Rose Marie Jones (SDSU Board Game Society):
@Lincoln come down to the parking area.
I should probably update the way I saved their contacts all those years ago.
I texted back:I’m in LA. Didn’t Claire tell you?
Claire:So are we.
Shaun Ashdern (Rose’s coworker):I hate that I’m missing out :(
What?I replied.
William Ashdern (Shaun’s brother):@Shaun sucks to be you. Hey @Lincoln, come get us. We have no idea where to go. This place is filled with people who look really smart.
I left my room and walked downstairs in a complete haze. They couldn’t really be here, could they? This was all some elaborate prank.
But when I stepped outside, Rose, Dean, William, and Claire were there. Waving. Smiling.
My mouth dropped open. “Hey?” With my brain attempting to process the situation, my hand managed a small return wave. “What are you doing here?” A grin crept onto my face. I wasn’t an idiot. There was no other reason they could be at this conference, but I still needed to hear them say it. I wouldn’t believe it otherwise.
“Here to watch your presentation. Duh,” Claire said.
“I may fall asleep, but that’s only because I was up all night working onOverpower,” William said.
“But he only needs, like, a twenty-minute nap. He’s like a giraffe,” Rose chimed in.
“In more ways than one,” I added.
This elicited a giggle from Rose. “You know, we’ve always wanted to see you present but you never tell us in time.” She lifted her tote bag. “By the way, I wasn’t sure if us plebs were allowed in since we’re not engineers, so I have a hard hat and a reflective vest just in case.”
More PPE than Elizabeth, I thought to myself, and chuckled. “Why do you own this?”
“I dressed as Builder Barbie for a party once,” she replied. “Do I need to gear up?”
Not at all surprising.
I shook my head. “The public is welcome, but it’s not often anyone wants to pay and register to hear us talk about concrete and trains.”
“Sounds thrilling,” Claire said. “But tell me you have a swanky hotel room with room service?”
“I sure do,” I replied.
I led them inside and chatted with reception about getting them registered, and then we went upstairs to my room.
William went straight to the desk and set up his laptop beside mine. “We could jam a quick game if you wanted?”
“William.” Rose playfully whacked him over the head. “Why would we drive all the way here to watch you play games? Besides, he might need to prepare for his presentation. Pretend we’re not here. Or use us as a practice audience.”
I chuckled and woke my laptop from sleep mode. “I’d have picked the game, but this thing’s about to die, and I forgot my—”
“Charger,” they said together.
I shrugged, heat rising to my cheeks. My devices were always dead or dying, and I hadn’t realized they’d noticed this.
A message popped up on-screen.
@pancakesareelite:
