Good Game: A Gamer Romance (Leveling Up In Love Book 1)

by Kat Alex Crystal

  She giggled—actually giggled—at that. It was nice. “Coffee it is. And yes, they do. Shade-grown, organic, fair-trade beans. As long as you’re okay with almond milk.”

  “Black is fine. Do you have other people waiting to get their cards read? Was this a terrible lie and now I’m monopolizing you?”

  “I’m usually done in five minutes,” she said, shaking her head. “So I’m all yours.”

  He tried not to clench his jaw and forced a polite nod as the waitress returned with his coffee. All his, indeed. Exactly what he wanted and just what he was afraid of.

  “Okay, let’s see what your future holds, huh?” She grinned, picking up the cards and starting to shuffle them.

  This should be interesting. Not that he expected to glean any revelations, but it’d be cool to see her in action. He didn’t know what to make of this hobby of hers.

  “Okay, think of something you need an answer to. Something you’re worried about. Don’t tell me what it is—just think about it and concentrate.”

  “But you already know my biggest problem.” Not entirely true at this point, but she didn’t need to know that.

  “I didn’t promise this would be some kind of rigorously scientific test or anything. Are you thinking about it?”

  He needed to stop thinking about Violet. That was his biggest problem. Maybe get his dad off his back. Olivia and Frank and Janet too. Were those too many problems? Should he be picking just one? Did he even need answers to any of those? They weren’t questions. He knew what to do to get rid of his family’s interference.

  What he really needed to know was… if this foolish obsession with Violet persisted, where was it going to lead?

  “Yes,” he said. A ridiculous word to utter, considering the problems swirling in his head.

  “Okay. Now for the problem, let’s look at the nature of it.” She drew a card, then another. “Wow, that’s… special.” She drew a third. Her eyebrows flew up. “Yikes.”

  “What?” He leaned forward.

  “This is a pretty unlikely set of cards to get. The Seven, Five, and Six of Swords. And for some solutions…” She drew three more and placed them a little farther away on the right side of the table, then tapped the second to last card to draw. “Huh. Oh, this one makes perfect sense.”

  “Why?” he asked.

  “We can start there. That’s the Nine of Pentacles. It represents skill, finely honed after much intense practice. Also self-discipline and the pursuit of refinement, both personally and in life. That means both cultivating excellence—something you’ve clearly already mastered—and enjoying the finer things in life. Material wealth.” She smiled.

  He cocked his head, considering the little card. The finer things in life, things he’d gotten for himself, relying only on himself, in the last two years of running his business. Things that she didn’t know about yet. Damn if it didn’t fit well. He nodded, remembering he was supposed to respond. “What about those Swords over there?” he asked, pointing.

  Her face fell a little. “Ah. Let’s see. These expand on your problem, whatever you were thinking of. The Seven represents a lone-wolf lifestyle.” She snorted and glanced at him. “It may indicate you like to take long, lonesome walks.”

  “Looking like a sad puppy, I get it.”

  “It also represents,” she hesitated, “running away from things. Or hiding from the world. Past dishonor. Deception.” She finally met his eyes, looking a little apologetic and a little guarded now.

  “You mean like running away from my dad’s awful attempts at matchmaking by getting a woman to lie for me? And then failing to invite her to a horrible happy hour?” A grin slowly built on his face. “Hmm, that sounds vaguely familiar.”

  She let out a bark of laughter. “Uh, yeah, that might fit. Am I the swords you’re stealing?”

  He peered more closely at the card on which a figure was creeping away, looking over his shoulder darkly, holding a sword like a stolen prized possession.

  He opened his mouth, but she held up a palm. “I don’t want to know. Next we have the Five of Swords. Another card I think you’ll find remarkably spot-on. These babies are on fire tonight.” She sighed.

  “Why do you sound so sad then?”

  “It represents living in an environment of hostility. Battle. It is the energy of acting in your own self-interest and that alone. Of potentially losing one’s moral compass.”

  “Losing what?”

  “Losing a sense of what is right and what is wrong. But that’s only one aspect, and it may apply to you or others around you. Such as your loving family members, might I suggest? Maybe you’re putting self-interest before others too often, and it will come back to haunt you.”

  He swallowed. Sounded like an argument his dad would agree with.

