“How about we hang out and get you to level five while we get to know each other?” he asked, motioning to the park behind him. “Unless you’d rather not play Monster GO at all. We could just walk around the park.”
“No, let’s play. It sounds fun,” I insisted. “Plus, if you teach me how to play then I can finally get Tommy off of my back about it.”
Jacob chuckled. “I’m an only child, so I wouldn’t know what it’s like to have to deal with a younger sibling. But Tommy actually seems like a pretty cool kid. I’ve met some young ones that drive me nuts and he definitely wasn’t one of them.”
“You’re just being nice because you two happen to be on the same team,” I replied with a laugh.
“I’m not saying one way or the other. It’s possible that’s why I got along with him, though,” he said, with a playful wink. “Now come on, let’s get you leveled up.”
We both pulled out our phones and opened up the app. Jacob quickly explained more of the game play, pointing to his phone and showing me how to get the most out of the game. It made so much more sense when he explained it and I could see more of the appeal of the game.
Together we walked slowly around the fountain, waiting for a monster to show up so that we could catch it. Athena followed dutifully behind us, her blond shaggy tail wagging slowly as we went.
“What got you into playing?” I asked as we made our second circle around. “You seem to know a lot about it.”
“Not really,” he said with a shrug.
“You aren't secretly one of the developers or something?” I teased.
Jacob tripped on the sidewalk and managed to catch himself just in time.
“Are you okay?” I asked, putting my hand on his arm to make sure he was steady. I wasn't ready for the thrill that went through my body at touching him.
“I'm fine,” he assured me. “Just tripped over my own feet. You know as well as I do how easy it is.”
He gave me a wide smile. His cheeks were bright with color that I could only assume came from nearly falling. I looked back and couldn't see what he had tripped on, but I knew that it could have been anything.
“So, what are you doing in town?” he asked, changing the subject.
“Um...” I smiled nervously. I wanted to impress him, but my reason for being here wasn't exactly glamorous. I decided to just go for the truth. “I just graduated and I'm living with my parents while I look for a job.”
“Here?” Jacob asked, looking around as if there were available jobs around the park.
“Anywhere, really.” I shrugged, trying my best to stay nonchalant and positive. “I need the free rent while I look.”
“I can understand that.” Jacob nodded. “What’s your degree in?”
“I studied software engineering, system analysis, stuff like that,” I replied slowly. This was the part where I either lost or impressed guys. “But my actual degree is in computer programming.”
“Seriously?” he asked, his eyes widening with surprise.
“Yeah, seriously.” I laughed. “Why does everyone always sound so shocked when I say that?”
“I just don’t meet a lot of pretty girls who like computers, I guess,” he replied.
My face felt hot.
“What about you?” I asked. I wanted to change the subject to take the focus off of me, and my reddened face. “Tell me your story.”
“I actually work in software development. Or, I guess, I did. Until I moved out here to get away from it all,” he said.
“You're in software development?” I asked. “That's basically my dream job.”
“It's a pretty good job,” he said. “But it's definitely not what I expected. There's a lot of things that no one can tell you about until you're actually neck deep in the business.”
“I guess that’s true,” I said. “Even so, though, I would kill for that job. Actually, I would kill for any job right now, but even more so for a decent position in something that I went to school for.”
Jacob smiled apologetically as he looked me over. “Not able to find any work, I take it?”
“No, nothing I want to do. I’ve probably sent a hundred resumes and have had no response at all.” I sighed as we rounded a corner. “If I don’t get a reply soon, I’m going to have to scoop ice cream for the summer to make some money.”
“Things will work out. I’m sure of it.” He placed his hand onto my shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. My dad had told me the same thing a thousand times, but for some reason, when Jacob said it, it seemed to truly resonate with me. It made me feel like things really would work out.
“I hope you’re right,” I said. “Because honestly, I don’t want to scoop ice cream.”
“I actually love ice cream.” He grinned at me as he put his hand on his chest like he was admitting to something important.
“But do you want to scoop it for a living?” I asked.
“No, but I'd buy it from you,” he replied with a grin. “You'd be the best tipped ice-cream scooper there.”
Another blush heated my face and I looked down, pretending to focus on my phone.
“What kind of software did you develop?” I asked, sincerely wanting to know more about him.
He hesitated, as if forming his answer carefully. He also looked around at the other people around, as if they would overhear us. Of course, they were all buried in their phones, so he turned to me and answered.
“All kinds. I started out working for a company that custom designed human resources software for corporations. I couldn’t stand working in that world, though. It felt like I was the face of the ‘the man’ and I cringed every time I stepped foot into that office.” He crinkled his nose. “The work felt so empty and meaningless. I’d say it was simply uninspiring, but that word doesn’t give it justice.”
“What did you do?” I asked, genuinely interested.
“I started working for myself, building websites and apps. Just doing whatever it took to make ends meet. I even came up with a few of my own apps,” he explained. “I can definitely say that things have worked out for the better. Leaving the corporate world and working for myself was one of the best decisions I ever made.”
“That sounds amazing,” I said with a small sigh. I was rather impressed. “I wish I knew how to start my own business. That way I wouldn’t even have to apply for a job. I could also take the day off whenever I wanted.”
“That’s true,” he said. “Except as a business owner, you never really get a day off. The work always seems to draw you back in, no matter how hard you fight it.”
“I don't know, it can't be that bad,” I said smiling at him. “It means you get to show the unemployed how to play games.”
He grinned at me as we started another lap around the fountain. I couldn't help but smile back. Not only was he handsome and charming, but it turned out that he was also driven. I glanced around, looking for cameras hidden in the trees.
Surely, this must be some kind of reality show that I’m on because this guy can’t be real, I thought. Cute, sexy, charming, and apparently a successful business owner. Why couldn't I have met a guy like that in college?