Page 18 of A Different Form of Oxygen
Eleven
Gavin
"Just pick something already, choosing a game doesn't entail that much thinking, Gav."
I roll my eyes at my brother, and stare in the direction of the stack of games piled on the small wooden kitchen table. I pick up each box, skimming each name and description. I was never much of a board game player, but I was really enjoying doing something different for a change and I was excited about having Ben here. It's been a few days since we've seen each other. I thought about texting him more than once. I also thought about going to Red Haven’s Gentleman’s Club more than once to see my mysterious angel. But the more I spent time with Ben, the less the mysterious angel was taking over my brain.
My brother loudly clears his throat. "Dude, seriously. It's not rocket science. Just pick one or I'm going to pick one for you."
The game host was always the person who chose the game, and everyone had to play it, no matter what. I almost wanted to snap a picture and send it to Ben, asking which one he would prefer or maybe I'll just wait and let him give me a hard time for the option I pick. I go back and forth between Monopoly and Pictionary before finally settling on the one that won’t keep us here all night long. "Let's go with Pictionary tonight."
Maverick nods. "Pictionary it is. Casey will be happy you chose that one. It's his favorite."
Of course it is; game night was his idea to begin with. Jennie peeks over my shoulder. "Yay, we are playing Pictionary. I knew I liked you, Gav. I don’t think I could survive another night of Monopoly."
"Don't be so dramatic Jen Jen, maybe if you were better at it, you wouldn't hate it so much." The voice is smooth, as if laced with honey and I know it can only be one person. I turn around to face Ben walking into the kitchen, holding himself confidently in a form fitting pink shirt. Matching eye shadow covers his eyelids, the dust of shimmer highlighting his already alluring green eyes and his lips are covered in shiny pink lip gloss making his lips more kissable.
He reaches into the fridge for a beer. Bending down for something on the bottom shelf, puts his perfect ass in those tight white jeans in view. I swallow hard as I clasp the Pictionary box against my growing erection. Slamming the fridge door behind him, he moves toward me as if being led by a magnetic force. "So, look who finally gets to host game night. I was wondering when I'd get to see your place. It's very…Gavin. Not to mention, this place is totally in the middle of nowhere, and I'm pretty sure I almost hit a cow on the way here."
I chuckle, walking to the living room as he follows closely behind me. So close, I can feel the heat coming off his body. "What does that even mean? How can my house be very Gavin?"
He lets himself fall onto the long couch spread out against the wall. "Whatever you want it to mean,” he says with a wink. "I also wouldn't have pegged you for a country guy. I like it though. All that's missing are the sexy cowboy boots and hat."
I smile at the idea of Ben liking something about me. Even if it's my house he's talking about and not me. I don't even pretend to be subtle and allow my body to fall right next to his. His leg rubs against mine, making me forget why I sat down to begin with.
Someone is clearing their throat from across the way. "Um Gav, are you going to set the game up or are you going to sit there and continue to snuggle it?” Casey points at the game still wrapped tightly in my arms.
Ben laughs. "Perhaps Gavin likes Pictionary a little too much. Maybe we should give them a moment alone."
The game falls from my hands as Ben tugs it away from me, setting it on the white coffee table. I grab my open beer bottle from the table and bring it to my lips. "So who is going to be on whose team? I think we may have an uneven number here."
The doorbell rings and Jennie jumps up to open it. "Doesn't look like we will for long."
Drake walks in with a case of beer in his hands, with an uncertain look on his face when he glances at the game on the table. "Why did I agree to this again?”
I help Ben pull out everything from the box. "Because you don't have a life outside the tattoo shop, and you need to get out of that damn house. Not to mention that if I have to suffer these damn game nights then so do you."
He tilts his head to the side and shrugs. "Fine. I'm going to toss this in the fridge and then come back and show you all my amazing Pictionary skills."
Drake didn't hang out with us much when he was married and I'm glad he is doing better after the recent divorce. The one thing bothering him the most was her moving on before him and with someone he never suspected: his brother.
Laughter fills the room and Ben turns to me with fluttering eyelashes. "You're going to be on my team, big boy."
"Oh, is that right? Do I not even get a choice in the matter?"
He shakes his head. "Nope and besides if you wanted to be on someone else's team then you should have picked another place to sit,pendejo."
He was right and the only team I wanted to be on was the one that allowed me to push my body against his. "Did you just call me something mean in Spanish?"
He leans in closer to me. "Maybe I did and maybe…I did."
I laugh. "Alright, alright. Can we at least keep the insults in English, so I know how to defend myself?”
He smirks, pursing his lips together. "But what's the fun in that?"
I was glad everyone else was too wrapped up in conversation to notice us being stuck in our own little world. I wanted to stay there a little longer but tonight isn't about Ben and me. We break up into two teams and Jennie sits on the other side of Ben, pulling the notepad from his hands. "I want to be the picturist first."
"But you're a terrible drawer," Ben heaved.
