Page 90 of Dance with Me on New Year's Eve

And at night, I spent hours talking to Danny. The more we talked, the more comfortable I felt with him and the idea of meeting him.

Granted, I was still terrified to meet him. Just … a little less terrified.

Despite being extremely busy, I found Jeff popping into my mind at odd moments. I hadn’t seen him in days, and it felt odd. Bittersweet, sort of. But more bitter than sweet.

I missed him. Jeff. The sometimes surly, sometimes sweet and generous guy I’d worked with and therefore talked to nearly every day for the last eight months.

A dull pain pierced my chest, and I wondered every single day if this whole New Year’s meetup thing had been a mistake.

But then I logged on, and talking to Danny made me remember how much I liked him. I really liked him, in truth.

Even when we were arguing … which we did often lately.

CastGamer55:It was your idea to add a romantic element to the game. Now you want to cut it?

SawyerRox4:No, I don’t want to cut it. I just think we should leave it open-ended

CastGamer55:Open, how?

SawyerRox4:The outcome. The game could end with either an HEA or not…

CastGamer55:What’s an HEA?

SawyerRox4:Happily Ever After. It’s a romance thing. Why are you even advocating for this if you don’t know basic romance terminology?

CastGamer55:Well, excuse me. I’ll be sure to do my homework next time.

CastGamer55:You don’t think the game should conclude on a happy note?

SawyerRox4:Not necessarily. Real life isn’t like that.

CastGamer55:This is fantasy though. Or sci-fi.

SawyerRox4:I can tell you’re not into genre fiction

CastGamer55:You’re right about that. But I do think it’s pointless to include a romantic relationship as even an option in the game if there won’t be a happy ending.

SawyerRox4:Why does it matter?

CastGamer55:Because we want players to feel happy after they finish the game. Right? Seems like good business sense.

SawyerRox4:Oh, um, are you an accountant? Just realized I never asked…

CastGamer55:No.

SawyerRox4:… ok then

SawyerRox4:Do we want them to feel happy? That implies satisfied, but don’t we want them to be excited and maybe a little unfulfilled so that they want to play again and again?

CastGamer55:Can’t they be all of the above?

SawyerRox4:That would depend on the individual temperament and personality

CastGamer55:Let me guess: psych major?

SawyerRox4:lol, yeah

SawyerRox4:So, players could choose their path. Like in the game of Life. You could choose the kind ofrelationship you want to have with other players

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