Carlos’ voice crawled out of the phone, heavy with sleep.
"Carlos, its Steve. Sorry I'm calling so early, but I needed to ask you something."
"No problem man. What's up?"
"Are you and Brandon doing anything today?"
"Not that I'm aware of," he said. "Why?"
"Can you meet me at Gameworks this afternoon, about four?"
"Ummmm....yeah I think so. I'll check with Brandon when he wakes up. I'm broke right now though, so I can't be spending any money."
"Oh, hey man, don't worry about it. It's all on me tonight. Everything."
"Alright, cool. What's the occasion?"
"Nothing special, I just felt like going out."
"Cool. I'll see you later then."
"I'll already be there by the time you guys show up so just ask the guy at the door for me, he'll send you up to my table."
"Your table? Okay, we'll be there."
I hung up and finished getting ready. I had a lot to take care of before four.
I arrived at Gameworks at about three o'clock. It's located in a rather crappy mall called Arizona Mills right near the border of Tempe and Phoenix. There were definitely nicer places I could have chosen but Mills was sort of our designated meet-up place on the times I didn't pick them up when we got together. Neither Carlos nor Brandon had a car.
We had all gone to school together, each of us for graphic design, and graduated about the same time. We got together to hang around every week or so. They were probably the closest friends I had in Arizona and I definitely wasn't going to leave them out of my good fortune. When I have the means, I'm very good to my friends.
There wasn't much of a line this early in the afternoon so, after handing my keys to the valet guy and getting my ticket, I only had to wait behind a few people before I got to the front desk. I could have jumped ahead but why be rude. I was in no rush.
"Welcome to Gameworks, what can I get for you." "I'd like three game cards with one hundred dollars a piece on them. Also I'm having some items delivered to me here in," I looked at my watch, "About twenty minutes, could you see that they are brought to my table in the restaurant upstairs?"
He gave me a brisk nod as I slid him my debit card. "Absolutely, sir. I'll bring them up as soon as they arrive."
"Thanks. Also, some friends of mine are going to be asking for me, my name is Stephen. Could you send them upstairs when they arrive?"
He gave me an odd look but agreed. “Sure thing, I’ll send ‘em up.”
“I appreciate it, thanks.”
He processed the transaction, handed me my game cards and my debit card, all of which I placed in my wallet and put back in my pocket. I looked around, scanning the game floor, assessing the quality of the women there. Not just any would do for tonight, so it was important. I turned to my right and began to walk upstairs to the restaurant area.
Gameworks, for those of you who may not be familiar with it, is an arcade/restaurant/bar. The main arcade with video games galore, is all located downstairs. The restaurant and bar are located upstairs and the food isn't too bad considering its glorified mall food. Still it's a full bar. The first few times you're there its fun, after that it sort of gets a little boring. They don't bring in enough new games to keep it interesting. It's reportedly part owned by Steven Spielberg, but I don't know for sure, nor have I ever cared to find out.
I continued my way upstairs and around the corner until I came to the hostess booth. That's where I found Katie. Katie was 18 and looked every inch the blossoming, red-headed knock-out. The shimmering flames of her curling hair burned a lush swath of crimson the color of dragons' breath nearly to her waist. Living emeralds blazed out at me from creamy pale skin dotted lightly with cinnamon freckles. She smelled heavily of lavender and soft places. The curve of her nose, the line of her jaw, the epicurean fullness of her lips, everything about her was porcelain perfection. How she managed such fair skin in Phoenix I never understood.
Her body was covered in the standard Gameworks uniform; Black pants, dark blue short-sleeved polo shirt with a Gameworks logo over the left breast, and black shoes. Despite the unflattering uniform you could easily see the generous female curves of her body. I don't remember her cup size, but it was definitely a good hand full. She would do nicely.
She eyed me up and down, no doubt taking in my new clothes and the high shine of my shoes. I'd been doing some shopping. I could have gone for something flashy, something that screamed money, but I went instead for a more subdued look, preferring a high-quality pair of black slacks and a light blue silk shirt that seemed to float above my skin without actually touching it, Italian leather shoes and a simple but elegant watch with an alligator skin band.
I was still sort of new to dressing really nice, but the guy at Saks said that it spoke of understated elegance. Like I didn't need to show off that I could afford the really pricey stuff. It seemed to be working so far. Katie certainly noticed.
{This guy is kind of cute. Ooo look at his eyes. I wonder what his hands feel like...}
I smiled inwardly. “You'll find out,” I said to myself.
"Hello," she said with practiced perkiness, "Just one today?"
"For now, but I'm expecting two other people." I looked her up and down slowly, letting her see me check her out and then met her eyes, studying her, until her cheeks burned scarlet and she looked away with a timid smile. Is there anything sexier then innocence? Well okay, it's a kind of tie between innocence and experience in a woman I guess.
"Ah. Would you um...prefer a booth or a table Mr…?" She gave me that shy smile again waiting to hear my name.
"Stephen. You can call me Stephen. Or Steve, that works too. And I'd like to sit in the closed off section over there that you keep reserved for parties. I'd like some privacy while I'm here." I motioned behind her, across the restaurant area to the other side where they had a partially walled in section with booths and a small bar.
Katie looked quickly behind her at the roped off section and then at me with disappointment. "I'm sorry, but that's for parties only, I can't seat you over there, I'd get in trouble. We have some areas back by the bar that are kind of private, will that be okay?"
"I'll tell you what Katie, I'll go have a seat over there and you can bring your manager out and we'll talk about it then."
"But...but..." She had a sort of panicked look on her face. She wanted to let me, but she knew she wasn't allowed.
