Chapter 16

Erik

I’ve never been to Dave & Buster’s before today but I’m sure as shit coming back. Any place that serves beer and has life-size, Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots is my kind of hangout. We had an afternoon game today against Detroit and it sucked donkey balls because we lost 2–1.

However, I will say the day is shaping up to be a lot better.

The van I’d arranged to transport Billy to his first hockey game picked up Blue at her house, and then they went to the Cresson. Blue had told me that Billy was completely recovered from the flu bug and was beyond excited about the game. I gave her a jersey for Billy to wear and hoped he didn’t think it was too cocky that it’s one of my jerseys.

At the arena, I’d had a dedicated usher waiting to escort them to their seats on the first level. The handicapped area is really some of the best viewing in my opinion. There’s ample space for wheelchairs and scooters, as well as regular seating. Blue knew all of this ahead of time, but what she didn’t know was that I arranged for the usher to bring her and Billy down to the ice level through the team elevators so they could watch us warm up from the Zamboni alley. I can’t say that I was performing at my best during the pregame skate, as I couldn’t stop looking over at Billy and Blue—mostly Blue watching Billy smile and cheer.

I’d even managed to sneak over there before we went to the locker room to give Billy a hockey puck and Blue a kiss, to which she whispered in my ear, “You are so getting lucky tonight.”

I liked hearing that. It’s not why I wanted to do this for Billy, but it was a perk I was not going to pass up.

Right now, I’m once again a little transfixed as I watch Blue with her brother. And weirdly…Tacker, as they play some videogames across the large, cavernous arcade.

After the game, plans were made in the locker room to head over to the Sneaky Saguaro for an afternoon of Saturday drinking. I’d declined and told them I was taking Blue and Billy to Dave & Buster’s which would be far more fun for Billy. Next thing I know, Bishop, Brooke, Dax, Legend, and Tacker were inviting themselves along. Dax had asked Pepper to the game, and she’s also here with us. Currently, she and Dax are battling the robots against each other while Legend stands beside me at the bar shooting them sour looks.

I try to get his mind off his wily neighbor and the fact that Dax seems to like her. Giving Legend a nudge and then nodding in Blue, Billy, and Tacker’s direction, I say, “Can’t believe Tacker actually accepted an invitation to come out with us.”

Legend’s gaze slides across the arcade where Tacker is currently leaning over Billy’s chair, showing him how to play Galaga Assault, an updated version of the old game. I found that Billy actually does quite well with joystick-type games as evidenced by him whipping my ass at Pac-Man Battle Royale earlier.

“Can’t believe Dax brought her out with us.” Legend grumbles, his eyes going back to Dax and Pepper.

I laugh and shake my head. “Dude…let it go. You’re getting worked up over nothing.”

To my surprise, Legend gives a sigh and then rolls his neck as if to stretch out the tension. “I know. It’s fucking stupid, letting someone have that type of effect on me.”

“Not someone,” I correct him, my focus on Blue as she cheers Billy on from beside his chair. “A woman.”

“Guess you know a little bit about that, huh?” Legend remarks.

“I guess I do,” I admit.

“It was really nice for you to do this for Billy. You’re really good with him too.”

Now that is probably one of the nicest compliments anyone has paid me, and it’s critically important too. I turn to him and ask, “Do you really think so?”

“Yeah,” he says with a chuckle. “He responds really well to you and it’s clear you guys hit it off. Oh, and if the way Blue looks at you when you’re interacting with her brother is any indication, you’re doing a fucking fantastic job.”

The relief that sweeps through me is not surprising. I know how important Billy is to Blue so he has to be important to me too. I didn’t want her to think I’m just about show today.

And truth be told, I fucking like hanging with him. When we first got here about an hour ago, I immediately took him around the arcade to find something he wanted to play. I didn’t find communication all that difficult either. He clearly understands everything, and I was surprisingly adept at figuring out what he was trying to say with just a little patience. If I couldn’t, Blue was there to help interpret the sign language he’d use.

What made it easy though was that Billy is an extraordinarily happy person. The guy fucking doesn’t stop smiling.

Like ever.

And he’s so easily pleased. Just a hug from Blue makes his smile go from merely bright to starlight brilliant. It’s humbling that someone confined in such a broken body can have that much pure joy in his life.

“Blue had to put him in a more affordable group home,” I tell Legend as we both turn back to watch Tacker and Billy take turns at Galaga. “Her father’s life insurance got hung up but I’ve got my attorney on it.”

“That can’t be easy for Blue.”

There’s no holding back my growl of frustration. “And on top of that, she has to work a shitty part-time job serving sleazy old men on private charters.”

“Money that tight for her?” Legend asks.

I nod before taking a sip of the beer I’d been nursing. “I’ve got an email into Christian Rutherford to help out.”

“What do you mean?”

