by Kelsie Rae
The entire night, I’m surrounded by friends and teammates who are starting to feel a heck of a lot like family.
It’s… incredible.
Chapter 13
Jude
My meetings with Marcus have been going rather well. He’s smart, mindful, a proficient player, and open to my suggestions while still having a backbone. I mentioned to him the importance of Team AFK not getting overly confident, and he agreed wholeheartedly. If we feel like we’re the superior team, we’re more likely to make mistakes. And mistakes lead to losses.
Confidence is good. Cockiness, however, is a problem.
During practice, Marcus gave a speech to the rest of the team about all of this, but only time will tell if they can rein in their arrogance. And when I say they, I really mean Ronny and Jonah. Those two exude arrogance like King Henry VIII.
We’re about to start another game when an idea of sheer brilliance strikes me like a bolt of lightning.
“Pardon, Marcus. But do you mind if I step in?”
He hides his surprise well before motioning to the front of the room. “Floor’s all yours.”
Perfect.
He takes a seat as all eyes turn to me, giving me their full attention.
“Alright lady and gents,” I wink at Quin. “We’re going to switch things up a bit. Ronny, you’re going to play Sniper for this round. Trevon, I want you to be the Tank. Jonah, let’s have you be…” I tap my finger against my chin while thinking, “Sneak.” He groans, and the sound causes a sly smile to appear on Ronny’s face. Apparently, he enjoys watching his friend be miserable. “Marcus, I want you to play Operator, which leaves Quin taking on the role of Team Lead.”
Her face goes stark white at my suggestion.
“Umm… I’m sorry, what?” she squeaks, her eyes as wide as saucers.
“I’m sure you’ve all experimented in other roles on the Gateway Guardians platform. Today is precisely the same thing. You’ll just be doing it with each other, and with a World Champion watching your every move.” I smirk.
I can read Quin like an open book. She’s chewing her bottom lip while contemplating a way to get out of playing Team Lead.
Sorry, love. Not today.
Ronny grins from ear to ear while Trevon cracks his neck and rolls his shoulders like he’s about to bring his A-game.
Good luck, mate, I think to myself. A Sniper’s role is quite different than a Tank, and he’s going to get his arse handed to him.
Marcus looks determined as his focus transitions from me to the computer screen in front of him.
It seems Jonah and Quin are the only people disappointed in my impromptu position swaps.
Quin raises her hand like she’s in grade-school, and I barely restrain my chuckle.
“Yes, Kitten?”
She glares daggers at me, not even trying to hide her disdain for the situation. “I’m sorry, but I’ve never played another position before. I’ve mastered Sneak for a reason, and I don’t think I’d be a very good asset for Team Lead. Especially Team Lead.” She emphasizes the last bit with crimson cheeks.
Bollocks, she’s beautiful.
“That’s the point, love. I have no doubt you’ll all do terribly in your reverse roles, but I think it may give you a bit of appreciation for your teammates and their particular sets of skills in the future. It might humble you a bit, as well, to see that you’re not all God’s greatest gift to the gaming industry.”
The team nods in understanding, their expressions somber until I add, “Plus, it’ll be bloody hilarious to watch.”
Ronny throws an empty Mountain Dew bottle at my head, and I dodge it at the last instant while laughter bubbles up around me and echoes off the conference room walls. I don’t want them to feel like they’re in trouble, I just want them to experience the game from other angles. It’ll give them a better viewpoint of Gateway Guardians as a whole and might teach them some humility.
“Some Yoda you are,” Jonah grumbles before slipping on his headset.
I chuckle in return while debating if I have time to pop some popcorn.
Alas, I’ll have to do without.
Quin and I are currently sitting in a little restaurant after a long evening of practice.
“How are you feeling?” I ask her.
Ever since our first kiss, I’ve tried to make our relationship apparent by taking her on a handful of real dates. They’ve given me the opportunity to get to know her little by little. I feel like she’s eerily similar to Shrek. He insists ogres are like onions because they have layers, and you need to peel each one back. This metaphor is a perfect representation of Quin. Slowly, I’ve been able to peel back her protective armor layer by layer. Whether it’s in the chatroom on Flinch, during a text conversation late at night, or on the occasions that she stays later than normal and goes to dinner with me. I’m slowly piecing together the Quin she displays for everyone, and the Quin I get to see firsthand.
“I feel…” she pauses, contemplating her answer. “I feel okay, I think? Honestly, I don’t even know. I’ve worked so hard for this. It doesn’t feel real. But I think your unconventional practice helped give me the bigger picture. So… thank you for that.”
I nod my head in agreement before taking a bite of alfredo. The restaurant is romantically lit with candles scattered among the tables covered in red linen. Soft Italian music is playing in the background, and the place is nearly empty. It’s the perfect environment for an intimate conversation, and we both take our time appreciating the quiet ambiance.
“You’ve done incredibly well, Quin. Win or lose, I’m in awe of your accomplishments.” Normally, I wouldn’t say something so vulnerable, but Quin has told me a little about her father. I know how much she craves someone being proud of her. She works so hard on being perfect because she doesn’t have anyone to tell her how well she’s truly doing. It’s also why she’s so terrified of opening up to people.
