Playing for Keeps

Paint,Sip and Dip

Jack POV:

"Pikachu is only cute, but he isn't the best one out there you do realize that?" I ask Lily as I go through the characters this game has. Tonight, we are playing a Pokemon Roblox game we randomly found. It has been six weeks since we met online and have been talking almost everyday. She has this power of making me feel at peace, and I appreciate that. 

"Dude, you can't just say that about our lord and savior Pikachu. Plus it's a Roblox game for kids 12 and under, there's not a plethora of options here" she lets out one of her contagious laughs.

"Well you could have chosen squirtle, we all know he is a little rascal" I reply. 

"you know, I think I left my bad boys era behind, I can't emotionally handle another one" 

" Ok, now I need to hear about your bad boy era, give it to me" I curiously say. She doesn't give off the vibe to be into bad boys but I might be wrong. Even though we've been speaking almost daily,while playing or while we do other random things around our homes, we mostly talk about the game we are playing or our day, more superficial things. 

"That is a story for another day. You know I painted squirtle a few years ago, had to get rid of it when I moved to SD but I still remember it. I think it was the first painting I did that didn't completely suck" she laughs. I wonder why she won't talk about the bad boy era, but I am not going to push it, I rather let her tell me when she is ready and fully trust me. I know I haven't told her anything about Sam, so I understand the hesitation. 

"So you paint is what I am getting out of this conversation."

"I do, not that I am any good but it relaxes me. I get to splatter, brush and mark any way I want, without any rules or expectations for it. You should try it sometime"

"Well, why don't you send me a list of things I need to buy and we can do it together, how about Thursday? I will work all weekend and won't be in town but before I go?"  Season started again three weeks ago, so having to go out of town every so often and trying to explain it to her has been tricky. But I have found that Lily isn't interested in specifics or cares much for details.  We still talk while I am out and that makes the time out of town more barrable.

"Huh, that is a brilliant idea Jackie boy. We can do a virtual paint and sip" she laughs. 

We continue to play that horrible but entertaining Roblox game. After we log out, she sends me a list of items I can get at Walmart and at the bottom of the list is beer. 

--We can't do paint and sip without something to sip amiright?-- 

--That you are, talk to you on Thursday, 8pm don't be late--

--Wouldn't dare, ttyl--

It is Thursday 7:58pm when I ring her via the Playstation app. Even though we've been speaking for a while and I consider her my friend, I can't bring myself to ask her for her phone number, why I don't know. Everytime I decide it is the day, I coward and end up not doing it. 

"A punctual man, I like it" she says as she answers the phone. 

"Yes, I wouldn't want to be late to my first paint and sip. What will we be painting?" I ask her as I set my paints out and place the brushes to the side. I open myself a beer, and set up the canvas.

"Whatever we like, whatever your heart desires. I was thinking about what I would like to paint on the way home and I am going to try to paint that tree I love with the hummingbirds" she says, and I can hear the smile in her voice. She loves that tree, she talks about it at least once a week especially when she has had a hard time at work.