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Chapter Four. The crowd was cheering as the teams took their places at their screens for the final match of the day






The crowd was cheering as the teams took their places at their screens for the final match of the day. The Baydale Reapers were already way ahead on points, but the final game was more a grudge match than anything else. Two teams of four players, one team an elite squad of soldiers going up against members of an alien race, all hell-bent on killing the other. Elton took his seat beside Trent and glowered at Eddie, who sat as far away from him as he could. Trent put on her headset and they all checked that the microphones were working and they could hear each other’s commands as they took up their controllers and prepared for war.

“Nobody gets a bullet, or I will personally make sure you are stocking the ‘pre-owned’ shelf for weeks to come.” Elton’s dire threat hung in the air.

“Good luck, team.” Trent rallied her people as the game began. She instantly made her character dive for cover as the other team began firing rockets. “Bastards, they learned that from us, ” she said. “Chris, shoot their launcher and let’s get to higher ground.”

The battle raged and they raced across the harsh terrain, ducking behind shattered buildings and shooting the enemy with everything they had.

“I swear, Eddie, if you don’t drag your guy’s ass back and take cover I will shoot you myself, ” Trent said as Eddie’s soldier got shot at from all angles. She edged forward, scanning the area carefully, then popped up from behind her wall and took aim at one of the enemy. The target dropped and the crowd cheered behind her.

“First kill to us, ” Elton said, “Great shot, Trent. Now let’s get the others. I can smell the scent of victory pizza from here.”

 

The game was hard fought but the Baydale Reapers had earned their reputation through dedicated playing, and that shone through with their defeat of the other team. The last alien fell and Trent punched the air as the crowd erupted. Elton flung down his headset and faced the audience to roar at them. Trent got up to congratulate her team and mentioned for the last time that Eddie wash his robe or else. Then she leaned over to shake hands with the losing team, acknowledging each of them for what role they had played in the game.

“Nice trick with the flamethrower, Evan, ” she said, then narrowed her eyes at him. “And don’t think we won’t be ready to counter that next time.”

Evan basked in her praise. He was an assistant from another shop in the same mall where Trent worked. “You still in for next week’s online game? ” he asked.

“Got it written on my calendar. And this time, you have to show me how you pulled off that move, the one where you all but fried Eddie. Thankfully, Elton pulled his dumb ass out of the fire just in time.”

“You want me to show you my best move? ”

“In exchange, I’ll show you how you could have got Elton in that last play if you hadn’t left yourself wide open for me to sniper you, ” Trent said.

“You’re on! ” They shook hands on it.

“Well done, everyone. That was a brilliant match. But I need to go rescue Elton before he has the room whipped up so much they start a riot.”

“He’s frightening with that face makeup on, ” Evan said.

“He’s just as scary without it, ” Eddie muttered.

 

Trent loved it when everyone got their trophies for playing. She knew the sponsors got a great deal of publicity for their wares. Her own company got a huge chunk of the recognition every time the Baydale Reapers won, and the teams got the satisfaction of playing with others just as dedicated as they were. She dutifully took her place at her team’s side as team leader Elton accepted the first place trophy.

“Next stop, Chicago! ” Elton said.

Trent knew they were edging ever closer to being able to take on the professional teams that competed all around the world. She knew Elton hungered for that, and there was a part of her too that enjoyed the competition. Trent enjoyed the games, win or lose. It was more about taking part and the experience. Jubilation was written all over Elton’s face as he lifted the trophy high. Trent had to admit that winning was a whole lot better than losing. She looked out through the crowd of faces and spotted Juliet on her feet applauding with the rest of the audience. But Juliet’s eyes weren’t on the team. They were fixed on her. Trent couldn’t help the fire that burned in her as she acknowledged Juliet’s stare. She barely remembered taking her place for the group photo that would be displayed in the shop to announce their victory to all budding gamers. All Trent could see was the bright blue of Juliet’s eyes seeking her out among the many.

 

Trent pulled on her leather jacket after carefully folding up her robe and packing it away in her sports bag. Elton was beside her, making sure his hair was just the right amount of messy. Trent tried not to let him see her amusement at his preening, but sometimes he was way too fastidious in getting his appearance just so. She called to the rest of her team.

