Page 16 of Fun and Games

Does that mean you'll come and save my sorry ass from total defeat?he asked.

I didn't reply right away. I cast my mind back to that day at the dog park. I thought back to his cute grin as he played with the puppies. I remembered the cloud that passed over his face when he talked about his parents. The regret.

I typed a reply.

I suppose it would be nice to be officially crowned winner this time,I replied.

Then I'll see you tonight.

The messages stopped.

When I looked up from my phone, I saw Samantha staring at me again.

"I recognize that look on your face," she said.

"What smile with that be?" I asked.

"It's the same look you had when that hot bartender walked up to us."

I hadn't thought I'd been so obvious.

"Are you rethinking my offer?" she asked.

I tapped my finger against the cold glass of my phone screen. The ache in my chest hadn't subsided. But I couldn't deny the lure of Disney.

Besides, I'd had fun with Mason. That was what it was all about, wasn't it? Fun. Joy. Living life to the fullest.

"Sure," I said. "There's no harm in getting one drink."

Six

After work,Samantha and I walked into the bar to find trivia night in full swing. It was busier than the last time I'd been there, with multiple groups of people crammed around the tables.

I caught sight of Mason at one of those tables. I nodded to Samantha and gestured for us to go over, but she only shook her head and gave me a little push forward.

"I'll be at the bar picking up that cutie behind the counter," she said.

It was true that the bartender working tonight was good looking. Dark hair with a slight curl to it and light blue eyes combined with shoulders broad enough to be a football player… the guy could give Mason a run for his money.

Left to fend for myself, I made my way over to Mason's table. He was sitting with two other people, one girl and one guy. The two of them were holding hands under the table. Cute. All three of them had their heads bowed over a piece of paper and seemed to be squabbling over something.

"It's Elsa," Mason said. "She's the oldest Disney princess."

"You're wrong," the guy next to him said. "She's not a princess, she's a queen."

"You haven't even watched the movie," Mason replied.

"How do you know I haven't?" the guy asked.

"Because you said you were boycotting it after every single groupie wouldn't shut up about it," Mason replied.

The word groupie caught my attention. Mason said he had been in the music industry. Was it the same with this friend of his? If he was one of those famous artists, I didn't recognize him. Then again, I wasn't huge into the rock music scene. I only knew the biggest bands that were household names.

"Maybe I can help settle the argument?" I asked as I approached the table.

Mason's eyes lit up when he saw me, and I couldn't stop the flutter in my stomach. His t-shirt was stretched tight over his chest, emphasizing his wide shoulders. I remembered digging my fingers into those shoulders, feeling the muscles shifting under my hands.

"Here she is," Mason said with a triumphant cheer. "This is the girl who's going to save us."