The Ultimate Return of Carlos

2: Banter and Bites

"You don't have to be scared, pretty boy. I was just messing around with you," she said, touching her chest in a gesture of amusement.

She continued, expressing a bit of disappointment in how quickly he had given up on the pursuit. "But you gave up too soon. Now I'm unsure if truly you meant what you said about my eyes, but yes, they are natural. Thank you."

Uncertain of how to respond, Carlos stammered, "You know, it's... these days, with... everything going on, it's so easy to... to be accused of... harassment."

She regarded him for a moment, her laughter subsiding, and then responded with a smirk, "I get it. But sometimes, you need to trust your instincts. Not everyone is out to get you."

Carlos, now somewhat relieved by her unexpected change in tone, nodded in agreement. "You're right. I guess I let the fear of misunderstanding get to me."

She extended a hand, finally reciprocating the gesture. "No hard feelings. I would've disclosed my name now to you, but I'll need more convincing from you, seeing how quick you were ready to give up. Moreover, I don't tell strangers my name."

Carlos hesitated for a few seconds, maintaining eye contact with her before shaking her hand. He tried to gauge if she was being genuine or if this was all a game to her.

"Stranger, huh? I bet you know this stranger is the real deal, and the reason why you're being hesitant to tell this stranger your name is that you know once you do that, there's no going back," he continued with a sexy wink and a devilish smile dancing on his lips. "You don't have to be scared, love. I won't break your heart."

Impressed by his confidence, the lady responded, "You wish," then took a clear scan of him from his head down to his toes. She continued, "I'm liking your vibe, and you do look like the dangerous type. Maybe there's truth to what you're saying. Perhaps the reason I'm hesitant to give you my name is that I'm scared I might actually fall for you. You'll never know."

Carlos, still maintaining the smile on his face and sensing she's just playing hard to get, continued with a deeper and more seductive voice, "You know what? Let's play a game. If I make you smile or laugh, I get to take you home with me tonight."

The lady, intrigued by where the conversation was leading, accepted the challenge. "Go on."

Carlos took a deep breath, then rose from his seat and locked eyes with the lady, initiating a playful staring contest. After a few seconds, he burst into long, hearty laughter. Amused by his act, the lady couldn't help but let a small smile escape.

Spotting the crack in her composed facade, he pointed a finger in her direction as an indicator to show her he had noticed. "Hah hah, that's it, you smiled."

Caught in the act, the lady responded, "That's cheating. You didn't say anything; you just all of a sudden started to laugh. With the way and how long you were laughing, I had no choice but to smile."

Carlos, triumphant in his playful challenge, grinned at her. "Well, a deal is a deal. You smiled."

The lady, acknowledging her defeat, responded, "Guess I'll have to follow you home."

Carlos, pleased with the outcome of their playful exchange, flashed a charming grin. "Guess you've got no choice now, but I promise you won't regret it."

Before leaving the vibrant atmosphere of the club, Carlos turned to the lady. "Mind if I inform my friends that I'm taking off?" She nodded, and with her silent approval, Carlos headed to where his friends were seated.

Approaching his friends, the anticipation of teasing smiles awaited him. They immediately began making playful jabs, assuming he had been rejected by the mysterious lady. Carlos, determined to set the record straight, narrated the encounter in vivid detail.

Carlos: "You won't believe what just happened. So, there I was, making my move, and..."

Trevon interrupting with a teasing smile: "Wait, she rejected you, didn't she?"

Carlos, still trying to relay what really happened, continued, "No, no! Hear me out. I walk up to her, and she's like..."

Toby instantly chimed in with his mocking voice, his bantering spirit as high as ever: "Rejected."

Carlos, knowing his friends for who they are and used to the usual bantering, continued, "Okay, fine. She's not into small talk, but she's intrigued. Anyway, I say..."

Trevon with a mocking wink continued with the banter, "Rejected in the intrigued way."