“Everyone ready for pizza? ”

She was greeted by a chorus of “Hell, yes! ” as they all filed out from behind the stage. There were still a lot of people in the hall. Some were playing in the children’s area, some chatting with the other teams.

“I’ll come back later to help you all clear up, ” Trent said to one of the men who had helped her and Elton set the place up the previous day.

“I thought once the games were done the folks would leave, ” he said.

“This is a huge gathering of geeks, my friend. They don’t go until you physically pick them up and show them the door. The organizers are used to it. They’ll let it run for a little longer and then they’ll start flashing the lights to signal it’s time to go. I’ll go have my celebratory meal and then I’ll come back and help you all clear up.” She reached into her pocket and flipped open a small notebook. “There were ten of you yesterday, right? Same number today? ” She scribbled something down as the man nodded. “Any preference to your pizza topping? ” He rattled off a few pizzas and thanked her. “It’s no problem. You helped get this all set up. I’m just sorry you can’t join us, still being on duty and all, so we’ll have them bring the pizza to you.” She put away her pad. “I’ll get Elton to have them sneak in some beers for you all too.”

“You’re a star, Trent.”

“You contributed to our win. We can’t play if we don’t have the equipment.” She checked her watch. “I’ll see you guys later to help pack everything away.”

“No one else buys the techie guys pizza, ” Eddie said.

“No, they don’t, which is why they don’t get the most comfortable seats or the cleanest controllers. We do, ” Elton said, holding out his hand. “Everyone cough up ten bucks to pay for them.” He gathered the money and put it in his pocket. “That is how you earn a reputation, my team. We play fair, we look after our techies because they look after us, and we win with honor. And if you’re lucky, you get the girl at the end of it, ” he added sotto voce for Trent’s ears only.

 

With the team all gathered together, Juliet found herself intrigued by the unusual group they made. Elton and Trent literally towered above everyone else. There was a handsome red-haired man who bore a striking resemblance to the young boy Kayleigh had been friendly with all day. Then there was a younger girl who looked way more fashionable in her carefully torn jeans than the man beside her, who looked in desperate need of an ironing board. Both were chatting with another young man who was so blond his hair was almost white.

“Strange little group, aren’t they? Led by giants, ” Monica said.

Monica’s comment registered but Juliet couldn’t tear her eyes away from Trent, who was bounding up the steps toward them.

Kayleigh spoke to her first, her excitement bursting from her. “You guys won the biggest trophy! ”

Trent took the trophy from Elton’s hands. She held it out for Kayleigh to hold. “Careful, it’s heavy.”

“This is so cool, ” she said.

“Get used to holding it. I’m betting in years to come you’ll be here holding a winner’s trophy all of your own.”

Kayleigh’s eyes sparkled up at Trent. “Really? ”

“If you’re serious about playing, then I’d have to say yes.”

“I would like that a lot.” She handed the trophy back to Trent. “I didn’t get to see everything you did today, but I know your team did excellent. Can I meet everyone now? ”

Trent introduced everyone to Kayleigh who was quickly taken in by the group as they chatted with her.

“You’ve made her day, ” Juliet told Trent.

“She needs to make new friends. Nearly everyone on the team has younger siblings around them, so they are used to kids. Except for Rick, but he hangs round with Zoe, so he has her little sister Sam by proxy.” She stepped back to introduce Elton to Monica. “Monica Hughes, may I introduce Team Captain Elton Simons.”

Monica held her hand out to shake Elton’s, but he gently turned it over and kissed the knuckles hidden in her glove. “The pleasure is all mine, ” he said gallantly.

“You’ve removed your face paint, ” Monica said with disappointment.

Elton scowled at Trent. “She said I would scare the patrons of the pizza restaurant so I had to wash it off.”

“It was very fetching.”

“Thank you.” His eyes were drawn to a small tattoo visible on her neck. “You’re a fan of Within Temptation? ”

Monica fingered the band’s symbol on her skin and faked a swoon. “I want ‘Ice Queen’ played at my funeral.”

