Gaming for Love

by Crystal Perkins

  “Yeah, she did. Oh and then you guys talked about her meeting Sean’s friend tonight because she knows that Uncle Scott will never believe her and so she has to move on.”

  “Wow, you really did hear it all,” Erika says, looking a little dazed.

  “She really didn’t know? How could she not know?” I am sure that I look a little crazed right now. I grab Erika’s shoulders.

  “You know that she isn’t that computer savvy. Sean and I gave her all the details about the program. We never told her your name because we didn’t think it mattered. She always just called you Scott, so we didn’t know. You have a common name. She honestly didn’t know, Scott. None of us did.

  “How could you not know that she loves you? She flew all the way to Chicago to help you through something that was hard for you, even though she couldn’t afford the extra payroll it took to cover her being gone. She refused money when you offered it to her and even insisted on paying for some of your dates. She went way out of her comfort zone with you and from what I hear, she threatened that bitch, Amber, when she tried to have her lawyer accuse you of being in on things with her. And what did you do in return? You destroyed her. I’m not just talking about the store, either. Oh, and by the way, the fact that you told her that she is worse than Amber was seriously not cool.”

  “Wait, you said that she was worse than Amber? How could you do that, Uncle Scott?” I am ashamed when she asks me that. I don’t have an answer for her. She looks to the rest of my family. “And how could all of you stand by and let him call her a bitch and a slut? I know we have family loyalty, but she was never anything but nice to all of us. More than nice.”

  “You’re right, Baby Girl,” I tell her. “I messed up but I am going to fix this.” I look around at my family and then I look at Erika. “I’m going to need your help. And Sean’s. Can you call him and ask him to come over here. Oh, and he can tell his friend that Yasmin isn’t available for a date tonight or any other night.”

  My family is made up of great people. What happened to Yasmin, because of me, because I was hurt, is horrible. I know that they are upset about it. I’m going to need their help to fix this. We need to help her and I need to show her how sorry I am and how much I love her. I just hope that it’s not too late. I go outside to sit by the pool and think things through while we wait for Sean to get here.

  Chapter 23

  Scott

  It shouldn’t have taken my niece telling me that Yas didn’t betray me for me to believe it. I should have known it myself. I think I did know it. After all, I couldn’t find those signs I was looking for. I transferred the anger that I felt for what Amber did onto Yasmin, because I could never yell at Amber, never protect my family from her. But, Yas did. In that courtroom, she told Amber to stay away from us. That she would protect me because I was hers. Even if we are apart, Yas is mine. It’s time for me to man up and take care of her. I know that under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t take the amount of help that I’m about to give her. She would protest. But, while I can’t take all of the blame for her bookstore struggling, I definitely hurt it by not letting her even buy my software. So, I have to hope that she won’t hate me even more when she finds out what I’m about to set into motion. What do people say? Ask for forgiveness instead of permission.

  I have to earn her forgiveness. What I am planning to have my family and I do will help. But, money isn’t going to do it for her. I need to woo her again. The things that I said to her were horrible. My woman is only a bitch when she has to be. When she is protecting the people that she loves. She is definitely not a slut. Yas let me tie her up because she loves me and wanted to do that for me. I wish she hadn’t yelled that out in front of my family and her friends, but it’s not like it’s going to kill me. So what if my brothers tease me about being a perv while my dad laughs? I had no right to say that she would do Owen, that she would let him… Shit, I am a bastard. But, I’ll do anything I need to in order for her to forgive me.

  I’m still sitting outside by the pool, lost in my thoughts when my mom comes out to tell me that Sean has arrived. She tells me that whatever I have planned, the family will support me. She also says that she is glad that I realized that Yas loves me, because she already knew that. I kiss her on the cheek and we walk inside. It’s time to lay out my plans and get everyone started on what I need them to do.

  “Thanks for coming, Sean,” I tell him holding out my hand. He looks to Erika, who nods and only then does he take it.

  “If this will help Yasmin, I’m happy to be here. What’s the plan?”

  “The most pressing things that we need to take care of are getting her food and making sure that she is not walking alone at night. Erika, do you know if Yas changed the locks on her house?” When she shakes her head no, I continue. “Mom, can you go grocery shopping for her? I can meet you at her house to take everything inside. She gave me a key the day of the party.”

  “Of course, I would love to fill her house with food for her. Let me go grab my purse.” She hugs me as she walks by.

  “Next is the car situation. I can’t just buy her a car yet. She wouldn’t take it. She’s closing every night, Erika?” I ask, even though I know the answer.

  “She works open to close every day and just has us one of work for a few hours during the busy times. She can’t afford to have us there anymore than that. I’ve offered to work for free but she won’t let me.”

  Fuck. It’s even worse than I thought. I take a deep breath and it comes to me. “She won’t let you work for free, but she will let Alex volunteer as much as she wants. Dad, if Alex took her homework there and promised to do it, could she stay in the store until 9:30? Then, when one of you picks her up, you could insist on driving Yas home. If she protests, Alex could ask her. She can’t say no to our girl.”

  “If it’s okay with Alex, then yes, we can do that.” He looks at Alex. “But, you don’t have to do this, honey. I know you’ve made friends and they may want you to go out sometimes.”

  I answer before she can. “If her friends ask her to do something, she should go with them instead. We can come up with some reason why one of you happens to be near the store when it closes and sees her waiting for the bus. Does that work for everyone?” They all nod and I continue.

  “On to her house. Do you know who her realtor is?” Sean nods and then gives me the name of his friend who he says is her realtor. “You know the guy? Perfect. Can you call him and tell him that I want to make an offer today?”

  “You’re buying her house? She is not going to be okay with you giving it to her.” Erika looks worried.

  “I’m not planning on giving it to her.” When I see the startled looks on everyone’s faces, I chuckle. “I’m planning on asking her to live there with me once I win her back. I love that house.” They all visibly relax and smile.

  Sean gets out his phone and after speaking to his friend for a couple of minutes, hands it to me. “Hi Tony. I would like to make an offer for twice the asking price on the house.” I pause while he lets out a string of curses. His commission on the sale is going to be really good. “I want to close immediately but you can’t tell her that I’m the one buying it. Also, I want you to tell her that the buyer can’t move in right away so I want to let her stay in the house for sixty days to watch it for me because I don’t want it sitting vacant. Can you do that?” He agrees and I hang up.

  “You’re pretty good at this planning stuff, bro. We could have been using your talents at the company all along. I’m impressed,” Ryan tells me shaking his head.

  “I am perfectly happy with my computer, Ry. I can’t work at the office. But thanks for saying that. It means a lot to me.” I tell him what I need from him. “Can you find out if the owners of the strip mall where I Heart Books is located are willing to sell?”

  “You want to buy the strip mall?”

  “Yeah, I do. You know that I have the money and that way I could lower the rent.”

  My dad steps
in then. “The company can buy the strip mall if it’s for sale. We can use a good tax write off and lowering the rent for all of the businesses in the center would be something that we can do to help them out as well. I have visited many of them when dropping off or picking up Alex and there are some great people struggling there.” He turns to Ryan. “Do your thing and find out what they can’t refuse and then make the offer.”

  Ry nods. “I’m on it.” He pulls out his phone and starts dialing. My brother is a genius when it comes to architecture and commercial real estate.

  “Thanks, Dad.” I hug him too. Damn, I’m turning into a Hallmark movie. But, it feels good to have my family helping me. I knew they would.

  “I am obviously going to give you guys the program. Sean can you install it on the website without Yas knowing?”

  “I should be able to get it past her. She doesn’t know how to code and I don’t think she has looked at the site itself lately. She just checks the orders.”

  “Good. I’ll get you it before you go. I would love to put it in the store system but I don’t think we could hide it there. Erika, is there anything else that we can do to get people in the store right away?”

  “Do you know anyone at any of the Big Five publishers? Yasmin was trying to get a big author in to do a signing, hoping that it would bring new customers in. They all turned her down.”

  I smile and look at my dad, who nods. “Actually we do know people. The publishing houses have been after my dad to write his life story for years. After what happened with Amber, they want my story, too. I think that we can leverage that to get some authors in.”

  I look at Owen and Luke. “Now, for you two. Don’t think that you are going to get out of helping. I need your help too.”

  “Anything, bro, you know that.” Luke looks excited.

  I smirk at my little brother. “I need you to get some of those chicks that you hook up with to the bookstore. I know at least some of them have to read. I don’t care what you have to do—buy them books with my credit card if that’s what it takes. We just need to get more people into the store.”

  “Blaine has blacklisted me from the fraternities and sororities since the pool party, but I think I can find some girls who are willing to let me buy them some books. And I mean me not you. I want to help Yasmin too. She was always cool to me and I know what she’s done for Alex.”

  “Do you have anything for me to do or are you afraid that Yasmin might want to help me live out my teenage fantasy?” Owen asks me before ducking behind my dad.

  “You’re going to hide behind Dad? What are you, ten? If you’re going to say something like that to me, you better be man enough to back it up.” I tell him with a glare, looking pointedly at Alex.

  His eyes go wide when he gets it and he says sheepishly, “Sorry. I couldn’t resist. But, seriously, is there something that I can do? I really want to help.”

  “Yes, there is something that I would like you to do.” I am smiling now, because I know he is going to like what I am about to tell him. “I need you to channel your old street art ways and paint a mural on the front of Yasmin’s store. She really does love art and I’m hoping that you can somehow convince her that this will be a favor to you. Then, I need you to social media it up and let all of those fans of yours know that you’re going back to your roots for this one.”

  “I can definitely do that,” Owen tells me. “I can also tell my fans that the store is special to me and get them to shop there.”

  “Not to be rude, but you have fans?” Erika asks him.

  “Yeah, I do. I have 5 million twitter followers and over a million Facebook fans,” he says. My brother is one talented guy and people know it. I know he misses doing his street art. Once he started doing the commercial work for the company, he gave it up. I’m glad to have a way for him to do what he loves and help Yas.

  “Whoa. I had no idea,” Erika tells him, impressed.

