Chapter 1
Xavier Parker was never going to live this down. Stories would be told to his grandchildren—to his grandchildren’s grandchildren. That’s if he ever had any after this stunt. The one lesson he’d learned from this embarrassment was never to take a bet without clearly defined rules.
That lack of clarity was the only reason he was currently dressed in a beat-up beaver suit—complete with a derpy-looking head—backstage at the convention center right before the Dallas Comic-Con opened. This was what he got for sponsoring the thing to start with.
“Guys…come on. This isn’t fair,” he said. “You could’ve at least picked a suit that didn’t look like it’s been in a brawl. I mean…the eyeball is even wonky.” The next time he thought he was brave enough to ask a woman out, not only would he remember the public panic attack, but he'd have this moment too.
Harry whooped and doubled over. “You took the bet. You’re supposed to be a genius.”
Griffin slapped Xavier on the back. “What are you supposed to do when the man you’re betting with has the money to do anything?”
Xavier pulled off the head and faced his buddies, the Class of '95 jerk squad. “But…this one?” He waved his hands down the length of the suit.
Harry wiped his eyes as he straightened and snapped a quick picture.
Xavier lunged for the phone. "Hey!We agreed—no pictures!" Now his grandchildren would have irrefutable proof that their grandfather was an idiot. It wouldn’t matter that he was the designer ofDragon’s Fury, the hottest game franchise since its launch in the late nineties. This costume would put him in the lame category for eternity.
Griffin stepped in between them. “Uh, no…threat of legal action if either of us so much as points a camera in your direction isn’t an agreement.”
With a groan, Xavier’s shoulders sagged. "Please, guys. I'll…take us to Monaco. The Riviera, the Andes…all expenses paid. Please don’t make me do this.” Okay, so technically he was a grown man—a forty-one-year-old man—and he didn’t have to actually go through with it, but a person didn’t back out of a bet. Those were the rules they’d abided by since high school. Once they shook on it, it was a done deal. Xavier wasn’t going to be the guy to break the tradition.
Harry and Griffin smiled and shook their heads. “No way. We’re bored, and you’re easy to mess with,” Harry said.
Xavier glared at his so-called friends. “I hate you both.”
Griffin moved to the curtain separating them from the convention floor and peeked through. “Oh, man, and it’s already starting to get busy.” He sucked in a sharp breath. “Dude, Sadie Baylor is here.”
“Sadie Baylor?” Harry asked. “No way. I didn’t see her on the list of guests.”
Xavier walked to the curtain, his bulky suit parting his friends red-sea style. Whoa. Sadie Baylor, the captain of the Slayer Girls All-Pro Game Team back in the nineties. She’d been hot then, and she’d aged incredibly well.
"Didn’t Xavier have a crush on her?” asked Griffin.
“No, I didn’t,” Xavier interjected. “Well, o more than the two of you. What guy didn’t? She was hot and played video games.” No way was he admitting he’d had a crush on her.
At events and after-tournament parties, he’d talked to her a little. He could still feel his clammy palms and the way his heart hammered in his chest when he was around her. She probably wouldn’t even remember him. Not as cool as she was. When she’d retired from gaming, he’d lost track of her, but she’d never been far from his thoughts. He would have called her the one who got away if he’d ever had her in the first place.
Harry nodded. “I know I did. She was dating someone, right?”
Shaking his head, Griffin added, “I can’t remember now.”
Man, she was something. She was also struggling with an armful of stuff and pulling what looked to be a rolled-up banner behind her. Wouldn’t helping her be the gentlemanly thing to do?
“I’m going to go help her.” Xavier began shucking off the suit, thinking he had a stay of execution.
“Oh, no. Suit on, dude. You know the rules. Once the bet starts, you gotta see it through.” Harry grinned.
“You want me to help the hot ex-gamer girl with this ridiculous suit on? No way,” Xavier said, scoffing as he shook his head. What if she recognized his voice? That was the point of wearing the suit. He had to walk around in it, wait for his voice to be recognized, then endure being called out in front of everyone.
Griffin crossed his arms over his chest. “Fine. You bought that basketball team, right? The one in North Carolina?”
“I’m part owner. Why?” Xavier replied.
“Then a naked streak at halftime will get you out of that suit.” Griffin’s white teeth shined as he smiled.
Xavier pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingers. “I don’t hate you guys. I despise you. I’m not streaking down a court.”
Harry shrugged. “You know the penalty if you don’t fulfill the bet.”
