Did we study together? Did we hook up? I’d have remembered that… Maybe we matched on a dating app.
He stood and twisted, revealing a Pokémon T-shirt. He waved at someone. Two people joined him. One of them, a brown-skinned woman who looked oddly familiar too.
Hold on.
Was that@wheretheresawilliam? What was he doing here?
Was he an engineer?
No. He was a full-time game developer.
But he could have studied engineering.
No, I’d read an article about him. He studied computer science.
Unless…
My head snapped toward the stage. Could it be?
@wheretheresawilliamand@theanswerisnowere always friendly… Really friendly. Link was the one who introduced me to@wheretheresawilliam’s streams. Could they be friends in real life?
I shook my head again.
Was he here for Mr. Carden? Here for@theanswerisno? Here for Link?
At that exact moment, Lincoln Carden took the stage, his chin raised high, his wide shoulders squared. Every thought escaped me and was replaced only by his strong, calm presence.
He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and dipped his gaze to the podium, where I was sure he had notes ready. He’d probably anticipated everyone’s questions too.
“Good afternoon, everyone.” He glanced upward, and his gaze met mine.
I couldn’t help but grin and offer him a double thumbs-up.
Then he smiled.
Not the half-lopsided one I was used to. A full smile.Milestone unlocked.
He was happy to see me.
My traitorous heart fluttered as though it had grown wings.
“I’m Dr. Lincoln Carden,” he said. His voice was still quiet like it always was but somehow he managed to capture everyone. “Listen closely, because I’m only going to say this once, and if you ask me a question I’ve answered in my presentation, I will call you out for it.”
Mr. Carden was handsome and unintentionally sexy, but Dr. Carden was something else. I didn’t expect the sass. It tickled me. Blood crept to my cheeks and I was grateful for the darkened room.
A few latecomers shuffled in and filled the gaps. His session was almost at full capacity. He straightened his tie and clicked through to his first slide.
THERE IS NO AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT COULD JUSTIFY THE LOSS OF LIFE.
“If you disagree with that, this presentation isn’t for you.” He walked across the stage and eyed the crowd, who remained seated.
He launched into the intricacies of his work and I was fixated. If my mouth was open, I’d have to mop up my drool.
There was something so incredibly powerful about him up there. A deep wanting spread throughout my entire body. I was in big, big trouble here.
And it wasn’t only because of his deep voice or large, capable hands. With every passing word and well-timed joke, my admiration grew more and more until I could barely stand it. I considered fleeing. But how would I explain that to him? Or Mr. Anders? I could pretend to get sick.
But he’d probably worry about me.