  I rein them back in. “So, is everyone good with their assigned tasks?” They all nod. “Great, then let’s get started with whatever we can right now. I know some things will have to wait until Monday but I would like to have as much in place as possible today. Thank you all for helping. It means a lot to me and it will mean a lot to Yas too.”

  My family heads off to get started and I walk Erika and Sean over to my place to get the software disk that I had made for Yas. When we get inside, Erika sees the wrapped present on my hall table. “You never opened that?”

  “No, I didn’t. It’s not a big deal. I don’t need a present from Yas. I just need her.”

  “It is a big deal. She spent a ton of time on it and was so excited to give it to you.”

  “Yeah? She always told me that she wasn’t very crafty. I’ll open it when you guys leave, I guess.”

  “She isn’t crafty but she wanted to do it for you.”

  I want to kick myself. No, I want to beat the shit out of myself. I have ruined the best thing that ever happened to me. What if despite everything that I am doing, I can’t win her back? I know I don’t deserve her and that she probably shouldn’t forgive me. But, I want her to. I need her to.

  Sean clasps my shoulder and startles me out of my thoughts. “She’ll forgive you. I mean, what you have planned for her is awesome, but even if you weren’t doing all that stuff, you love her, right?” I nod. “I know she loves you, too. Which means that she will want to forgive you. You can make this work.”

  “Thanks, Sean.” I take a deep breath. “Let me show you my workroom and I’ll give you the drive with the program on it.”

  I take them into the room, where Sean and I start talking computers. Erika just wanders around touching things, which would normally freak me out. But, I know that I can trust them. I get the program for them and then offer Sean a job, if he wants it. I’ve been toying with the idea of hiring an assistant to help with some of the easy coding and finishing touches of my programs. After talking to him, I know he can do it. And like I said, I trust him.

  “Are you serious? I would love to work for you! You’re a genius.”

  “I’ll take that as a yes. Just go by the company office on Monday and ask for Ellen in H.R. She’ll get you all the paperwork.”

  Erika hugs me as they leave. “I’ll do what I can to help you.”

  I thank her, close the door and walk over to the package on the table. I pick it up and sit on the couch. I turn it over in my hands and then slowly tear the wrapping paper off of it. I nearly drop it when I see what it is.

  It’s an album with Yas and me on the cover. The picture is one of the ones that we took at the tattoo shop. She is sitting on my lap and my arms are around her while we look at each other with our foreheads touching. We look so happy and in love. We were so happy. We are still in love. At least I am and from what Erika and Sean said, so is Yas. I really need to not screw this up again.

  I open the album and see a message written inside.

  Pretty Boy,

  Thank you for showing me your city. The time that we spent there gave me some of the best memories of my life. I will never forget the places we went or the things that we did. I am honored that you wanted to share so much with me, including yourself. I made this scrapbook so that you could see just how much the trip and YOU mean to me.

  I love you more than words can possibly express.

  Yas

  P.S. I used your Nintendo pen to write this!

  I could stop right there at the first page and be happy for the rest of my life, but I continue because I want to see what she chose to commemorate our time in Chicago. The pages are in order of where we went every day. By the time I’m done, I want to just run to the store, get down on my knees and beg Yas to take me back. But, I know that she’s not ready for that yet. I need to work on fixing some things and not just with Yas. I need to work on fixing myself. I open the scrapbook back up and start again from the beginning.

  A map of the Art Institute along with a Seurat postcard and the picture of us fr
om outside by the lion. The background paper is of letters in various fonts.

  A visitor’s guide to Navy Pier along with a napkin from the pizza place and a picture of us that we had someone take. Our arms are around each other and we’re looking at the camera. Lake Michigan is behind us. The paper is covered in Ferris wheels.

  Pictures of me and John hugging by my car, a picture of the house and the three of us in a selfie there. This paper has Mustangs on it.

  Pictures of my room—the computer shelves, the bookcase with my controllers and figurines, my desk and a selfie of us in my bed, cuddling. The paper for this one is really cool with Mario characters and Japanese writing all over it.

  Pictures of me and Mrs. J., the three of us and the marks in the kitchen showing my growth. This paper is similar to the last one, just with different colors.

  A napkin and matchbook from the cruise ship along with pictures of us arriving and dancing. Ships cover the paper on this one.

  A flyer for Windy City Tats along with photos of us with Zane and Quinn. The paper is covered in drawings that I recognize as Zane’s.

  A napkin and to go menu from the restaurant we ate at with my family and friends along with a group picture of all of us from the table. The background is of various types of food.

  Pictures of my apartment—Owen’s sculptures, my staircase taken from a cool angle and me playing video games on the bed after we made love. The background is another one of those cool Japanese ones.

  The last page has a background of hearts and features the picture of us in the hotel lobby as well as various papers and cards from the W.

  I go through the album several more times before my mom calls to tell me that she is done shopping. I tell her that I’ll meet her at Yas’s house, grab my keys and head out the door. I drive to the house and arrive just before my mom. I unlock the door and prop it open with one of the planters from the porch so that it will be easier to carry in the groceries.

  We carry the first batch to the door and then both stop just inside. Yas really did sell her furniture. There is nothing left. Even the walls are mostly bare. Except for the wall tiles that I bought her at the museum in Chicago. She kept those.