Page 25 of Beyond the Storm
“Ti and I bought an Xbox for Nico. The new one that just released. He’s been wanting a gaming console for a while, and my softie of a husband finally caved. We also got him a bunch of games for it.” Indistinct voices sounded in the background, followed by a deeper one I recognized as Titan, asking if they needed to buy more sugar or if they had enough. “Sorry for the noise. We’re grocery shopping. But anyway. The Xbox. Nico was excited when we gave it to him and asked if you’d be interested in gaming with him sometime. ’Cause he knows you play too. Maybe you and Mason could visit soon, and y’all could make a night of it. Games and all the snacks you can eat.”
“Visit you on your sunny and warm island with all that good food and comfy napping spots? Also video games? Um. Definitely.”
My brother chuckled. “Okay, cool. Just let me know when’s good for you guys.”
“Hey, Ray?” I stole another fry from Mason’s plate, dipped it in my milkshake, and ate it. “Was the Xbox thing just an excuse for you to ask me to come visit you?”
“No, we really bought one for the kid, and he wants to game with you. But since ya brought it up… I do miss you. So maybe that’s part of it.” Raiden was such a big softie. “How about next weekend?”
“That should work.” Plenty of time to make arrangements. “I’ll talk to Mason and let you know.”
“Cool. Talk to ya later, Smalls.”
After disconnecting the call, I relayed the info to Mason, who said he’d like to go. He even seemed excited about it. I guess the promise of sunny beaches and the Mediterranean were enough to lure him too.
“Finish your food,” he then said.
“Listen here, Mr. Marine.” I pointed a finger at him. “I’ll eat what I want, when I want.”
He fought another smile. And again, he failed. I liked cracking his composure.
“This is fun,” I said as we exited the diner after lunch, hand in hand. “It’s like we’re an ordinary couple on a date.”
“Angel, we’re anything but ordinary.” Mason stopped beside his truck and turned to me. With a small smile, he smoothed his thumb along the corner of my mouth. “But I’m having fun too.”
“Yeah? Can we do it again soon? Like tomorrow?”
“Who said it’s over?” He withdrew his keys from his back pocket and winked at me. “Get in the truck.”
Excited, I jogged to the passenger side and hopped in.
A day out with Mason was the best day ever.
Mason
Paintball. Lunch at a burger joint. And then, the arcade. I felt like a teenager again. But the best part was seeing Gray’s smile.
“Mason! Look.” He played a racing game where he sat on a mini motorcycle, moving it from side to side to steer. “I’m winning.”
“Good job.” I stood beside him and looked at the screen just as his bike crossed the finish line. It was the only time hecoulddrive. Because of Sloth, he didn’t drive in real life. A sleepy spell could hit him out of the blue, and he’d decided long ago not to risk it. But it was okay because I didn’t mind being his chauffeur and taking him wherever he wanted to go.
“Will you win me a stuffy?” Gray hopped off the bike and collected the few tickets the machine spat out for his victory. “There’s a really cute sloth over there.”
“Well, there’s no way you can leave without taking him home with you.”
“Exactly.” He crinkled his nose in that adorable way of his and slid his hand into mine. “I’ve already named him too. Sleepy the Sloth.”
An hour and a half and a shit ton of money spent on tokens later, Gray and I finally had enough tickets for Sleepy the Sloth. We made our way to the prize stand and stood second in line. The sloth was within reach. One huge problem stood in our way.
The kid in front of us slapped his rolls of tickets on the counter. “I want the sloth.”
“Oh no,” Gray whispered, looking up at me with teary eyes.
“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath before pulling out my wallet. “Hey, kid. I’ll give you five bucks to choose something else.”
The kid looked at me, then at my wallet, and grinned. “Make it twenty and we have a deal.”
“Twenty? I could go to the store and buy one for less than that.”
