@pancakesareelite:
Sounds like a dream come true
@theanswerisno:
Well, it’s kinda like what we do
@pancakesareelite:
And that sometimes feels
like a dream come true too
I wasn’t sure if I’d misheard her, but@theresaroseseemed to be asking me if I’d like to be on her guest list fortheSan Diego Comic-Con. As if we were friends. As if we hadn’t only just met.
“I’ve never been either,” I admitted, relieved to see that I wasn’t the only one in this little group. “Isn’t it impossible to get tickets?”
“Not when you’re engaged to Thunderstruck’s favorite employee.” Rose threw William a loving smile. She then turned to me. “My mission in life is to get everyone to go to Comic-Con, at least once. Come over to the dark side.” She curled her hand toward herself and then reached to her left and swiped something from her bag before offering it to me. “We have cookies!”
I burst into a fit of giggles and took the offered cookie. “If you really don’t mind, and if it isn’t costing you or taking up someone else’s spot, then yes, I’d love that.”
She waved a hand. “No, not at all. The more the merrier.” She slid her phone across the floor to me. “Give me your number and email address, and I’ll send you the comp tickets.” She looked around at everyone. “There’s only one catch.” She paused for effect. “You’ll have to cosplay!”
“Nope,” Claire said. “You know I don’t cosplay.”
Rose laughed, seemingly unaffected with how unimpressed Claire was. “Meh, worth a try.”
Claire’s tense shoulders softened. She scooched over and gave Rose a little pinch. “What are you going as?”
“A hobbit, for old time’s sake.”
“Aw,” Claire said, her lips pouting. “And you’re…?”
William nodded even though she hadn’t finished her question. I was so confused.
“My Gandalf,” Rose said, and I couldn’t help but chuckle as I pictured a hobbit and Gandalf looking at each other the way these two did.
“Will it be the first time you’re both in costume since you met?”Claire asked.
They nodded.
“Ah, my heart.” Claire clasped her hands at her chest. “Your love story is one of my favorites.”
I wanted to ask what it was, but these weren’t my friends and their lives were none of my business.
Taking me by surprise, Lincoln leaned in and whispered, “Rose and William met at Comic-Con while she was dressed as an unnamed hobbit and he was dressed as a suave Gandalf. Years later, they met again and didn’t recognize each other. It’s kinda like they were meant to be. Like they’d always find each other. One way or another.”
His soft and pained gaze dragged up until it met mine, stopping my heart.
“Can we count on you all being there?” William asked, pulling Rose onto his lap as though she were a rag doll.
They nodded. I didn’t. It depended on whether Lincoln was okay with having me around. I’d already gate-crashed his office, his cabin, and now his game night. I didn’t want to overstep. Again.
Dixit began, and while I’d played it online, the real-life game experience was so much warmer. Perhaps it was the crowd, but I found myself laughing. Actually laughing. At one stage, I’d snorted my coffee and nearly spat it everywhere. Very graceful.
At the end of the game, Claire won but no one was upset about losing.
“Before we start the next round,” Dean said, standing, “I brought dessert. I’ll heat it.”
