A story was inspired by a gif set and video found on Tumblr that featured a woman being snubbed by her boyfriend on the kiss cam at a Knicks' game. She ends up kissing the guy next to her instead in retaliation. I do not know any of the people in the video, nor am I implying that this was the outcome. The occasion caught on film was merely my muse.
*****
William took me a Knicks game for our third date. Basketball does nothing for me, but he seemed like a sweet guy and as I was eager to get to know him better, I decided to indulge him. Once we arrived, I began to wonder why he even suggested it. He spent most of the game looking at his phone rather than watching the action, or even talking to me. Sports arenas in general are highly unromantic, what with the hyperactive macho fans, obnoxious children, overpriced microwave heated food, watery beer, and seats crammed so closely together you're practically sitting on each other laps. As I sat there being ignored by my date and annoyed by my environment, my only source of entertainment was the guy sitting to my left, who was heavily invested the game and repeatedly made me laugh with snarky comments shouted at referees, coaches, and players or even other fans.
My neighbor was the exact opposite of clean cut, preppy William, keeping it casual in a Knicks' jersey and jeans with a scruffy beard and a buzz cut I could see hidden under his backward cap. He had a long, but thickly muscular frame that caught my eye whenever he jumped up for an exciting play. His brown eyes were full of mischief whenever he smiled at me during our brief, friendly glances. I was more than happy to let him distract me during what would have otherwise been a fairly boring evening out.
However, by the fourth quarter with the Knicks down by fifteen points, I was nearly bored to tears and in desperate need of a more intense distraction. I found myself mindless watching the kiss cam on the jumbotron screen and feeling envious of the sweetly amorous couples putting on a show of mutual affection. Suddenly, I saw my own face and the top of Williams' head as he was once again playing on his phone.
"Oh my God, babe, look! Kiss cam, we're on the kiss cam!"
People around us were pointing and cheering us on, happy to even be sitting near someone on the screen. William, however, couldn't even be bothered to respond. He gave me a brief glance, but went right back to his phone. Several thoughts ran through my head, most of them involved doing bodily harm to William for being such a dick. Nearly furious, I looked back at the screen and saw that the camera was still pointed at us. My neighbor, who had been so deliciously distracting all evening, flashed in my peripheral vision and I turned toward him. He smiled wide, his eyes full of understanding, and he held his hands out in an inviting gesture.
So, I thought, fuck it. I shrugged and dove in, leaning across our shared armrest to press my lips against his. His hand came up to stroke the skin behind my ear and along my neck sending shivers through my body. In the midst of cheers dripping both shock and encouragement, I opened my mouth and met his tongue with my own. Faintly over the din of the crowd, I heard him groan as he responded by delving deeper into the depths of my mouth. I started smiling against his lips when I felt William shifting angrily in his seat to see what was happening.
When I broke the kiss, my sexy stranger gave me a cheeky grin and a wink, then threw a thumbs up at William. My date, complacent and oblivious three seconds earlier was now livid and practically shouting.
"Seriously? What the fuck was that?"
I shrugged once more. "You were ignoring me and he was willing...and cute." I heard my partner in crime roar out a laugh and I had to stifle a giggle myself, which only made William lean forward to glare at him.
If William had any balls or sense of pride, he might have punched the random guy who was brave enough to kiss his date. Instead, he stood up, straightened his button-down shirt and unceremoniously said, "This is bullshit. I'm out of here."
I stood up with him, "Ok, well..." I wasn't sure if I should go with him or apologize or whatnot. Truthfully I wasn't inclined to do either since I wasn't sorry at all and had no desire to spend more time with him that day. Luckily, William decided for both of us.
"I think we're done. Don't call me again." Instead of moving passed just me and my kiss cam buddy to the aisle, he made his way through the entire row of people to take the other set of stairs out.
I stood there, dumbfounded only for a moment, more to do with the abrupt nature of his exit than any sort of emotional upset. It wasn't like I couldn't get home without him and we hadn't been a serious item, either. So, after a mere second of regret, I issued the universe my third shrug of the night and resumed my seat.
I instantly felt a hand on my arm. "Hey, I'm really sorry if that fucked things up with your boyfriend."
I met his brown eyes that reflected genuine concern and I smiled to reassure him. His kiss had incited something incredibly lustful and his sudden sweetness toward me was only adding fuel to the fire. I told him truthfully, "He wasn't my boyfriend, this was just our third date. We hadn't even slept together."
His concerned erased, he gave me a satisfied smile and his outstretched hand. "Jacob."
