17
FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS, Rafe hardly had a moment to talk with Ahri about anything except work. If he hadn’t been exhausted when he fell into bed at night, he doubted he’d have been able to sleep. He couldn’t wait for Saturday night when he could finally talk to her.
The team Cass had assembled and then Ahri worked with had done an impressive job, especially for an almost last-minute event. He’d originally thought to open it to the public without charging. Bill, with Ahri and Cass to back him up, had nixed that. Instead, they’d charged enough for general admission to help offset the cost of the food. It made it expensive enough to discourage potential party crashers but not so much that it would keep dedicated fans from attending.
Dressed in a tux, Rafe headed to the balcony that overlooked the main grounds where the partygoers had gathered. Kayn, Ezreal, and Darius waited for him just inside, also dressed like their favorite champions.
“Seriously? That’s your cosplay costume? Atux?” Kayn asked, dressed in sleeveless armor, baggy pants, and boots, his curved blade hanging at his side.
“I chose the skin from the Debonair line. I’m still armed.” Rafe held up the over-sized hexed technology rifle his champion used. It even had a blade, though that had been made of a soft, bendable material. The mock-up of the magical gun was still relatively heavy, in spite of having been made of lightweight materials. It was a real work of art. He’d ordered a case built for it so it could be displayed in the building’s entry after the event.
“You play him a lot, so it fits.” Ez held up his hands to indicate his own flashy swashbuckler jacket and pirate-like pants, his champion’s powerful gauntlet held in his right hand.
“It works.” Darius had gone with his champion’s default gear of armor, cape, and a giant ax.
“Yeah, but he already had the tux, so he didn’t have to do anything.” Kayn shook his head. “Except for his gun, he looks like he’s going to prom.”
“In here,” Ahri said as she opened the door, dressed in the full armor of one of their support champs, from a helmet on her head down to a breastplate and even the cuisse that covered her thighs. Rafe knew it wasn’t one she liked to play, but she approved of how much coverage it provided. She shot him a quick glance, taking in his costume, and the corner of her mouth quirked appreciatively.
Behind her, a crowd of young men and one woman entered the room, all dressed as REKD champs.
“Our pro teams have arrived. Welcome.” Rafe strode over and shook everyone’s hands, nodding especially to the ones he’d played against in Phoenix. “I’m so glad you could all make it. Your fans out there will go insane when I announce you.”
“It’s time.” Ahri pointed to a clock on the wall.
“Okay. I’ll give my opening comments,” Rafe explained to the teams, “and then I’ll introduce you. You’re welcome to mix and mingle with our guests after that. There are food and craft vendors and some costume contests. Tonight, at the private banquet, we’ll have a table for each team, including the fanswho’ve won the chance to eat with you.” He grinned and pointed to the balcony. “We’re on.”
He led the way, followed by his partners. They stood beside him at the handrail, the members of the pro teams behind them.
“REKD. REKD,” the fans below chanted.
“This is surreal,” Kayn muttered.
“Tell me about it,” one of the team members said from behind them. “It still blows my mind.”
“I hear the game is really your initials,” another team member said.
“Rafe, Ezreal, Kayn, and Darius. Aren’t they just so clever?” Ahri’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
“That’s just because every time I play against you, you get wrecked,” Kayn sniped back.
Grinning at the sibling rivalry, Rafe picked up the microphone, holding up his other hand for the crowd to quiet. When they did, he began.
“Welcome everyone to REKD Gaming and what could be our first annual Midsummer’s Eve Celebration.”
The crowd roared, and a rush of excitement filled him. All these people stood as proof that he and the guys had created something that had captured the imagination of millions of people.
“Thank you for coming to our little party. Tonight, at our banquet, we’ll be handing out awards honoring our most dedicated players who’ve done so much to spread the word about REKD and to encourage others to join our game. It’s because of their diligence and devotion that we’ve grown so much so fast.”
It took a while for the crowd to calm down.
“You’re in for a treat this afternoon. Let me now introduce ourspecialguests.”
Rafe introduced each team, letting the crowd vent their enthusiasm before moving on to the next one. He then invited everyone to enjoy the day.
Turning, he faced the teams. “Thank you again for coming today. I hope you enjoyed your tour of the facility last night. Have fun.”
Aware that Ahri wasn’t moving, Rafe held back as the others left. He’d been waiting for a chance to get her alone. When the room had emptied, he turned to her.
