36
I can’t believe she talked me into this.
She mentioned chocolate, and that it would be covering her, and that’s really all I heard.Chocolate and Jo are my two favorite things, so I never stood a chance.I would’ve agreed to sell a kidney on the black market if it meant a naked Jo covered in chocolate.
But fuck I’m nervous.I didn’t expect to have to follow through with our agreement so soon, but she found an improv class in LA—because of course there’s a million of them—that was open right away, and she signed us up.She didn’t even bother to tell me where we were going until we got here.
I’ve never been so afraid to be in a public setting.There’s a reason I’m not the front man for the band.Trent is charismatic and charming.He’s take-charge and has always been great in interviews or interacting with fans.Me?I’m the awkward brother who stumbles over his words, so instead of speaking, I usually mumble a word or two and then play up the silent, broody persona someone tagged me with when we were in our early days.It gave me a great excuse to hide my awkwardness, so I didn’t fight it.
There’s no way in hell I’m going to be able to hide my awkwardness tonight.We’re in some small local theater that Jolie called a black box.I have no idea what that means, but I’m assuming it has something to do with the fact the room is square and black.Maybe?Fuck, I’m so out of my element here.She squeezes my hand and pulls my attention from the room and the handful of people entering to her beautiful gaze.
There’s something about getting to be this close to her, feeling her hand in mine, that always makes my heart trip a little bit.We’ve been together for over two months already, and it both feels new and like we’ve always been together.It’s weird and wonderful at the same time.
“You doing okay?”she asks quietly so people won’t overhear us.
“Define okay?”I whisper back.
She smiles and squeezes my hand again.“Remember, scary things can be really rewarding.”
“I’ll keep that in mind the next time you scream over a spider.”
She squeezes my hand painfully this time.
“Hey, I kinda need that hand for my job.”She couldn’t really hurt me, not physically anyway.I’ve got at least fifty pounds of muscle on her and I tower over her.
“Spiders are completely different.They’re creepy and crawly and…” She does a whole body shiver like she’s got the heebie-jeebies just thinking about them.
I didn’t think I could love her more than I already did, but moments like this only make me love her more.She’s ridiculous and goofy and definitely pushing me out of my comfort zone with tonight’s activity, but I wouldn’t change a thing about her.
Before I have a chance to continue our conversation, a petite brunette with short hair that hits just below her chin claps her hands together to get everyone’s attention.“Welcome, everybody!We’re so excited you were able to join us for our beginner’s class.We have a few regulars to help out with some of the games, but for the most part everyone here is new to improv, is that correct?”There’s a low murmur of yesses and several head nods.Jo answers for both of us because my nerves have apparently turned me mute.
“Great, well, let’s not dillydally then.I’m Jackie, and this is Tom,” she says, pointing to the guy standing next to her with a bald head, glasses, and a thick brown beard.He’s wearing a tight dark blue shirt over his dad bod that reads, “My kid is proof nerds get laid.”If I wasn’t so nervous, I’d probably laugh.
“We’re going to be leading the games tonight.We have two volunteers who will be assisting as needed—Amy and Dylan.”She points to a couple standing off to the right.Amy, a blonde, looks like she’s ready to teach a high-end aerobics class or be an athleisure model.Dylan’s got shaggy black hair that hangs down to his shoulders and a bright smile on his face like he’s been looking forward to this all day.
That makes one of us.
“Our first game is an easy one.It’s called Questions Only.We’ll decide on a scenario and then pick five players to act it out, but the key is they can only interact by asking each other questions.Make sense?”
Another round of affirming murmurs.
“Excellent.Let’s get started.First, what kind of scenario should we run?”
There’s a number of suggestions that get thrown out before the group decides to pretend we’re a band of pirates in a Walmart.Jackie asks for volunteers and immediately five hands go up.Mine remains planted firmly at my side.
“You know you’re going to have to give something a try tonight, right?”Jo whispers.
“I’m just going to watch them first,” I whisper back.She gives me a knowing look.
The scenario starts, and immediately one girl with flaming red hair starts speaking.“Ahoy, matey!”
Lord fucking help me.
Jo makes a noise next to me, and I glance down to see the hand not held firmly in mine covering her mouth and her eyes watering.I furrow my brows in confusion until she glances up at me and I realize she’s fighting back a laugh.When the girl onstage covers one eye and yells “ARRGG, me mateys, where might I find some pantaloons?”we both have to muffle our laughter.Fortunately, we aren’t the only ones.And soon enough the redhead has broken the ice for all of us.There’s a noticeable change in the atmosphere as we all start to feel more comfortable.
By the time I’m dragged into the next game, I’m feeling a lot less terrified.But that doesn’t mean I don’t drag Jo with me so she can be as uncomfortable as I am.The game is Party Quirks, and ever prepared, Jackie pulls out a hat with pieces of paper in it that include descriptions of a strange quirk to act out.My gaze locks on Jo, her eyes bright as she fights back a laugh, while I place my hand in the hat and grab a piece of paper.Feeling the thin slip between my fingers, I seal my fate.
An evil genius scheming to turn everyone into cats.