I was out at a dive bar with some new friends. I hadn't dated in years, not since breaking up with my boyfriend over 2 years ago. It seemed like too much work. But I was getting restless and my friends talked me into going out with them to get me out of my apartment.
This was the second time we'd come to this bar. The first time, 2 weeks ago, I'd chatted with the bartender while my friends were dancing and flirting with other patrons. The bartender, Joe, was about 10 years older than me and owned the bar. He'd told me how he'd gotten tired of his tech job 5 years ago and decided to cash in his stock options and buy this bar in town where he'd been coming every weekend.
Joe had remodeled the place himself and his strong hands looked more like a construction worker's than an engineer's. In fact, nothing about him looked like he'd ever been a software programmer, but the retro arcade games he'd added to the place after he remodeled it gave away his geeky nature. He was smart and his irreverent sense of humor made me laugh. By the end of the night, we'd exchanged phone numbers and we'd been texting off and on over the last 2 weeks.
I knew he was married with kids, but we weren't talking about dating. His texts had turned flirtatious, but in a friendly way. I had confided that I hadn't dated in several years and was too busy with grad school to date anyway. When I came into the bar again tonight, there was something different in the way he looked at me. It was a slow night and when he wasn't pouring drinks, he lingered by my spot at the bar, asking me about school. I was getting a masters in computer science and he shared stories about his time in grad school.
When my friends were ready to leave, I was in the middle of a discussion with Joe about the ethics of artificial intelligence. I told my friends I'd grab an Uber home and catch up with them the next day. Joe poured me another drink, on the house.
As the bar emptied out, I noticed Galaga was available. While Joe was pouring a drink for someone at the other end of the bar, I pulled out some quarters and went to play. I hadn't played Galaga in at least 15 years and kept getting hit. I was on my third game when Joe appeared at my side. He laughed at my sad attempts and when I lost my third game, he pushed me aside to show me how it was done. He made it 4 levels in before he lost his first life. He stepped aside to let me play his second life, pulling me in front of the console. Then he stood behind me and put his hand over mind on the controller to coach me along.
I was distracted by the feel of his body pressed up against mine. I hadn't been close to a man in so long. Despite his attempts to help me, I quickly lost a life. And then another. I tried to step back and let him resume, but he insisted I keep trying. I felt his breath on my neck as he explained what I was doing wrong. After I lost the last life, I stepped away, flustered, and said I should probably go. I headed toward the bathroom before calling Uber.