Page 32 of Queen’s Gambit

“Oh…I’m so stupid.” I looked up at him in horror. “I didn’t bring any money with me.”

Eddie laughed, but I didn’t find it funny. How was it that I could be so intelligent and yet feel so ignorant about common things? Everyday at Wayward had felt the same. There was always something that made me realize just how sheltered my father had kept me. But knowing it and facing it were completely different.

“Ana, don’t worry about it. I wouldn’t have let you pay anyway. This is a date, so it’s my treat.” I crossed my arms and stared at him. “You aren’t going to let this go, are you?”

“No, I’m not. I just expected you to pay like I was out with Frida and my guards. That was so entitled, rude, and oh my god, I’m an annoying princess,” I said, horror filling me. “I’m a rich, spoiled brat.”

Eddie gripped my shoulders to stop the tangent that he knew was coming.

“First of all, you are not a brat. You could never be a brat. You are one of the sweetest, most down-to-earth people I’ve ever met. Second, you’ve never had to bring money with you anywhere. Can you even tell the difference between the bills of this American money? It all looks the same,” he said with a smile and a playful nudge. “Give yourself a break, Ana. No one is judging you, especially not me. I invited you out on a date. In my mind, that means I pay. But, if it makes you feel better, you can pay on our next date.”

“Okay, but will you teach me how to read their money and buy stuff?”

The corner of his mouth turned up. “Yes. I will teach you anything you want to know and anything I don’t know we’ll look up.” He kissed my forehead. “Then you can say you have a sexy teacher with great abs that makes you melt,” he whispered, making me shiver.

I laughed nervously, picturing him shirtless. He might have been teasing, but it was a very accurate description. Feeling a little better, I nodded. Eddie was wrong. He was the sweetest person who had ever walked the earth, especially for an aspiring Don of Dons. I worried about the cost of making that dream happen. Would he become someone I didn’t recognize? Would he turn into a cold, heartless man like my father?

“Thanks, Eddie. I feel better, but if I was left on the side of the road, I’d have no skills to find my way home, let alone survive on my own. I read a lot, but other than church, political parties, or family gatherings, I never left my house. I was never allowed to live in the real world. It makes me so angry.”

Eddie gave my shoulders a reassuring squeeze.

“We come from a different world. You’ve stepped through a portal and seen what the rest of the world sees. You can be angry with your family, but wouldn’t it be better to treat each day like a new adventure? One we can have together.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I need to stop being angry and learn as much as I can with my favorite person in the whole world.”

His smile lit up, and I blushed even as he let my shoulders go and shoved his hands in his pockets.

“Okay. And, if you’re up to the challenge, I have another idea for you?”

My chin rose as I rolled my shoulders. “What kind of a challenge?”

“Wayward offers survival retreats. We could sign up. They teach you how to⁠—”

“Yes, whatever they teach, the answer is yes.” I jumped excitedly and wrapped my arms around his neck, hugging him tight as he held me. “You’ve always believed that I could be more. Thank you, Eddie.”

“I love you, and that means I’ll always support you, anima mia. Never question that.”

As we stared into each other’s eyes, all I could picture was punching him in the nose on the first night we met. It amazed me that he even wanted to see me again, let alone fell in love with me. I was so lucky.

“Are you guys coming or what,” Marcus yelled. Eddie rolled his eyes.

“Steal Paul, he loves arcades. He’ll show you how to play,” Eddie said as we headed in their direction.

My adrenaline was still pumping even after the movie finished. It was like being right inside all the action. My ears were ringing, and my heart raced with the excitement. Who knew that popcorn and candy were so filling? I’d tried so many new things and couldn’t choose a favorite. Eddie chuckled at my enthusiasm, but I couldn’t help it.

“Why don’t we hit up Q before heading back to Wayward,” Lawrence asked when we walked outside.

“I don’t know, man. It’s already nine,” Eddie answered.

“It’s Friday night,” Marcus said, punching Eddie in the arm. “Let’s go for a couple hours, and we will still be back before you turn into a pumpkin.”

“Funny.” He looked down at me. “It’s up to you. Do you want to go?”

“What is Q?”

“It’s a billiards place, but they allow all ages.”

“Can we,” I asked, eager to keep this night going.