Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 22709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
“Sure,” I chuckled, and watched him hustle towards what I assumed was the bathroom. I followed the sound of the timer until I stepped foot in the kitchen. Like the rest of the home, it was pristine; filled with high-end appliances and shiny white floors that looked clean enough to eat off of.
I pressed a button to stop the sound, and slid on the oven mitt which Geo had left on the swirled marble countertop. I opened the oven door and smiled at what I found inside; a baking sheet which held two circular chicken patties and a pile of tater tots.
I was positive this wasn’t the type of elaborate dinner this kitchen was designed for. Undoubtedly, it had seen its share of fancy dinner parties and extravagant meals fixed by hired help. I was also sure Geo could prepare one without trouble. But this meal meant so much more. This food was what he liked. It showed he was comfortable around me and not concerned with putting on airs. He was simply being and offering himself, which was more than enough for me.
Just as I was placing the baking sheet onto the stovetop, Geo entered the room, shaking jazz hands. “All clean!” I chuckled as he jutted his chin towards the food. “Is that okay? I figured we could chill in the living room and eat while we watch the game.”
“It’s perfect.” And I wasn’t just talking about the meal; Geo planned ahead to watch a basketball game together, even though it was something he had no interest in. He wanted to make me happy, and the chance to experience something I loved together was doing just that.
We filled our plates, situating the patties onto buns and divvying up the tots. I laughed at the ungodly amount of ketchup Geo poured onto his plate before following him into the living room. Instead of sitting on the sofa as I imagined, he plopped his cute little ass onto the floor, placing his food onto the coffee table in front of him.
I followed suit, settling in next to him and even kicking off my shoes, feeling a bit guilty that I hadn’t done so already, though he didn’t mention anything. I popped a tot in my mouth and looked up at…nothing. I expected to see a television, but the only thing before us was a large blank wall, the same bright white color as all the others.
Before I could ask any questions, Geo lifted a remote and clicked a button. My eyes widened as a crack developed in the wall, creating two panels that separated from one another, unveiling a huge, flat screen television that had to be at least eighty inches wide, and which I never would have guessed was there.
“Whoa,” I whispered before I could stop myself. I hadn’t even batted an eye at the opulence of his home…until now. I had to admit, I was impressed.
“I like the TV, too,” Geo chuckled as the screen flashed to life. He flipped through channels until he landed on the game, and my admiration only grew. The players spanned across the screen in such high definition that I could see every bead of sweat on their brows. Through a hidden surround sound system, I heard every squeak of their sneakers and the roar of the crowd all around me. I felt completely enveloped in the game.
Geo broke my trance by asking, “So, what is the madness?”
“I’m sorry?” He pointed to the March Madness logo in the corner of the screen. “Oh, March Madness is the yearly tournament for college basketball teams. It starts with a couple of knockout rounds, then goes to the sweet sixteen, elite eight, which is where we are now, then the final four, and then the championship.”
“Our team has made it to the top eight?” He asked, and my heart warmed. He was already aligning himself with the fandom just because I was in it. “That’s exciting!” I nodded my agreement, and he asked, “Have you ever been to a tournament game in person?”
“Unfortunately, no; I’ve always wanted to, though. Tickets are pretty expensive and they sell out fast.”
His gaze flickered down to his plate, and he said quietly, “Maybe we can go to one next year.”
If my heart was warm earlier, it was on fire now. Geo was planning ahead, declaring in his own quietly confident way that he was in this long-term. He was a bit guarded, but his intentions were clear. I was determined to make mine clear as well.
I reached over and cupped his cheek in my hand, waiting patiently until he looked at me. “That sounds perfect.”
“Really?” I nodded, and he briefly trapped his bottom lip between his teeth. “You do realize I said ‘we’, right? Like we’d go together? And be together-together? A year from now?”