Page 17 of A Geek Girl's Guide to Kissing a Video Gamer
“I knew it was you.” Kim grinned, angling in toward Garret and wrapping her arms around him. She shook hands with Sadie. “I’m Kim Combs.”
Sadie rolled her lips in, and Xavier could swear he heard her whispering, “Don’t say it.”
Garret stuck his hand out, shaking Xavier’s. “Hey, Xavier.” He turned to Sadie. “Man, Sadie Baylor. I think I might be your biggest fan.”
That was unlikely since Xavier had quietly given himself that honor, but he wouldn’t admit that aloud.
Sadie chuckled. “Really?”
“I’m only a year younger than you and, yes, a huge fan. Not only are you a legend, but your art is amazing.”
A blush crept up Sadie’s neck to her cheeks. “Uh, thank you.”
“So, Xavier,” Kim said, “did you finally get that game developed? Last I heard, you were still having trouble with it.”
Of course, she’d poke a sore spot. On the surface, she sounded sincere, but he’d learned she was anything but. Another one of her traits he’d ignored because love was blind. “I’m working on it.”
Kim’s gaze raked from the top of Sadie’s head to her feet. “So, Sadie. I guess you’re one of the exhibitors?”
“That’s right. Empire Designs.” Sadie inched herself closer to Xavier. “And I get to spend the entire convention with this gorgeous man.” She looked up at Xavier and smiled.
If he’d been drinking a soda, it’d be coming out his nose. Gorgeous? Him? Two things that had never been in a sentence together. It was like catching a sighting of bigfoot. “Uh…”
Kim snuggled into Garret. “Same here—well, spending time with this guy, not exhibiting. But after, he’s taking me to dinner and then shopping.”
Sadie shrugged. “I guess if you like shopping. I think we’re going to make a run for some Twizzlers and order a pizza. Then it’s game time.”
Garret’s mouth dropped open. “You still play?” He looked from Sadie to Xavier. “’Cause that sounds—”
“Garret, we’ve talked about this.” Kim had used that same condescending voice on Xavier. Nothing he wanted to do was good enough or cool enough.
“Yeah,” he smiled. “Old habits die hard.”
“Or not at all.” Sadie lifted on her toes and kissed Xavier on the cheek. “I love that Xavier still plays.”
The spot where her lips touched heated, sending tendrils of electricity racing to his toes. If he ever really kissed her, he’d need to have EMS on standby. “She’s just being sweet.”
Kim lifted her chin, eyeing Sadie up and then down again. “I guess if that’s what you’re into.”
Narrowing her eyes, Sadie’s lips pressed together. “It is. Besides, why would I want to share him when I can keep him all to myself?”
Kim hugged Garret a little tighter. “I’d rather show him off.” She smiled sweetly and looked up at him. “I’m so proud of him.” As she kissed him, she glanced at Xavier like she was trying to make him jealous.
Sadie’s eyebrows knitted together, and she rolled her eyes. “Well, Garret, it was nice to meet you. I need to get set up.” She turned, hooked her arm in Xavier’s, and paused. “Oh, and, Kim, thanks.”
One corner of Kim’s mouth twisted up. “For what?”
“Xavier.”
With that, Sadie pulled him away and toward the aisle where her booth would be. When he was sure they were out of eyesight, Xavier pulled her to a stop. “I can’t believe you did that.”
She knitted her eyebrows together even further like she was angry. “What? That woman was watching you as she kissed Garret. She’s no more interested in him than she was you. Maybe it’ll wake him up before he gets his heart broken by that meat sack pretending to be a woman.”
Too stunned to speak, Xavier blinked. Before his brain could catch up, Sadie walked the rest of the way to the booth and set her large portfolio on the table.
Xavier already liked her, but that little exchange had steered his feelings directly onto the path of falling for her. Of course, they were pretending, and he knew that, but still, she’d stood up for him. She didn’t have to, did she? No, but she was kind, and he suspected she’d stand up for her friends.
If nothing else happened this weekend, maybe they’d return to Dallas as friends. He was sure he’d want more than that, but she’d been clear from the beginning. She didn’t want a relationship, and a guy like him didn’t talk a woman like her into being more than friends.