Elton clenched his fist and punched the air. “Finally! A real woman! I want ‘Deceiver of Fools’ played at mine. Please, let me escort you to dinner.” He guided Monica past Juliet, tucking her arm in his, and they began chatting together as if they were old friends.

Juliet blinked as they passed by. “So much for that awkward first meeting.”

“Fate obviously meant for them to meet. You and I were merely their conduit, ” Trent said.

Folding her arms loosely across her chest, Juliet regarded Trent steadily. “And what about us? ” she asked softly.

Trent froze, caught off guard by Juliet’s obvious teasing. She hesitated, then offered her own arm to Juliet. “I too have a healthy respect for fate and destiny and little sisters lost in the wild streets of Baydale.” She gave Juliet a shrug. “But forgive me if I haven’t picked my funeral music out just yet.”

“I’m very glad to hear it.”

 

The meal was a lively affair, full of loud talking and laughter. The gamers were seated at a large table that ran along the back of the restaurant in front of the windows. Kayleigh wasn’t the only child to join them at their table; Chris had gathered up his brother Wade, and Zoe had brought along her sister. The children were interspersed among the adults and kept highly entertained by their stories and jokes. Trent reached for a piece of pizza while speaking to Monica.

“I wondered if you’d remove your gloves.”

Monica lifted her own piece of pizza and sighed. “Had I known that today’s festivities would culminate in this food free-for-all, I would have dressed more accordingly.”

“I think you look beautiful, ” Elton said, his eyes never leaving Monica’s.

She glowed at his obvious sincerity. “I can do jeans. I just prefer to express myself a little more differently on the weekend.”

Trent stuffed a piece of pizza in her mouth and chewed, savoring the tangy cheese taste. “You look amazing. I’m used to seeing Elton all gothed up, but there’s something very striking about a woman in her regalia. You’re handsome and all, Elton, but you just wouldn’t look the same in that dress.”

“Sad, but true, ” he said.

“Monica, I couldn’t help but notice your ornate earrings. They really are unusual.”

Monica touched her ear and twisted the black bejeweled design so it caught the light. “Thank you. I found them in a little antique shop.”

“Elton, show her your ring. I think she’ll love it.” Trent leaned back as the two dark heads bent together as Monica excitedly exclaimed over Elton’s devil’s head ring.

“Are you quite finished matchmaking? ” Juliet spoke softly into Trent’s ear. Trent’s whole body tingled at the soft breath that had whispered against her skin.

“They make a perfect couple, ” Trent said quietly back, looking directly into Juliet’s eyes and marveling at how blue they were. Juliet blinked and Trent hastily drew back, conscious of how close she had been leaning into Juliet’s personal space. Step away, Trent, this lady is not for playing and you’re certainly not the sort she’d play with.

Juliet moved back also and regarded Trent a moment before addressing the table. “So, you all work in the same shop? ”

“Elton is the manager and the rest of us are his underlings, ” Zoe said. “He commands and we all bow before him.”

Elton snorted. “I wish.”

“So you started the team at work? ”

“Elton and I started working together at Gamerz Paradise at the same time and we’d been playing for years before that, ” Trent said. “Then when Chris came and was interested too, we started to go online as a trio, which grew into a larger group. We turned professional two years ago when the gaming business really began to take off. Since then we’ve gained Eddie, Zoe, and Rick and become a formidable team.”

“Why the robes? I noticed no one else dressed up today, ” Juliet said.

“It was Elton’s idea. He said we should bring a bit of showmanship to the proceedings. Everyone else had their name printed on a T-shirt, but we storm in wearing our Reaper robes. It makes us stand out.”

“Whether we win or lose, the crowd remembers the Reapers when the gaming is all done with, ” Rick added.

“And the skull face? ” Juliet looked over at Elton, who was in deep conversation with Monica.

“That’s Elton’s own special trademark. He’s the team captain, and he’s very aware that the face makeup unnerves some of the younger crowd we play against. He’s as purposely ghoulish as possible. He’s our version of those Maori rugby players who do the haka to frighten the opposition.” Trent signaled the passing waitress for another round of drinks and got a saucy wink in return. Trent caught Juliet looking from the waitress to her and back again.