I give my attention to Legend for a moment, leaning in slightly as if I’m divulging trade secrets. Lowering my voice, I tell him, “I’ve asked him to consider giving the flight attendants a raise.”

Legend eyebrows shoot up. “Come again?”

“They need a raise,” I point out.

With a distinct twitch of his lips, Legend drawls, “They do, do they?”

Shrugging, I admit, “Well, Blue does. That crappy part-time job isn’t worth the time away from Billy she has to take. If she gets paid more from Rutherford, she can give it up and I don’t have to be fucking pissed about old geezers grabbing her ass. So yeah…they need a raise.”

I get a smirk that makes it more than clear I’ve amused him today. “What do they make now?”

“No fucking clue,” I chuckle. “I just know Blue needs a raise and so I asked Rutherford for it.”

There’s a long low whistle that comes from Legend as he shakes his head, still with that amused expression on his face that tells me I’m charming the fucking pants off him. “You are absolutely fucking whipped, aren’t you?”

My gaze goes back to Blue. She laughs at something Tacker says to Billy and it fucking hits me in the chest and groin at the same tie. My voice is droll when I admit, “Guess that’s one way of putting it.”

I turn and set my unfinished beer on the bar. “Which makes me wonder why I’m sitting here talking to your ugly ass when I could be hanging out with Blue.”

“You love my ugly ass,” he says as he points his beer at me.

I don’t respond to that directly, but yeah…I kind of do. Legend’s my closest friend on the team. Instead, I nod over to the robots where Brooke and Bishop are now having a go at them with Dax and Pepper cheering them on. “You should go over there. Challenge Pepper to a duel for ruler of the neighborhood rights.”

“Fuck off,” he mutters as he looks over at her, his brow furrowing. He truly doesn’t need the robots. Those two just need to battle it out in bed, but that’s not going to happen. Dax has already made his move for her and once he taps that, if he hasn’t already, she’ll be off limits to Legend.

I stroll across the arcade to the Galaga machine. Billy’s currently playing while Tacker stands to the side of the game, his hand perched up on the top. His gaze is intent as he gives Billy encouragement.

Sliding in next to Blue, I put my arm around her waist. She tips her head to look up at me and well…those lips just need to be kissed.

So I do.

When I lean back, she turns slightly to rest her hand on my stomach and my muscles involuntarily contract from her touch. She goes to her tiptoes, putting her mouth near my ear. “Thank you for all of this.”

I pull my head back slightly to look into her eyes. With my arm sweeping out, I tell her, “This is nothing but a fun afternoon for everyone involved.”

“Yeah,” she replies with a laugh. “But I’m sure you and the guys had better things to do.”

I shake my head and give her a pointed look. “No. We didn’t.”

“So getting lucky tonight,” she murmurs and then turns her attention back to the game.

After Billy soundly thrashes Tacker, I step around the chair to face Billy. “All right, buddy…I challenge you to a game. Are you up for it?”

Billy’s broad grin goes bigger as he jabs his arm at me. His voice is thick and the word is drawled out with long vowels, but I understand him clearly when he says, “Yeah.”

I put my monetized card you have to use to play the games into the machine and set up two players. I tell myself that I’ll go easy on Billy since it gives him such joy to win.

Except…he’s really damn good with his coordination. Far better than I am and he beats my ass soundly. Tacker merely slaps me on the back in commiseration before looking down at his watch.

He looks to me briefly and then bends down slightly to Billy. “Look…I got to go, but it was great hanging with you, Billy. Can we do it again sometime?”

This prospect pleases Billy so much he has a hard time getting the word out, so he just nods his head exuberantly. Tacker grins at him and holds a fist out to which Billy bumps his to it.

Tacker straightens and turns to Blue. To my surprise, he leans in and kisses her on the cheek. I wait for a flash of jealousy but it doesn’t come. Instead, it makes me happy to see Tacker finally interacting on a personal level with someone. “Had a great time, Blue. See you on the next trip.”

After Tacker leaves, I ask Billy if he wants to play Galaga again. He shakes his head.

I let my gaze sweep around the arcade, looking for something new for us to play. “All right then…let’s go find something else.”

Billy instead shakes his head again and looks at Blue. He tilts his head and puts the back of one hand to the side of it and taps it there. Blue smiles at Billy and ruffles his hair.

Turning to me, she says, “He’s tired. It’s been a long day for him, so I think we better get him back to the Cresson.”

“That was a sign for tired?” I ask, to make sure I start to understand his language.

“Sleep,” she tells me with a smile, and I can see it touches her I want to know those details.

“All right,” I tell her. “Let’s say our goodbyes and skedaddle out of here.”

It’s as we’re loading Billy up in the back of the van with the motorized lift that I realize this may actually be the most fun I’ve had after a game in a long time. It certainly beat out the Sneaky Saguaro, and it certainly alleviated some of the sting of the loss today. I definitely foresee a lot more trips like this with Blue and Billy in my future.