Carlos, tired of explaining, retorted, "Ugh, forget it. She didn't reject me. Anyway, I'm just saying, we had this great conversation, and she's cool. I came here to inform you guys I'm leaving, and she's coming with me. We're going back to my place."

Trevon, in disbelief, responded to Carlos, "Come on, boy, just admit it, you're gay. And even if you're not, there's no way you've got the skills to pull a beauty like that."

Unmoved by Trevon's words, Carlos stated, "Well, you can believe what you want, man. I just came here to tell you I'm leaving."

Impressed, Toby leaned in with a mischievous grin, giving him the benefit of the doubt. "Carlos, if what you're saying is true and you're planning to take things to the next level with the lady, just remember to wear protection. Safety first, my man."

Carlos, slightly embarrassed, rolled his eyes. "Can you guys give it a rest? You have dirty minds, but thanks for the advice anyway."

After the exchange, Carlos returned to the lady, and they made their way to where he had parked. In no time, Carlos started the engine and drove off. On the highway, Carlos shifted his gaze from the road to the lady, directing his words towards her, "You know you still haven't told me your name yet, and here you are going home with me."

The lady responded to Carlos with a faint smile on her face, "That's because you haven't earned it, pretty boy. I know in your mind you're thinking you've gotten a big fish, thinking maybe you've bitten off more than you can chew. Yes, that's right, I'm your wish come true. Don't worry, I'm using you the way you're using me, so relax. When you earn my name, I'll tell you my name."

Carlos, not intimidated by her words, responded confidently, "Well, that works for me, but you can't deny it, I've got game."

On hearing Carlos's response, the lady burst into laughter, saying, "What games? Keep your eyes on the road, pretty boy, before you get us killed."

Even though that wasn't the response Carlos expected, he didn't give it much thought. The chance of getting laid was the only thing on his mind, and with that, he shifted his eyes back on the road.

After a while as they continued their journey, Carlos couldn't resist breaking the silence. "So, mysterious lady, any hints on how I can earn the privilege of knowing your name?"

She glanced at him, her eyes glinting mischievously. "Oh, it's not that complicated. Impress me, or make me laugh genuinely. It's as simple as that."

Carlos, feeling up for the challenge, flashed a confident smile. "Challenge accepted. Prepare to be thoroughly impressed."

As they approached Carlos's apartment, he whispered to himself, "You've got this," trying to convince himself that he had everything under control. As this was the first time in a long while a lady followed him home. Parking the car, Carlos turned to the lady, saying, "Well, here we are. You've made it to my humble abode. Ready to be impressed?"

She smirked, playfully teasing, "Don't get too ahead of yourself, pretty boy. Let's see what you've got."

Entering the apartment, Carlos attempted to showcase his cooking skills, preparing a simple yet elegant dinner. The lady observed with a raised eyebrow. "Cooking? That's your strategy?"

Carlos chuckled, "Yes. Food is a universal language, and I promise you're gonna love what I am about to make for you."

Despite still being unimpressed, she was open minded to the idea of a good homemade meal, giving him a curious look. "Okay, impress me with your culinary expertise then."

Immediately after finishing the meal, Carlos, confident in his cooking skills, proudly entered the living room with two plates of spaghetti pasta, each generously covered in a hearty meat sauce, accompanied by glasses of clean water. Gesturing towards the dining area, he invited her to join him for the culinary experience.

"Hey, come and dine with me, and witness the greatness of my cooking. I'm sure after a bite, you won't want to stop."

Observing the confident smile on Carlos's face, the lady responded, intrigued, "Well, the hype is too much. I won't know until I taste it, but I can smell it from way out here, and it smells good."

As they walked to the dining area, Carlos continued his confident banter, "Well, you know what they say, with a good meal, you can win anyone over. In this case, this is what I'm going to use to steal your heart."

Seated at the dining table, the lady took her first bite, but it wasn't what she expected. She quickly spat it out into her hands, "Wait, what? What is this? Are you trying to kill me?"