“She seems to know you.”

“She should. We come here nearly every other week.”

“Didn’t you go out with her once? ” Eddie asked around a mouth stuffed with pizza crust.

“Once, ” Trent said stonily. She couldn’t remember how long it had been, but the encounter had been brief and characteristically one-sided. The waitress had thought it was a turn-on when Trent had purposely kept her hands pinned to stop her from touching her back. For Trent it had been necessary, but the sex had left her as unfulfilled and empty as always. One-sided sex was Trent’s way. It was quick and lacking in true intimacy, but it was the only way she would allow herself to be. She couldn’t afford to be vulnerable; she’d learned that lesson. Trent studied the pattern on her plate for a moment before turning the conversation away from herself. “So what line of work are you in, Juliet? ”

“I work for a bank.”

Trent grimaced. “In this current climate? Not a safe bet for a long career.”

“True, but I’ve been with this company ever since I left college.”

“Several years in one job is a long time, ” Trent said. “You must love your work.”

Juliet shrugged. “I used to love the challenges it created, but I can’t help wondering if I’m truly destined to stay there forever.”

“I love my job, ” Trent said. “I work with a great group of people, get to talk games all day, and meet new folk to talk games with.”

“It’s perfect for you. You’re lucky to be so settled.”

“You’re not so settled? ”

Juliet ran a hand through her hair which almost distracted Trent from her reply. “I’m bored. I can’t help but wonder if there’s something more.”

“There’s always something more. You just have to decide if you want to take it up on its offer when it presents itself to you.”

“Do you want more, Trent? ”

Trent was stopped from answering by the waitress deliberately leaning over her to set her drink down on the table before her. By the time she had removed herself, Kayleigh had engaged Juliet in conversation and the moment was lost.

 

Once the meal was over, everyone started to ready themselves to leave. Trent worked her way around her friends saying good night and answering the kids’ questions while she slipped on her jacket and prepared to go back to clear up the hall. She was amused to find Elton with Kayleigh fast asleep in his arms, her head on his shoulder.

“Guess we wore her out, ” she said as they walked back to Juliet’s car.

“She hardly slept all night, she was so excited about today.” Juliet opened the car door and Elton carefully lowered Kayleigh into the front seat and fastened her seat belt. She never made a murmur.

“When that kid sleeps, she’s dead to the world, ” he said.

“The sleep of the innocent, ” Monica said, hooking her arm back through Elton’s once his charge was settled.

Elton gave Trent a look she knew all too well. “I need to ask you a huge favor. Will you be able to finish up at the hall without me? I would really like to take Monica out for a drink.”

Trent nodded. “Sure, go ahead.”

“We’ll help you finish up, Trent, ” Rick and Zoe said.

“Haven’t you got somewhere else to be? ”

“No, not really. And Sam here can help wrap the controllers. We’ll see you in there.”

The threesome headed over toward the hall. Trent gave Elton the thumbs up. “There you go, all sorted. Those three will pick up your slack.”

“I owe you one, ” Elton said.

Monica kissed Juliet’s cheek and promised not to wake her when she came home. She held out a gloved hand to Trent, who shook it dutifully.

“It was wonderful to meet you, Trent.”

“Likewise, Monica. Something tells me I’m going to be seeing you a whole lot more.” She smirked at Elton’s uncharacteristic blush. “Elton, just make sure that trophy makes its way into work tomorrow unscathed. We’ll want it on display before the doors open.”

“I’ll remember.” They waved good-bye and began to walk away, already in deep conversation.

“It’s really a shame those two didn’t hit it off, ” Trent mused at their departure. “I’m sure they would have made a lovely couple.”

“I’ve never seen Monica so instantly smitten. It’s nice to see her happy. She’s a good friend and deserves to find a nice guy.”

“Elton’s the best, ” Trent said. “And he’s a gentleman, so Monica is in good hands.”

