Upbeat_drummer_guy was waving to him from a table near the back. Jeremy waved back, then dropped his hand. Had he looked too enthusiastic? Dorky?
What would Max do?
Taking a deep breath, he passed by various groups of people playing board games and laughing loudly and joined his date at the table, shaking his hand and learning his name was Levi. Jeremy hung his coat on a nearby rack. He hadn’t brought his Blundstone knockoffs, so was in his clunky boots. But considering how much snow there was in Barrie, he certainly wasn’t alone. He resisted the urge to peek under the table to see what Levi was wearing.
Levi looked like his pic: white, shaggy brown hair, beard. He wore a plaid shirt and jeans, so was maybe a little hipsterish. Jeremy had gone with his new pink sweater and usual jeans. He adjusted his glasses and tried not to fidget as Levi went to the counter for a refill on his coffee and to get Jeremy a cappuccino.
“I’ve never been here before,” Levi said when he returned, setting down their cups. “It’s cool. You come here a lot?”
“No, actually. This is my first time.” Jeremy willed himself not to blush, his words conjuring a bunch of other thoughts. “I’m spending the holidays with a friend and his family. He recommended it.”
“He lives in Barrie?”
“No, near Pinevale. They have a maple syrup farm. It’s really cool. If you like maple syrup. Which I guess most people do? But maybe not.” Oh God. He needed to stop talking.
Levi smiled. “It would be un-Canadian to not like maple syrup.”
“Yes!” Jeremy agreed too loudly. “Um, so, yeah. They have this maple syrup farm. There’s an open house tomorrow, actually. It’s called Nadeau Farms if you want to check it out.” Wait, had he just accidentally asked Levi on another date? “I mean, you’re probably not into face painting and maple candies.”
“Actually, my nieces would love it, and I need somewhere to take them tomorrow. Sounds very wholesome.”
“Uh-huh. Great!” His mind spun. Say something. Something not completely pathetic. “Sorry. I’m really nervous.”
Chuckling, Levi said, “I kinda picked up on that. Let’s play something. Any suggestions? I’m not much of a gamer, but these look cool.” He motioned to the bookcases lining the cafe’s interior wall that were stuffed with board games.
Jeremy wanted to crawl under the table. “I’m sorry. We can go somewhere else.”
“No, that’s not what I meant. I’m not really into video games.” He laughed. “That’s a lie. The problem is I get completely obsessed with them and it takes over my life. I need to just say no to video games. Monopoly, I can handle.” He squeezed Jeremy’s arm, his hand lingering for a moment. “This was a great suggestion.”
“Oh. Okay.” Jeremy didn’t know how to feel. Levi seemed nice, so that was good, right? He was supposed to want to go on dates, so here he was. “I guess we could try something a little more advanced than passing GO and collecting two hundred dollars.”
“Sure,” Levi agreed easily, pushing back his chair. They slowly scanned a nearby shelf, and Levi said, “There are a ton of games I’ve never even heard of.”
“We definitely live in the golden age of board games. This one’s supposed to be really good.” He went on tiptoes and strained to snag Dead of Winter from a high shelf.
Laughing, Levi easily grabbed it since he was a few inches taller. “This one?” He eyed the box. “Zombies? Let’s do it.”
They settled in, sipping coffee while they played. It was slow going at first, with lots of referencing the instructions, but they got the hang of it eventually. It was fun that it was a cooperative game so they could work together.
Their knees bumped occasionally under the table, and they laughed and strategized, and Jeremy was relieved he hadn’t had to give his life story and talk about his family. He just said he wasn’t going all the way back to Victoria for the holidays. He asked Levi about drumming and learned he played in a local band and was attending college in Barrie for mechanics.
They chatted and tried to save the world from zombies, and eventually had sandwiches and pints of beer. Jeremy thought he was doing okay on this date after all. But did he want to kiss Levi? While Levi pondered his next move, stroking his beard absently, Jeremy tried to imagine making out with him. It wasn’t that it would be bad, but…
It wouldn’t be Max.
An ache filled him, and he told himself this longing was ridiculous. It was his turn, and he tried to focus on the moves he could make and what would be best for their characters.
“Hey, do you know that guy?”
Jeremy turned in his chair to follow Levi’s gaze—and blinked in surprise to see Max on the far side of the cafe whipping his head down. “That’s my friend,” Jeremy said. “I guess he’s done his shopping.”
“Sure he’s not your bodyguard? He’s been watching us pretty closely.”
A thrill sang through Jeremy, and he tamped it down, forcing a laugh. “He knew I was nervous, so he’s probably just being…” What, exactly? Jeremy waved his hand, unable to think of the right word.
“Hmm. Okay. Do you need to get going, or…”
“No, I’m sure it’s fine. Let’s finish the game.” He glanced back over his shoulder, but Max was engrossed in his phone.
They played on until Levi said, “Okay. This has been fun, but it feels like I’m the third wheel here.”
Jeremy whirled his head back from peeking at Max again to face Levi guiltily. “I just wanted to make sure he was still good over there and didn’t want to leave or anything. I’m sorry.” He cringed. “I’m a terrible date. I have no idea what I’m doing.”
Levi softened with a sigh. “It’s okay. Are you sure you two are only friends? Because you can’t keep your eyes off each other.”
“Really? We only met a week ago. Although he did give me my first kiss. And blow job.” Did I just say that out loud? Oh my God. “But we’re just friends!”
“Your first…ah, okay.” Levi laughed. “I dunno, man. Because he looks jealous as hell.” He raised his hands. “Look, it’s cool. I’m not about to get in the middle of whatever this is.”
“I don’t blame you.” Jeremy shook his head. “I’m so confused.” He took off his glasses and cleaned them on his soft sweater, which only made a smear worse. Head down as he tried a napkin on the lens, he sighed. “You seem great, but I really like Max.” It was the truth and there was no point fighting it.
“Fair enough. It’s too bad, because you’re damn cute.”
Feeling his face go hot, Jeremy put his glasses back on. “Um, thank you.”
“I’m pretty sure Max shares this opinion.”
“What? No.” Jeremy shrugged and fiddled with the crust of his sandwich. “He’s so out of my league. Look at him! Literally captain of the football team and a senior. I’m a skinny frosh with no friends. I mean, I only met him because I wiped out on some ice and he took pity on me.”
Levi laughed. “Ouch. But I’m not getting pity. His vibe is more like he’s wanting to punch me and haul you off over his shoulder.”