“Some things I just can’t hide.” She followed him to the concessions line, glancing back at Bill.
He held back, watching people. Bill had a way about him, meeting people’s eyes and nodding his head in acknowledgment, that made him look like a people watcher. He was good at not looking creepy doing it.
“Hot dog, right?” Rafe asked.
“Yes, please. And I really need some chocolate.” She moved past him to the rack with the large candy boxes and muttered to herself, “It’s been one of those weeks.”
“I think you’re holding up really well,” Rafe said from behind her.
Ahri jumped and put her hand to her heart. “I thought you were getting the dogs.”
He held up two long boxes. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“It’s okay. Maybe I won’t be so jumpy when we’re out of Phoenix.”
Rafe put the hot dogs on the counter and reached for her box of candy. Pinching her lips, she handed it over.
“Let’s eat first.” Rafe nodded at some round tables near the concessions counter and strode to a table.
She picked up packets of condiments on the way to join him, watching the people with interest. A group of five guys came from the hallway of theater rooms, all chatting enthusiastically.
Rafe grinned and nodded in their direction. “Listen to them.”
Ahri did, and the lingo sounded familiar. “They just finished a game of REKD.”
He nodded. “And they won.”
The group went to the concessions counter and picked out food, discussing strategies and reliving good plays. Another group of five followed, not looking as happy. She decided they’d lost the match.
“I wish I could lose myself in this world.” Ahri took a bite of her hot dog.
“What do you mean?” Rafe sipped from his cup. “Do you want to get a job in a place like this?”
“No,” she said when she’d swallowed. “What would I do here? I’m an office manager. I think the innovation part of what you guys are doing is what appeals to me. I’d love to be part of creating something.” She shook her head. “I don’t know how to explain it. I guess I’m just tired of my life.”
“I can understand that. I’ve felt the same way many times.”
“Really?” Ahri studied him. She’d thought he had everything. Not many guys were billionaires before they were thirty.
“I got everything I wanted.” Rafe heaved out a breath.
Ahri’s heart twisted a little at his obvious unhappiness. No, itwasn’t that. Dissatisfaction maybe. Did the other guys know? Kayn had said several times that it was because Rafe was good at what he did that they’d done so well, that he had business savvy. How hard was it for him to be forced into a role just because he was good at it?
Rafe finished his food, lost in his own thoughts. Ahri wondered how old he was. If she remembered right, he was the youngest of the four guys.
“Everything happened so fast,” he finally said. “I’d just started the second semester of my graduate program when we got the first offer to sell.”
Ahri remembered how excited Kayn had been. The idea of her brother being a millionaire had blown both of them away.
“You talked them into holding out,” she said.
“I figured we were doing just fine as we were.” Rafe rose and gathered the trash.
“Did you think they’d counter the offer?”
“I didn’t.” He stood a little taller, and the corner of his mouth twitched. “That was a happy surprise. Theyreallywanted the rights to that first game.”
“Are you sorry now you sold?” she asked.