Juliet leaned back against her car. “So what are you going to do now after such an exciting day? ”

Trent tucked her hands into her coat pockets and rocked back on her heels a little. “I’ve got to help pack everything away again. I’m usually chief cable layer. Now I get to roll everything back up.”

“And then? ”

“Then I go home and prepare for a busy day at work tomorrow.”

“You have to work on a Sunday? ”

“This week, yes. I’m covering for one of the guys there. He has a wedding to go to so I’m taking his shift.”

“That’s very nice of you.”

Trent shrugged. “I don’t have the same commitments as some of the others. I can usually swap or change at a moment’s notice.” Trent peered into the car window to make sure Kayleigh was still sleeping. “You sure she’s asleep? ”

Juliet nodded. “She’s out for the count. Why? ”

“Is it her birthday soon? ”

“Next weekend, ” Juliet said. “Is there nothing she didn’t tell you on that walk back home? ”

She didn’t tell me just how beautiful you are, Trent thought as Juliet’s eyes danced with amusement. “Have you gotten her a present yet? ”

“No. My parents and I are stumped as to what to buy her.”

Trent chewed her bottom lip and debated her next words. “I can tell you exactly what she wants, but she’s worried you won’t get it for her because of the whole moving thing and the fact you usually stick her with girly presents.”

Juliet rolled her eyes at Trent’s statement. “My parents can’t quite get used to having a more ‘energetic’ daughter this time around. I’m told I was much easier to look after.” Juliet closed her eyes a moment. “But then, they didn’t have me so late in life.”

“There does appear to be quite a gap between your ages.”

“Kayleigh was an ‘oops’ baby but very much wanted by my parents. They had her when I was seventeen, late in the day for both of them, and I regret that I was already way beyond wanting a little sister to tag along with me. But I love her to pieces and try to spend as much time as possible with her when I can.”

“She wants a game console for her birthday. I know exactly which one and what else you’ll need for her. I hasten to add this isn’t so I can make a sale here. It’s what she told me she wanted.”

“If I come into your shop could you set me up with her dream present? ”

“I could do exactly that and make you the best big sister ever in her eyes.”

“I could live with that. You say you’re in tomorrow? I could pop in then. Sunday shopping is a perfect time for me.”

“Do you know the Baydale Shopping Center? ”

“I’m getting to. Monica does all her shopping there and delights in dragging me around every square inch of the place when I go with her.”

“We’re on the ground floor, opposite the food court. We open at eleven a.m. Come see me and I’ll hook you up with everything you need.”

“This is very sweet of you, ” Juliet said softly. “After all, she’s just a kid you met by chance yesterday.”

“Everyone should have what they want if they want it hard enough.” Juliet’s undivided attention made Trent’s chest ache, and warmth began to radiate between her thighs.

“Is there anything that you want hard enough? ” Juliet asked, her voice suddenly husky and low.

“At this precise moment I find myself quite content with my life.”

“You’re very lucky.”

“I had a really great time today. I’m so glad you came.” The smile Juliet gave her took Trent’s breath away and she was glad she’d given voice to her thoughts.

“I don’t think Kayleigh would have let me not bring her.” Juliet walked around her car to get in.

“Then I owe your sister. Until tomorrow, then? ”

Juliet nodded. She unlocked her door and started to get in but at the last minute stopped. “Trent? I had a wonderful day too. Thank you.”

It was my pleasure, Trent thought as Juliet got in her car and started the engine. Trent stayed to wave her off and didn’t move until the car turned at the end of the road and disappeared from her sight. She shifted uncomfortably at the steady thrum of arousal radiating over her body. “Oh, she is way out of my league, ” she mumbled to herself and kicked at the pavement petulantly. She forced herself to take a deep breath. “Okay, she’s gone now, time to get your brain in gear and go clear up the gaming hall.” Trent wandered back to the civic hall. “So maybe I’ll see her again tomorrow. Maybe I won’t. Maybe I’ll just get one of the other guys to just deal with her and I won’t have to see her again.” She swallowed against the excitement the mere thought of seeing Juliet caused and the unwelcome rush of unease that followed it.

“This had better not put me off my game.”


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