preteen boys that still needed to be picked up by their parents.
“Avery!” Cassidy shouted from across the shop. She was sitting at one of theC&Ctables next to Aaron, their dice and miniatures packed in neat tote bags in front of them.
“Cass!” I jogged over and hugged my best friend. I introduced her to my parents, and my mother was quick to sweep her up in conversation with a flurry of excited questions. My father was quiet, but at least he didn’t look as grumpy as usual.
I knew why. On the surface, Cassidy looked a lot like me, with her cheery round face, curly hair, and cute clothing. She wore a dress with high-top Converses, one of my favorite combinations, but nothing else about her screamed “roleplaying geek.”
As Cassidy chatted with my mom, my gaze flicked over to Devin. He was at the register, chatting with Sam while he rang up a stack of boxed miniatures. My heart fluttered when Devin laughed at something Sam said, but it also drew my attention to his piercings. And his tattoos. And his black clothing.
All those things were a part of him, and I adored Devin exactly the way he was. But I hated that it would cause my parents to judge him before they even got to know him.
I gulped as I realized I’d let my gaze linger on Devin a bit too long. Because my father was now staring at him, and I could feel his hazy disgust polluting the air once again. He paced around the shop with his hands behind his back, inspecting the various miniatures, dice, and books like a cop at a crime scene. I swore I saw his frown deepen behind his curtain-like mustache.
My father finally made his way all around the shop, pausing at the glass display counters near the register. Devin had finished ringing up all the customers in line andwas now busy at his computer. But I noticed him give my father a sideways glance.
“Can I help you find anything?” Devin asked in a sweetly oblivious tone, the same way he would with any customer.
My father looked up from the display cases, and the two men locked eyes for several seconds. Devin forced a polite smile, which my father didn’t react to.
“I’m fine, thanks,” he mumbled as he stepped away.
Once my father was gone, Devin peered at me from across the room. He held back an awkward chuckle as I mouthed the word “sorry.”
I spun around, my attention drifting back to Cassidy’s conversation with my mother. She and Aaron were all packed up, with their bags slung over their shoulders as I followed them to the front door.
“I’ll be spending a few hours over at Aaron’s place,” Cassidy explained as she gave me a quick hug. “You gonna be okay tonight?”
“I’ll be fine,” I lied. I could already feel the nerves returning to my stomach, scrabbling around like a pit full of spiders. “Go have fun with your boyfriend.”
