“Of course I’ll walk Hazel to her car,” Alec says to Frank, as if he didn’t even hear me. He downs the rest of his soup and tosses the empty cups into a nearby trash can. Then he looks at me. “What do you think? Ready to head out?”
“But you just got here. And what about all your tickets? Your friends must be here. Don’t you want to see them?”
Why am I arguing against the simple act of Alec walking me to my car?
Is it stubborn independence?
Or is it because the two of us walking in the dark feels so much more intimate than talking to Alec at the bar or grocery store?
“Here.” Frank thrusts a large to-go container at Alec. “The cheddar ale soup.” He plops a large baggieof the pretzel pieces we use as a garnish on top of it. “Not that you can’t come back to get more soup. But if you two decide to head home—” I don’t miss his emphasis on the word two—“you’ve got something to eat. Enough to share, even.”
Did I think my cheeks were hot before? They’re an inferno now.
Alec presses his lips together, like he’s holding back a grin. Then he takes the container from Frank. “That sounds great, Frank. Thanks.” Turning to me, Alec adds, “I don’t care about the tickets. And honestly, I’m pretty beat. I only came out because Enzo and Winter were hounding me to. Going home to watch TV and enjoy some delicious soup sounds like the perfect way to wrap up my day.”
“Okay.” I glance at Frank. “If you’re sure?”
“Of course he’s sure,” Wendy says with a big smile. “We’re fine here, Hazel. Really. We appreciate you coming out to help with this. But go home. Relax. Play that game of yours. Tantalizing Vein, right?”
Alec arches an eyebrow. “Tantalizing Vein? What kind of game is that? Is it about vampires?”
I’ve never feared self-immolation from embarrassment until now.
“It’s Tenebris Veil,” I mutter. “It’s an MMORPG. And there aren’t any?—”
Well. Therearevampires in it. But only in a couple of zones. And they’re NPCs, not playable characters.
“I’d love to hear about it,” Alec says. As I come out from around the table to join him, his hand grazes my lower back, setting off sizzles of electricity across my skin.
I’m not looking for a relationship, I remind myself. Single is better. Safer.
And besides, Alec is just being a gentleman. He’s being a protector, which is, quite literally, part of his job. Because Alec doesn’t just install alarm systems, he’s part of a private security company headquartered in Bliss called Green Mountain Guardians.
Oh, and he used to serve in the Army for almost twenty years. So I guess if I’m looking for someone to escort me to my car, Alec is the one to ask.
Or for Frank to ask, as it was.
“So,” Alec continues. “What’s this about a game?” He pauses. “If you don’t mind me asking.”
I hesitate for a few seconds, focusing on the cobblestone path in front of me as I consider my answer. I don’t normally tell people about my game; not because I’m ashamed of it, but because of the reactions I inevitably get when I tell them I play a massively multiplayer online role-playing game, otherwise known as an MMORPG.
You?I get the most frequently.But you seem so normal.Or,Aren’t all the people who play those games just single guys living in their parents’ basements?
Yes, I’m normal. And no, all the people who play don’t live in their parents’ basements. Plenty ofpeople have their own houses. Good jobs. Families. They’re nice. Funny. Understanding.
So I guess I get a little defensive when the topic comes up.
But Alec works with computers. He owns a company that relies on them. He wouldn’t judge. Would he?
“It’s fine,” I finally reply. “Tenebris Veil—not Tantalizing Vein—is an MMORPG. Quests, elves, dragons, that sort of thing. I’ve been playing for a few years now.”
Alec’s hand briefly rests on my back as he guides me around a group of giggling teenagers. Those darn sparks erupt again. “I know MMORPGs,” he says. “I haven’t played yours, but I’ve playedWorld of Warcrafta few times. Some of my buddies play it.World of Warcraft, that is.”
“Oh, really?” We leave the park and start heading down the sidewalk.
“Yeah.” Alec glances over at me. “Where are you parked? In the parking lot? Or one of the side streets?”
“I’m parked on Bliss Boulevard.” And like I always do, I giggle as I say it. “I don’t know why, but that always makes me laugh.”
