Nina Cox Must Date

Chapter 18 - Halo

I've been feeling down since Halloween. Brendan and I are very compatible, but what can I do about it when he will be on the other side of the world? He didn't make a move during the party, and our interaction was pretty similar to what I have with Taylor. Maybe he isn't interested, or perhaps he didn't want to give me false hope about something he can't commit to.

I take a final look at the store and turn off the lights. I had decent sales today and enough requests in my email. It's the first week of November, and people are already starting Christmas shopping.

A duo of hungry kittens greets me as I return home. I grab treats from the cupboard, and they jump happily onto the table. My boys are growing fast. Just then, the doorbell rings, and I head to open it. It's Taylor, and he's alone.

"I was in your driveway when I saw the lights in the barn go off," he says.

"I called it a day. I didn't think I would see you so soon," I reply.

"I'm not seeing Jessica anymore," he says as he wheels himself to his favorite spot by the chimney.

"Is it because of what she said at the party?"

"No. Her knowledge of the geek world is minimal, but that's something you can learn about. I had a few issues with her. She introduced me to her friends as if I were a charity case. They all looked at me with pity and spoke loudly. I'm crippled, not deaf. One night, we were making out at my apartment, and she asked me why I didn't get hard. I told her I didn't feel anything below my pelvis. She freaked out and went home. The next day, she called to apologize. I believe she was genuinely sorry. After that, things became awkward. But what ultimately made me stop seeing her was her rude comment about you at the party."

"What did she say?"

"It's not important and not worth repeating. It bothered me tremendously. You are one of the best things that have happened to me."

I lean in and hug him.

"You're still an asshole for ignoring me these past weeks," I say softly in his ear.

"I'm sorry," he laughs. "She didn't leave me in peace. Whenever we saw each other, she wanted me to call her afterward and spend another hour on the phone. I never even did that as a teenager."

"I wouldn't like that either. Sometimes, I think I was meant to be a guy."

"Well, I'm glad you're not. You're just fine the way you are."

"Just fine? Wow, I'm relieved we're not dating; you just killed the romance," I respond, shaking my head at his remark while he laughs.

"Your birthday is coming up. Do you have any plans with Brendan? I think he's great; you two would make a good match."

I tell him about the unfortunate situation with Brendan.

"I'm sorry to hear that. So, that's one less date planned. How many dates do you still need?"

"I'm over ten dates because I went out with Keon a few times. If I count the guys I've met, I still need three more dates. Lisa told me to forget about the dare after her breakup. She's having a tough time."

"Not that tough. I spoke with her at the party when I went to the kitchen. She has a date on Friday."

"She didn't mention anything!"

I grab my phone and type: "Date on Friday?" and then send it to her. I notice another notification; it's a message from Evan.

"Evan can get us tickets for the World Championships tonight," I say.

"For what?"

"Halo."

"What are you waiting for? Just say we will be there!"

I text Evan back, and he replies that he will come outside to give us the tickets.

"What should I wear?" Taylor asks, fanning his hands dramatically, which makes me laugh hard.

"Let's grab something to eat first. Can I crash at your place? It's closer to the venue than mine," I say.

"Only if you promise to stay away from my junk," he jokes, pointing at his crotch.

I snort at his words. I missed this — I missed us.

After a quick dinner at a fast food restaurant, we head to the venue for the gaming championship. It's packed with people, and I hope the hour-and-a-half drive was worth it.

I message Evan to let him know we're outside, and he responds that he will be with us soon. Looking around at the crowd in line, I notice many guys staring in our direction.

"There aren't many girls here today. It's literally a sausage party," Taylor comments.

"They're staring," I say, turning away from a group of guys starting to shout inappropriate things.

"Of course they are; you're the prettiest thing around here."

I glance down at my phone to hide my embarrassment. I see a message from Lisa that reads, "A blind date. Nothing to brag about."

Just then, Evan walks outside and hands us tickets and backstage access cards. I hear a rumble of complaints from the people in line.

"Calm down, everyone. They work for me," Evan says, and the crowd quiets. "They're all wired, and you don't want to imagine how they'll act once they get inside. One of those caffeinated drinks is a sponsor."

"Are we going to work for you tonight?" I ask.

"Not at all. I didn't want them to mob you," he chuckles as we walk inside.

The theme from Halo 2, "Mjolnir Mix," plays loudly. The stage has an impressive setup for two teams, and a massive high-definition screen faces the audience.

Taylor looks excited, and I believe he is about to pass out from emotion. Evan excuses himself to continue working after bringing us to a place where we can watch without disruptions.

"Do you want something to drink?" I ask Taylor.

"A Coke would be nice. Thanks," he replies.

I head to the bar to get us some drinks. Since I'm not driving tonight, I decide to get a beer for myself. A guy stands beside me and smiles, wearing an access pass like mine.

"Hello," he says.

"Hi," I reply.

"Are you playing?" he asks, pointing at my pass.

"Me? No! I play, but I'll never be in the same league as the guys here. Do you?"

"I play a bit," he says, standing with his back to the counter.

He's dressed in the same sort of clothes as the guys walking around the place. His dark hair is a bit long, and I can't figure out what color his eyes are in the dim light. One thing is sure: he hasn't shaved in days, which suits him.

"I'm Nash," he says, extending his hand.

"Nina," I reply.

Suddenly, people enter the venue in masses, and a crowd separates us. They all take selfies with him and shake his hand. Who is this guy?

The bartender hands me my drinks.

"Do you know that guy?" I ask him.

"That's Nash Carter. His team has won the championship for the past two years and will likely win again this year. He's a millionaire at just 26 years old. I picked the wrong career," he chuckles.

Nash looks at me through the crowd and gives me a small wave. I smile and walk back to my seat, feeling curious.