Page 81 of Glitched Play

Damn those two minutes went by fast.

"Mm."

Maci steps inside carrying a tablet, wearing jeans today, white sneakers and a Synatrix hoodie. Her hair looks like she put it up wet and it’s dried wavy. She looks comfortable and that seems even more dangerous.

I focus on the tablet instead of the cute way her nose turns up at the end.

"You needed approval."

"Actually..." She sits across from me. "...I wanted your opinion."

Okay, I can do this. Act like nothing happened even though her being in the same room is setting off feelings I shouldn’t have.

She offers the tablet and I read over the changes for the Rookie Program.

Player mentors now earn achievements.

Returning veterans unlock exclusive cosmetic rewards for helping new players.

Community captains.

Regional tournaments.

Everything connects.

It’s scalable.

Very...

Rune.

No.

Stop.

I hand the tablet back. "This is better."

"I thought so." Her smile appears immediately.

"You were right."

"I know."

The confidence should bother me.

Instead, it makes me want to give her another impossible problem. Not because I think she'll fail. I just like watching her solve things.

That realization is concerning.

She stands and rubs her hands on her jeans. "So..."

I wait.

"We're okay?” she asks quietly, not accusing like she’s going to HR and not like she’s asking for more.

She’s hopeful.

I finally look at her. Really look.