Page 34 of Take a Chance on Me

“What is with the eight ball, really? I mean, I know it was a dare, but why?”

“Because of Adam. After he left me, I was pretty convinced that I had lost good decision-making logic.”

“I guess we are similar in that area.”

“I think we’re similar in a few other ways as well,” I say, turning to face him. My breath catches as I realize just how close our faces are. I can see these tiny swirls of green in Derek’s blue irises that I’ve never noticed before. They kind of remind me of kelp floating in the ocean, but in a good way.

“I don’t know if this is a good idea,” he says, obviously reading my mind. “We still have to work together. Workplace romances rarely work out, and what if one of us gets the promotion over the other?”

“I think I could handle dating my boss.” Like the rogue appendage it is, my hand snakes out and touches Derek’s cheek. I always thought his cheeks would be rough due to the chiseled structure of his face, but they aren’t. They are soft and smooth, and I’m rather surprised Derek hasn’t pulled back yet.

“Aren’t you supposed to consult the eight ball for every decision?” he asks.

I shrug. “I don’t have it with me, so I guess I don’t have to this time.” I inch a little bit closer. I don’t want to make the first move, even though Hannah says I’m a seven and like to do things my way, which is true, but in this area, in this instance, I want Derek to move first. Maybe it’s my damaged self-esteem that’s afraid he’ll recoil or maybe it’s the tiny fear that we are too different to make a relationship work and things will get weird at work. Whatever it is, something keeps me from closing the distance to his lips, but I try to send my best telepathic message to let him know that I want this, that I won’t shy away. Then I remember that Derek hasn’t always been great with social cues. Great, if he doesn’t take this hint, I just look like a weirdo inches from his face, breathing my haven’t-brushed-my-teeth-in-hours breath all over him. So not attractive when you think about it that way.

Thankfully, I don’t have to think long because Derek moves. Just a fraction of an inch, but it’s enough to cause his lips to touch mine and send sparks down my body. I know that sounds cliché, but in this case, it’s true. I can feel the hairs on my arm and the back of my neck rise up like tiny soldiers heading into battles, and the only thought in my head is that for someone who hasn’t dated much, he sure can kiss.

My lips part just the tiniest fraction, but the movement seems to flip a switch in Derek. His hand finds the back of my neck and pulls me closer. I’m not sure a piece of paper could fit between us right now, and I try not to laugh as the image of my eighth-grade dance flashes into my mind. Mrs. O’Toole (perfect name for this teacher by the way) walked around with a ruler, measuring the distance between couples as they danced. Any couple without a full foot between them would be pulled apart. Some kids even claimed she had a “cool off” chair she would send them to, but I never saw it. Still, I can’t help but think Mrs. O’Toole would be hemming and hawing if she were here now. Or rolling over in her grave since she’s actually probably dead. The woman had to have been in her eighties back then and that was over a decade ago.

My hands move to Derek’s neck, and I consider shifting my position to find a way to get even closer even though I’d practically be in his lap, but at that moment, there is a loud click and Derek and I jump apart. The door opens and a woman’s gasp fills the room, ending the connection between Derek and me. “Oh my goodness, he really did leave you in here. I’m so sorry.”

Her face reddens and I can tell that even though she didn’t catch us kissing, she suspects we were. I’m only sorry we didn’t get to finish the kiss properly, but as Derek’s face out reds the woman’s, I wonder if there will be a repeat performance.

I stand, stretching my sore joints. “It’s okay. It gave us time to explore.” I can’t help giggling a little at my double entendre.

“But we didn’t finish in the allotted time,” Derek says as if he feels the need to rat out our loss to the woman.

“I think that can be our little secret,” the woman says. “My name is Marla, and I’m the manager here. Joe was called away with an emergency, but I didn’t believe him when he said he just left the two of you inside. He will definitely be getting a talking to. I hurried over as quickly as I could, and I’ll happily offer you a free visit to come back. You and your friends.”

I can tell the woman feels bad and I can’t really blame her. What kind of employee runs out and leaves people stranded? “I think I have some friends who would be happy to join me again, and I bet Derek here can even scrounge up a few.”

“But we already know how to solve all the puzzles,” he says, confused, “Why would we come back?”

“Because it’s fun. Plus,” I turn back to Marla, “I imagine you change the room every few months, right?”

She nods as she leads us back to the front. “We do, and I will make sure your passes don’t expire.”

“Wait, we need to take a picture,” I say.

Marla looks pained. “You can’t take a picture in the escape room, but we have a spot where you can take a photo to prove you’ve been here. I’ll even let you hold signs that say you won.” She leads us to the lamppost.

“Let me just grab the signs,” she says, hurrying to the counter. After rummaging underneath it for a second - it clearly has more to it on the side we can’t see - she comes back with a few handheld signs for us to choose from. I take one that says ‘We Made it out in Time’ because I find it ironic and Derek grabs one that says ‘Smarter than the Lock.’

“You guys look perfect,” Marla says as she grabs a camera. “Now smile.”

When she’s finished, I ask if she will take one with our phones and explain about the scavenger hunt. Her face pales.

“I’m happy to take the picture and offer a discount, but you won’t post that Joe left you, will you?”

“As long as you promise it will never happen again, then no.” Marla seems nice, and I would hate to be the reason the escape room goes out of business.

She nods emphatically. “I promise. I have interviews lined up this week to hire some more employees so we don’t get short staffed again. Thank you for being so understanding.” She opens all the boxes until she finds the one holding our stuff - evidently Joe wasn’t very good at labeling either. Then she places the box on the counter and pulls out our phones. I unlock mine and she snaps a photo, hands it back, returns the rest of our belongings, and then gives us passes to come again.

“So, that was different,” Derek says as we step back into the sunshine.

I take a deep breath of the fresh air. Different?Thatis the word he’s choosing? Did he not experience the same kiss I did? Because I’d say mind-blowing, life altering, amazing. “Different bad?” I ask though I’m not really sure I want to hear his answer.

“Well, I don’t consider getting locked in a room a good experience generally,” he says and my heart falls to the floor, “but in this instance I’ll make an exception.” He smiles as he grabs my hand, and just like that I’m on cloud nine again. “However, I meant what I said about this possibly making our work environment weird. I mean, do we have to declare this to HR or anything?”

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