I just need to continue peeling those onion layers back. One. At. A. Time.
“It’s not a big deal. Plus, I haven’t accomplished anything, yet,” she hedges, reaching for her water glass and taking a tiny sip. I have a hunch it’s because she’s uncomfortable with my compliment, not because she’s particularly parched.
“It is a big deal, Kitten. I’ve been there. I know the pressure you feel. I know the anxiety. I know the sheer determination needed to win. You’re going to do brilliantly. But not because it isn’t big deal,” I say sarcastically. “Which it is, by the way. You’re going to do brilliantly because you’re you. Keep being you, love. Don’t be afraid to show your true self to the world. I can guarantee they’re going to love what they see just as much as I do. And if they don’t? Tell them to bug off.”
I watch her slender neck finish swallowing the tiny sip she’d taken before my little speech.
“Just like I’m supposed to tell my inner voice to bug off?” She giggles. “And speaking of showing your true self to the world… Who’s the real Jude Williams? Or should I say, Julian?” she quips, proud of herself for changing the subject so eloquently.
I smirk in return and decide to let her duck out of the spotlight for the time being. “Well, what would you like to know?”
“I dunno.” She shrugs. “How ‘bout how many people are in your family? Why’d you move to Utah, of all places? How long have you known Derrick?”
“You sound like Bree, asking me question after question without waiting for my reply and expecting me to remember all of them.” I smirk.
“Who’s Bree?” I think I sense the tiniest hint of jealousy in her tone, but it’s possible I’m imagining things.
“Bree is my business partner, Derrick’s, fiancée. She also works with us at our company. She’s an odd duck, but she’s like a sister to me.”
“Oh.” Quin visibly brightens at my explanation, and it’s obvious she’s pleased by our platonic relationship. “Well, okay then. Now stop stalling and answer some of my questions, Jude!”
; I chuckle while trying to remember them. “Let’s see... I have one sister, named Nora, and just my Mum and Dad. I moved to the States because I was bored, if I’m being honest. I met Derrick when I applied to his company as a coder, and we’ve been friends ever since. He’s practically the brother I never had, and I hope you get to meet him one day.” My eyes hold hers as I cautiously broach the subject of a future together.
“I think I’d like that,” she admits shyly, her cheeks turning a lovely shade of pink that highlight her freckles beautifully. Leaning forward, I plant a light kiss across her crimson blush. My lips linger slightly before I pull away and glance down at the most gorgeous creature I’ve ever laid eyes on. Her brilliant jade eyes peek up at me through her thick lashes.
The mesmerizing look displays her hesitant trust in me and nearly knocks me on my arse from the depth of it.
“I think I’d like that a lot,” she breathes. Her hushed words hang in the air as I lean back into my chair like we didn’t just exchange a non-verbal commitment over pasta and French bread.
Chapter 14
Quincy
Semi-finals are today. We’re playing against G2G Guardians, and it should be pretty easy. I know I sound cocky, but I’m just being honest. Their Team Lead doesn’t know how to lead at all. Team AFK got together last night with popcorn and Redbull to watch some of G2G’s gameplay. Needless to say, I wasn’t very impressed.
I should be more nervous than I am, but I think it’s because I’m still running with the adrenaline high from jumping off a building. That and I’m starting to make real friends, at last. Ones I can count on. It completely changes the game’s intensity when I know they’ve got my back without a doubt. Inside and outside of Gateway Guardians.
Semi-finals is relatively low-key, with only a thousand people in the stadium. If we make it to finals, we’ll be playing in front of over ten thousand fans. That’s when I’ll be freaking out.
Semi-finals are set up a little differently than the championships being held in two weeks. These games will be played back to back until one of us beats our opponents two times.
“How are you feeling?” Marcus nudges me playfully from the side. His gentle shove grabs my attention from the screaming fans scattered throughout the quaint little stadium.
We’re sitting on a platform with all our gaming computers set up and ready to go. There are a few large screens hanging from the ceiling. They give the audience pristine views of the game we’re about to play.
“Good. I’m actually kind of excited,” I admit. A shy smile graces my lips at my confession.
He grins in return before slipping his headset on and calling everyone’s names through the microphone.
“Hey, guys! Q’s feeling a little excited today, so let’s get this party started!” He winks playfully at me before his expression morphs into utter determination.
“Ronny?”
“Yo.”
“Jonah?”
“Howdy.”
“Trevon?”
“Here.”
“Q?”
“Let’s do this.”
After we all check in with each other, the game starts. It’s almost too easy and is over in a matter of minutes.
Well, that was quick. And ridiculously anticlimactic.
One down. One to go.
The fans almost seem bored with how quickly we defeated G2G Guardians in the first round. They’re almost silent. I scan the crowd while I wait for game two to connect and see hundreds of cell phone screens lighting up the darkened seating area for fans. I bet they’re all on Facebook or something.
“This is pathetic,” I say to no one in particular, though my microphone is still on.
