Page 31 of Players Love Hard
My dad taps Jamie on the back before leading him upstairs to Cameron’s bedroom. Jamie looks over his shoulder as we descend the stairs and winks at me.
I already know without him saying that my dad thinks Jamie’s a keeper. And that’s what scares me most about our relationship. Because I fear losing him. I’m terrified of what my life will be like without him in it.
Where does the fear even come from? My past, I suppose. A man like Jamie is almost too good to be true. And somehow, I got him all to myself.
Chapter Twelve
Jamie
Gamers and super fans fill the convention center. I spot several women dressed as Leto, the wife of Magnus, the Grand Mage from my father’s Universe. Thin fabric drapes over their shoulders, barely covering their breasts. They look like the Greek goddess my dad named her after. Their robes are black and gold with slits running up each side of their togas.
The few female characters in The Fallen Universe are hot. All of them have long hair, big tits, and curves for days, never dressed in more than what could pass for shredded rags. At every event, at least one woman dresses as Magnus’ counterpart.
Helping my older brother get ready for the demonstration, I sit behind one of the long tables in our raised booth and finish the audio and video preparations. Mike is a control freak. He’s been up my ass since the minute we setup our booth at the 10X Gaming Con.
Kevin Carmichael, Cece’s father and owner of 10X Games, runs the convention. Even though he’s our competition, every video game company worth a damn has a booth at the event. We have to play the game. It’s all part of the show.
My family has to pretend to like the Carmichaels, despite what Cece has done to me. My dad can’t stand her dad, but he says it’s better to befriend the enemy. He’s a better man than me. I never hide my hatred for Cece and her family, not when she tried to ruin my life.
Kevin asked my dad to give the keynote speech on the future of role-playing games. He said yes. And now my family has to pretend we’re happy to be here. It’s considered an honor to attend the 10X Games Con because who wouldn’t want to be a 10Xer?
“All set,” I say to Mike.
He steals his gaze away from the large projection screen spanning one wall of our booth to look at me. “Did you check the video feed?”
I roll my eyes, hating the fact he always treats me like a child. “Yes. I did that first.”
He shoves his hands into the pockets of his dark slacks and sighs. “How does the audio sound?”
I hold up my hand and give him a thumbs up with a mocking expression on my face.
Mike leans forward, pressing his palms to the table, his gaze intense. We have the same blue eyes, same brown hair, except his is longer on the sides. He looks more like my dad than me, though I have the same pitch to my voice as my dad, where Mike’s is much deeper. He’s the voice of a character in Mage Wars.
“Don’t act like a dick,” Mike growls. “This is a big day for Dad, and he has a lot riding on this going well. The live stream needs to be perfect.”
“It is,” I assure him. “I tested it five times.”
Lately, my dad and brother have been under a lot of stress. Even my sister, Grace, looks nervous. She’s at the corner of our booth talking to my mom, chewing on her fingernails. I haven’t seen her do that in years. Whatever’s going on with my siblings must be bigger than I know. My dad stressed the importance of this event several times over the last month.
“What’s going on with Dad?”
Mike bites the inside of his cheek and shoves his fingers through his hair, pushing it off his forehead. A beat passes, the air between us tense. “Dad should be the one to tell you.”
“No, tell me.” I jump up from my chair, staring Mike down from the other side of the table. “Now.”
He points at the stage at the center of the event center. “Dad’s giving his speech in five minutes.”
“What does that have to do with whatever you’re hiding?”
“He’s making a big announcement.”
I glare at Mike, irritated with his icy demeanor. “Just tell me. Why do I need to be the last person to know? You, Grace, and Mom all know what’s going on.”
“Dad didn’t want to upset you,” Mike says, his voice low and even.
My nerves get the best of me, my body trembling from the energy shooting through my body. I hate surprises that involve major life changes.
What’s everyone hiding from me?
