The girl gnawed on her thumbnail. “Do you sell those?”
“No. But there’s a good website at…” Was I allowed to say or were they competitors? I needed to reread my contract. “Anyway, we’ll see what happens. Worse comes to worse, you can buy from them, and we can transfer your files with or without the support of your parents.”
“Okay, thanks.” She smiled and clasped her hands. Hopefully, that happy thought prevented any more nail-biting.
As soon as she left, I got to work backing up her phone in case it wouldn’t reboot. So many fucking videos. I sighed and drummed my fingers on the desk. The progress bar inched along, then froze for minutes at a time. This was going to take forever. I might as well multitask: read an article or play a game.
Sal played Craft Cove at work. Plus, True Tech had it installed on all the computers to show off graphics. Ash kept busy by browsing her phone when customers weren’t around, so it’d probably be fine to play as long as I was just waiting on this sync. As soon as I logged into Craft Cove, a message popped up.
Sure, whatever. I just came in to collect resources. I fished by the sea, watered some plants, and combed the beach. A pink stone had washed ashore. The description said, ‘Rose Quartz: This stone may bring you love.’ So, would this help me build relationships with the islanders or what?
My phone pinged with successive screenshots of my cove in GameUp.
He sent me a mid-blown gif.
Weirdo. Lots of people modded Craft Cove. Usually, it was just a T-shirt redesign, but it was easy enough for kids to do it.
Seconds later, he barreled into True Tech. “Zero, I have to ask you something.”
I arched my eyebrow. “Aren’t you supposed to mind your store?”
“Yes. But I’ll just be a minute.” He waved it off, then plonked his upper body onto the ledge. “I have a favor to ask you.”
I ground my teeth. Those words never bode well. Also, pizza never adequately compensated for hours of free manual labor.
He upturned his palms. “So, my girlfriend loves Craft Cove. It’s the only game she plays. For her birthday, I was trying to make her dream house in-game.”
“Okay?” That was sweet, but what did that have to do with me?
“The base game stuff is a little, uh, limiting. Could you help me mod a few things?” He clasped his hands, his face shining and flushed.
“Why are you sweating?” I offered him the tissue box.
“I don’t know. I’m nervous. Plus, I ran over here.” He wiped his forehead on the sleeve of his mustard-colored shirt, then snagged a tissue.
I wagged the tissue box at him as he wiped down. “Next time, you should text. Or walk. Now, you have a weird sheen.” Who’d want to buy toys from a damp salesman?
“Gee, thanks.” He grinned, then tossed the crumpled tissue at me.
I squeaked and slid away fast enough to dodge it.Idiot.My cheeks flexed with an incredulous smile.“Now, I’m definitely not doing you a favor.”
“Wait, wait, I’m sorry.” He ran around the counter to pick up the tissue, then knelt at my feet. His earnest gaze bore into me. “Please, Zero? Will you take mercy on me? You’re my only hope of pulling this off.”
I wanted to say no and turn away. He needed to get his ass behind the dividing wall with the rest of the peasants. Instead, I sat there with the weird vibe he was proposing to me. But he wasn’t. This was a transactionalrequest. For another woman. Something he’d ask a friend. And he did have my back with the drone thing.
My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth. I slowly rolled my chair away. “I-I don’t know. I don’t know her. It’s a lot of work, and this isn’t an emergency.”
“Her birthday’s next week,” he said.