My comment causes laughter to hit me through the headset as my teammates get a kick out of my blunt assessment.
“Right? This is the best they could come up with?” Jonah’s voice pipes in.
“Seriously. Finals are in the bag. They might as well write our checks now,” Ronny adds, his voice dripping with arrogance.
Marcus bristles at his comment from beside me. His back goes ramrod straight, and his jaw clenches in frustration. “Don’t let today’s success go to your heads, guys. Remember what we talked about? The Red Lords might be assholes, but they know this game in and out. They’re going to be hard to beat. And don’t act like we’ve already beat G2G Guardians, either. We all know how quickly a game can change in someone’s favor. Get your heads out of your asses and focus on today. On game two. We can celebrate if we win and not a minute before. Do you hear me?”
His lecture brings us back to reality, reminding everyone that we’re all just a bunch of nerds playing a game, and that we haven’t even won yet.
“Yes,” I whisper quietly.
“Yup,” Jonah quips, but his earlier enthusiasm is missing.
“You got it,” Ronny agrees begrudgingly.
“Amen,” Trevon adds, like he couldn’t agree more with our fearless leader.
“Then let’s do this,” Marcus declares. His tone is a little lighter than before but no less determined.
And he’s right. We’ve got this.
Chapter 15
Jude
We beat G2G Guardians, though Team AFK doesn’t celebrate the way I would’ve anticipated. Instead, they spend the night reviewing The Red Lords’ semi-final games with sheer dedication. I couldn’t be more proud. I make a few suggestions on how they can improve, and the team eats them up like a starving man being given a morsel of food.
Since then, we’ve had nightly practices, and Quin has made an effort to come earlier or stay later than normal so the two of us can spend some time alone together. She’s finally starting to emerge from her shell, and we’ve spent every evening together, soaking up each other’s company like a dry sponge soaks up water.
She still refuses to stay at the hotel, and I can see how much the daily drives are wearing on her. She’s trying to stay positive, but I can’t even imagine how draining it is for her. I understand her reasoning, though. She doesn’t want to leave her dad alone, even when he doesn’t recognize her presence in the first place. Quin has opened up to me about their relationship on multiple occasions, giving me glimpses into her everyday life. I have to say that her comments have given me a great deal of insight into the incredible woman I’m starting to fall for. She’s kind, caring, compassionate, resilient, and the list goes on. It only makes me more attracted to her. More determined to call her mine.
I know she likes me and appreciates my company, but I’m not sure if she’s quite ready to take our relationship to the next level. I need to move slowly with her, but that’s proving to be quite difficult.
She’s the first thing on my mind when I wake in the morning, and the last thing on my mind as I drift off to sleep.
I’m just now retiring to my hotel room after another wonderful evening when my phone rings.
“Hello?” I answer as I sandwich my mobile between my shoulder and ear. I pull the room key from my back pocket and open the door to my lonely room.
“Hey man! How’s gaming? Everything you remember?” Derrick’s gruff voice replies.
“Gaming is fine, but the company is even better.” The smile plastered on my face is somehow transferred to my tone, portraying my feelings to my best friend across the states.
“Oh, really?”
“Yes, and she’s incredible, mate.” I sigh, remembering my date with Quin earlier this evening.
“And who is this incredible girl?” Derrick quizzes. His voice drips with intrigue.
“Her name is Quincy. Quin. We’ve been seeing each other regularly for the past few weeks.”
“Is it serious?”
“I hope so,” I breathe out.
“Well, then. Guess I’ll have Bree book two tickets instead of one.”
His comment shakes me from my daydreaming. “I’m sorry, mate. Can you repeat that?”
Derrick’s deep chuckle reverberates through the speaker on my phone. “You�
��re coming home for the weekend. Or did you forget?”
I pull my mobile from my ear before opening up my calendar.
“Bollocks. I forgot about the award ceremony,” I curse.
“And why do you sound so frustrated, again?” Derrick asks sardonically “Jude. This award is a really big deal for our company.”
“I know, I know. I’m just not sure I can leave at the moment,” I hedge, as disappointment settles in my gut like a heavy boulder.
“You’re my partner, man. You have to be there. This is your company, too. We’ve been awarded the title of being the number two company in the state, and we need to celebrate!”
My lungs deflate. Along with my argument. “You’re right. I’ll be there,” I promise.
“Good. And I’m serious about bringing your girl,” Derrick adds.
“She’s not my girl quite yet, wanker. And her name is Quin,” I correct him, bristling slightly.
“Noted.” He chuckles good-naturedly. “Do I need to step in the same way you did with Breezy and me?”
His reference makes me smile as I recall how I pretended to date the lady of his dreams just so he’d get his head out of his arse and finally ask her out.
“Har, har.” I roll my eyes. “But, no. I’ve had no problem making my intentions known. The issue is that she’s a skittish little creature who’s never truly lived a day of her life, and I’ve had to move at a snail’s pace in order to get her to open up. Not that I’ve really minded, but it’s hard to know where her head is. I’ll mention the trip, though, and see what she says.”