"Hey"
That damn single word text. The marker, the catalyst of change. Those damn bouncing dots while she typed the next message.
"You got plans tonight?"
The final nail in my coffin, I just didn't know it. I didn't know what the night had in store. If I had any artistic sense, maybe I'd turn that night into a play, The Ruining of Adam: A Tragedy in Three Parts. If I allow myself to be honest, I would do it all again, damn the consequences. Okay, consequences is a big word, it's just that things will never be the same and part of me is gonna miss it.
My reply that opened the door?
"Nah, I'm free, just chilling and gaming."
Fuck. What I should have said was; "Not tonight, I'm grinding elo." That would have had a very different result. One that would probably have kept my sanity intact. Kept me in that cozy friend zone.
Contrary to what some people say, some guys just like being friends with women. Don't let your dick get in the way, and everything is chill. Unfortunately, my dick happened to get in the way.
A minute later her reply came through, "Well, put some pants on, I'm coming over. Fuck your rank."
I let out a long sigh. It's Friday night, I've got a ladder to climb, but there's no convincing her otherwise so I go find some pants. How does she always know? Some sixth sense or something? Definitely not the fact that I refuse to wear pants in my own house, I bust my ass for this place, my ass is gonna be comfy damnit.
Ten minutes later, I'm on my couch playing a casual match when the door opens.
"Sup fuck stick?" She greets before the for even shuts.
"One day I'm gonna lock that door and make you beg to come inside. That, or charge for entry." I retort as she plops on the couch in her usual spot.
This is probably a good point to properly introduce you to "her". Sandra, aka San. She never liked being called Sandra, and Sandy was even worse. She had a snark to her that made most people just accept it. A fiery attitude only matched by her hair. It was the boldest red I'd ever seen and, if she let it be, an absolute wild mess, thick and unruly. But, she likes it long, regardless of the work required to tame it. She's a tall 5'10", curvy and proud as fuck of all of it. Her green eyes pierce souls and incinerate egos. A bad goth bitch if I've ever seen one. Needless to say, I'm a man like any other and took quite instant note of her looks when we first met. I was also, however, a victim of an incinerated ego when I tried to play my cards. She was fresh out of a toxic relationship and in full independent boss mode. The rest is history.
She's here all the time now. We met a few years back when we both worked the same shitty retail job. We'd both since moved on, but obviously remained friends. Tonight, though, she seemed in rare form. I finally had a lull in the match to be able to look her way and catch her sticking her tongue out at me in response to my comment.
I was at a loss for a response of my own, though, as I took in her presence. She wore a black top with a pseudo under-bust corset, ripped up jean short-shorts, big black combat boots and fucking fishnet stockings. She knew she was teasing me. We're quite candid with each other, so she was well aware of my favoritism towards the goth look and fishnets. Her eyebrow quirked up as I realized my eyes had lingered a bit too long.
"Hell of an outfit to wear just to hang out." I say as I turn back to my game. "If I knew we were dressing up, I would have put on my gray sweats instead."
The joke draws a laugh from her, mostly because we both know gray sweatpants don't help me much. Like I said, we're pretty candid with each other.
"Who says this was for you?"
"Didn't think it was. I figured it was practice for when you finally decide you like women."
"Nah, more like practice for when girls decide to like you. Gotta show them who really owns you"
I laughed, "They do say the dad bod is in, so I'm thinking any day now, and I'll be getting swarmed."
"I'll pay to watch that show, be sure to save me a ticket."
"Aye aye, Captain" I mock salute as the match ends in my loss. "So did you just come to talk shit and show off?"
"Nah, I brought presents." She says as she procured an interesting bag. It was like a designer zip lock bag, all abstract design and bright colors. "It's Friday and I happened to pick up some gummies, thought we'd kill some brain cells and laugh our asses off tonight."