“With what? We’re at a hotel nearby. Dad and I can meet up with you. Give us thirty to get ready and you can stay with us tonight. We’d love to spend time with you. You still like sushi, right?”
“It’s not that. I’d love to spend more time with you too, but I can’t tonight. I...don’t know what to do.” Her voice wavered.
Vee took in the room that had been her home for weeks. Her bag had remained partially packed since that last time she’d tried to leave, but it was still filled with her and Cypher’s stuff. Not much, but it was there.
Bees had toys scattered across the floor—fake mice with catnip. Vee’s red dress was draped over a chair, always out because Cypher went crazy whenever she wore it.
There was a gun on the table next to the bed, and several other weapons stashed throughout because of Cypher’s paranoia and aggressively protective instincts. Then there were her toiletries and papers with her notes about Laprencia and several screenshots of the two of them in virtual Yria hanging on the wall.
She loved it all; they made this room theirs. Whenever she inhaled, she breathed in Cypher. His scent permeated the space like an ever-present drug.
But could she join him offworld? Where, if something should happen, she would have no escape or control of her life?
Vee couldn’t bear the thought of joining Cypher only for him to break up with her later. It was too painful to think about. He was her first, and she wanted him to be her last. Was that selfish of her? Or naive?
He hasn’t said he loves me.
“What is it, Vee?” her mom asked. “What’s wrong?”
“Cypher asked me to join him tonight when he leaves Earth,” she said.
There was a short pause. “He did?”
“He leaves soon, and I don’t have much time to decide. I’m scared. Really scared, or nervous. I can’t get my head straight. I guess I’m both, mom.”
“How much time do you have? Why are you scared?”
“Hours, maybe less. I love him but I don’t know if he loves me!” Vee burst out.
“Oh, honey… He—”
“I’ve been dreading saying goodbye for weeks now, but I didn’t think it was going to happen so soon. I don’t want to say goodbye—it hurts my heart—but to leave? There’s so much left to do.”
“You love him?”
“I do.”
“Then you have your answer, sweetie.”
“It’s not that simple,” Vee whimpered. “You know me. I’ve never had a boyfriend, never had anything but that damn game. I don’t even have any girlfriends. I’m a loser. I’m a loner, independent, always have been, until him. What if I care for him more than he cares for me? What if I’m making a big mistake? I don’t know what to do.”
Her mom tsked. “I don’t think that’s true.”
“How would you know?”
“Vee, in the short time your dad and I were with you two yesterday and this morning, Cypher couldn’t keep his eyes off of you. In person and in the game. I don’t know much about him other than what’s been relayed to us, but it seems he’s put his life on hold for you. He didn’t have to, did he? Not only that, but he’s also helped keep you safe, helped you get to the championship, and stood by your side the whole way. It’s easy to see he cares for you.”
Vee sniffled. “You think so?”
“I know so.”
“Mom… I love him so much.”
“He loves you too. He wouldn’t ask you to join him out in the universe if he didn’t.” Vee’s mother chuckled. “Can you imagine?”
“So you think I should go?”
“I think you should follow your heart, and if you don’t, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”
