Not that I’d ever tell him that. He didn’t need the ego boost.
“The convention is right after the term ends for summer break.” Professor Tuttle still taught part-time, despite devoting most of his retirement to his vlog. “I say we take two weeks—five or six days there, three days for the convention, five or six days coming home. It’ll be a grand adventure. Who’s in?”
I expected Conrad to agree first, because no way would he turn down a chance to go party with Payton and be a minor celebrity with Gamer Grandpa’s following. I’d been forced to overhear too many stories of their wild antics over the years to think otherwise.
In the end, though, it was Jasper who nodded first. “I’m up for it. I’ll have to talk to my folks and Arthur, though, make sure I can be spared.”
“Excellent. Conrad?” Professor Tuttle prompted. Relief rushed through me that he hadn’t asked me next. I still hadn’t sorted out my reaction to this turn of events. Unlike the others, I wasn’t the best at reading situations and never coped well with sudden change. I wanted to go. That wasn’t the issue, but there was a ton of other mental clatter going around in my head that was making it hard to focus.
“Uh…” Conrad still sat across from me, still holding his duffel like a shield. “Work, you know? Might need to rearrange some things…”
That was typically vague. I wasn’t entirely sure what job Conrad currently had. He seemed to have an endless supply of side hustles and part-time gigs that never lasted long. Rumor was, he got fired almost as often as he went out and partied. I’d once tried to help him see that the two probably were related, but he’d almost bitten my head off, so I tried not to get involved anymore. It wasn’t my business anyway.
“That’s fine. How about you guys think about it? The tickets are yours, but you can tell me your decision about the road trip when we play Sunday afternoon.”
“Time to think is good.” That gave us a little under forty-eight hours, but it was better than being put on the spot. I nodded along with Conrad.
“The tickets are ours?” Conrad licked his lower lip as he took one from the stack. I couldn’t shake the feeling he was mentally working out what his ticket might fetch on a reseller site. And see, this was why I needed to go. I was the only one of us who truly cared about the game and the tournament.
I grabbed mine before anyone else could think about taking it.
“So, you think you’re going?” Conrad nodded at the ticket in my hand. His midwestern flat affect took a turn for the country with you sounding more like ya when he was agitated. I’d never figured out exactly where he was from—some corn-fed rural state where they grew their guys naturally athletic and tall as water towers. Conrad always looked like he’d escaped some minor league baseball team to come slum with us nerds at the game store.
“Maybe. I said I’d think about it.” I didn’t owe him a peek at my inner turmoil, didn’t want him to know how rattled I was, and my tone came out way too snappish. Something about Conrad always made me feel even more out of my depth socially, and that uncertainty tended to come out as combative—little verbal swipes that accomplished nothing other than to ensure that we were always at odds.
“Chill, Alden.” Jasper was more Conrad’s friend than mine, and the long-suffering look they exchanged grated on my last nerve.
Whatever. I wasn’t in this to make friends. I was here for one reason, and one reason only—the high I got from winning. Sure, the satisfaction of deck building was nice, and the aesthetics of the game weren’t entirely lost on me, but nothing compared to the rush of victory. And right now, at this point in my life, I needed that rush in the worst way.
Payton would accuse me of being overly dramatic, so I’d never admit it aloud, but there were days when the game kept me going. Just knowing we’d had the filming today had been good. Getting to do this professionally? Being able to call this a career choice and not an expensive hobby? That might be worth whatever it would take to get that seat on the pro tour. I still wasn’t sold on Professor Tuttle’s plan, but that ticket was mine, and I wasn’t letting go.
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Book Club Treasure Hunt
Jasper and Milo spend much of Out of Character on a treasure hunt for rare cards…but did you notice the secret clues scattered throughout the book? They’ll help you find the answers to these questions.
1. Jasper and Milo used to be friends but had a falling out as kids. As they’re thrown together again, what instructions does Jasper give in his first text to Milo?
2. What does Milo get Jasper to drink at the bakery, and what do you think it means that he knows Jasper so well?
3. Where does Jasper find Milo after their big fight?
4. Milo uses his art to express himself even when the words won’t come. What does he draw after he returns from Philadelphia? (And what do you think it means?)
5. What unexpected couple does Milo see dancing that gives him courage?
6. Milo has a lot of complicated feelings about his car—but what’s the one thing he really doesn’t like about it?
7. What flavor of pizza does Jasper order for Milo, and why is that important?
8. What code name does Milo suggest they use?
9. What does Milo’s heartbeat sound like to Jasper, and why?
10. Jasper’s frog wizard costume is as vibrant as it is grand. What colors are most prominently displayed?
11. Each Odyssey player has their own unique style. What type of card does George play first?
12. Out of Character begins with Milo in a tough place, uncertain of his future. Where is he when the book ends?
Acknowledgments
No book can take place without an amazing team behind it. I want to thank Mary Altman of Sourcebooks and Deidre Knight of the Knight Agency for making my dreams of a Conventionally Yours sequel come true. Mary and Christa Désir’s careful edits helped push me deeper into making my vision for the book ring true. Stefani Sloma is a publicity wizard and part of a larger unsung Sourcebooks team that does amazing things. I appreciate every opportunity you have found for me and for your enthusiasm for these books. The audio team from Dreamscape have also been so fabulous. I can’t say enough good things about the cover art by Colleen Reinhart and also the promotional art from artist Lauren Dombrowski. Lauren has been particularly wonderful to work with and their drawings give life to my imagination.
Jasper had an amazing cheering section on the home front too. Melinda Reuter went above and beyond with her thoughtful beta, especially on the gaming details. Karen Stivali was my sounding board for all things East Coast and mothers, and I appreciate her friendship most of all. My personal assistant, Abbie Nicole, is also a dear friend and probably heard more about Jasper’s tribulations than anyone else. This was my first beta from my unicorn-loving bestie, Gwen Martin. I’m so, so glad you came into my life at the perfect moment, and your comments and enthusiasm helped so much. So many other friends provided key support, and I must thank all the readers of my Facebook reader group, Annabeth’s Angels. The group is often the brightest spot in my day, and everyone’s desire for more from the True Colors universe kept me going.
This book also comes from years of playing tabletop games, and I’m so grateful to all the podcasts, vlogs, and websites that helped round out my knowledge. I especially appreciate those that patiently explained the secondary market for rare collectibles in terms even this newbie collector could understand. Jasper and Milo also required a deep dive into the world of geocaching, which was fun and informative. Thank you to my family and friends for all the hours spent gaming over the years and for dealing with my many questions with grace. My family also put up with a lot of late dinners and distracted conversations during the final push for which I am so grateful.
The book was written during the quarantine and social distancing of the great paus
e, and it was so lovely to get to escape into a world without Covid-19, where conventions and fundraisers and hospital visits could still take place. The decision to leave Covid-19 out of the book was very deliberate, and I hope readers enjoy this little bit of escapism as much as I did. I loved the group scenes so much, and I can’t wait to live in a world where such gatherings are commonplace again.
And finally, thank you to my readers. I have the best readers anywhere. Every share, picture, post, tag, like, and message are so appreciated. Your word of mouth is everything, and your enthusiasm is why I keep writing. I love hearing from you! If you love Jasper as much as I do, please consider telling a friend or leaving a review.
About the Author
When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, Annabeth Albert is a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer. Her popular LGBTQ+ romances include several fan-favorite and critically acclaimed series. She lives with her spouse and two children in Oregon. To find out what she’s working on next—as well as other fun extras—check out her website or connect with Annabeth on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Spotify.
Connect online:
annabethalbert.com
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