A Little Lost

Chapter fifteen: New Affair, or was it?

LOUIE

The steady pop of bullets hitting the target was a comforting sound. My shots were landing right where I aimed, and it felt good to focus on something straightforward for a change.

As I shot, my mind briefly wandered to that night with Derrick and the girl. It had been rough, so I'd decided to cut ties. I blocked Derrick's number and quit my job to give myself some space. I'd been holed up in a hotel for a few weeks, just trying to clear my head.

The night had left me feeling pretty low, but now, standing here at the range, I felt a bit more settled. It was nice to focus on something simple and get back to feeling like myself.

Just as I was finishing up, a voice called out from behind me.

"Hey Louie!"

I turned around to see Ian approaching. He looked sharp in his all-black outfit, the dark fabric contrasting with his sun-kissed skin. His muscles were clearly defined, almost as if he'd stepped out of a fitness magazine. The sunglasses he wore added an extra layer of cool to his look, making him seem even more striking.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, surprised.

"It's my usual spot," he said with a casual nod. "In fact, I should be asking you that. I didn't expect you to be into this kind of thing. Your shooting was impressive,"

"Thanks. It's nothing special. My dad used to bring me to places like this when I was a kid," I replied, though mentioning my father brought up a memory I'd rather not dwell on.

"I see" Ian said, nodding understandingly.

"Can we go somewhere else?" I suggested, desperately trying to shift the conversation to something lighter.

Ian's face lit up. "How about we head to my place? Sandra's out of town for the week. Let's play some video game"

I recalled Sandra mentioning her plans during one of our meetings.

"Sure, that works for me," I said.

We left the shooting range and headed towards Ian's place

When we arrived, it felt familiar, though noticeably quieter without Sandra's usual loud energy. The cozy atmosphere of the living room was the same as always, with a big couch and a TV waiting for us to settle in.

Ian reappeared from the kitchen in a simple white sando that clung snugly to his defined muscles. I took a seat on the couch, trying to push aside the awkward memory of the last time I'd been in Ian's room where I'd mistakenly walked in on him naked. We'd laughed it off, but the embarrassment still lingered in the back of my mind.

Ian tossed me a controller and sat down next to me. The game console soon came to life, and we dove into a video game. Despite my best efforts to stay focused on the screen, I found myself distracted by Ian. His sando accentuated his toned arms and broad shoulders, and every movement he made seemed to highlight his athletic build.

It didn't escape Ian's notice. He threw me a subtle, knowing smile, clearly aware of the effect he was having. "You're awfully quiet over there," Ian said with a teasing edge. "Are you sure you're concentrating on the game?"

I tried to sound nonchalant. "Just trying to keep up with you. You're pretty good at this."

Ian's smile widened. "Well, I guess all those hours playing aren't wasted."

We continued playing, and Ian's playful banter made it easy to forget the tension from earlier. His relaxed attitude and our easy camaraderie helped me shift focus from the awkward past to enjoying the present. We laughed and teased each other, and the simple pleasure of gaming together was a welcome distraction.