  “Or it may suggest a need for this energy. A greater need to put yourself before others. But it warns that sacrificing or hurting others in the process of taking what’s yours could be a mistake.”

  He stared at the cards, struggling to process that. It sounded… remarkably accurate. But which was it? Too little self-interest or too much?

  “Additionally, these cards, the Five and Seven, reinforce each other. Seeing them both in this small reading makes them doubly significant. Are you having fun yet? Now that I’ve told you twice that maybe you’re a lying, self-centered bastard?”

  He blinked, trying to rouse himself from his enchantment with the cards on the table to look at her. He failed. “Well… maybe I am a lying, self-centered bastard.”

  “Maybe,” she said half-heartedly. They stared at the cards together in silence a moment longer, then she shook her head. That finally succeeded in tearing his gaze away to meet her fierce eyes. “I don’t think so, though.”

  “Because you know me, or because of what the cards say?”

  “Do I really know you?”

  “You know more about me than a lot of people do.”

  “And yet I know so little. But… the cards do support my hypothesis that you are not a total asshole. Or maybe that becoming less of one is the answer to your problems.”

  What was his problem again? Oh, yeah, his growing addiction to her.

  “Now we have the Six of Swords. You’ve been in a bad place. See the crows? That’s what they represent. Here, on the Seven, you’re colluding with the crows. On the Five, you’re fighting, as are they, except they’ve grown into black swans. But here on the Six…”

  “I’m escaping them,” he said softly. A white swan, also appearing on the first card, carried the figure on the card into the sky over the heads of six crows perched on six swords.

  “Yes. You are traveling. Changing. Being uprooted. Discovering a new frame of mind. But overall it’s a particular type of change—of recovery, healing, picking up the pieces. You’ve been listless, getting by, but something is going to change for the better, around your frame of mind or a physical journey.”

  “Huh,” he said.

  “You seem like you’re actually enjoying this, not just tolerating my silliness,” she said, smiling.

  “Silliness? Who said anything about silliness?”

  She grinned. “No one important.”

  “You’re right, it is fun. It’s kind of… weird.”

  “Weirdly personal, isn’t it? I’m sorry. It’s not always like this. I feel like I’m prying again.”

  He shrugged. “It was my idea. It’s keeping Olivia away.” Oh, that felt like such a lie. Lies, deception, self-interest indeed.

  “Oh, she’s not that bad.”

  He shrugged. “You’re right, she’s not. I’m still not making babies with her on command like some kind of purebred canine.”

  She chuckled now. “Okay, so onto the solution to your problem. Here we have the Knight of Wands. The Knights all have a positive and a negative side, so it may indicate a need for his energy or too much of it. This fellow is passionate and powerful but may have a chip on his shoulder. He’s very confident, possibly too co
nfident, maybe even cocky.”

  He snorted. “Oh, that could never be me.”

  She grinned. “No comment. He loves adventure, but he can be irresponsible, reckless even. Oh, and he’s charming. Sexy, perhaps even irresistible…” She faltered for a moment, a silence stretching out as she stared blankly at the cards. “But the negative of that is his relationships may be shallow, merely conquests.”

  His mouth fell open at all that, his first thought being—oh, no, he definitely didn’t want that. Shallow? That was his family’s domain. He wanted depth, and honesty, and—

  Was that true? Hadn’t he been trying to convince himself loneliness and loveless sex would be perfectly fine for him?

  Huh. As a meditative tool, it was… kind of working.

  He looked at the last card. Fish swam around a couple entwined with each other, a bright sun shining through water behind them. Without her saying anything, he knew the answer to his question. Did he really even need an interpretation?

  He had wanted to know what would happen if he couldn’t stop wanting her. If he gave in to the addiction. The cards about his life, his problems, they were all dark, lonely, and deeply appropriate. And the cards about the solution, the future? Each depicted bold, vibrant light shining from behind the scene. The cards were night and day, and poised in the middle was one depicting change. Healing.

  He’d seen her shuffle the deck. She didn’t even know enough about him to plan out this series of cards that had so cut him to the quick.

  And basically told him to quit being such a shallow dick.

  “What’s this one? The Ten of Cups?” He finally tapped the last card. She had also been staring at it in silence for some time.

  She swallowed. “Just what the heck did you ask about?”

  He opened his mouth, although he wasn’t sure what lie he could conjure.

  “Don’t answer that. Tens are symbols of the pinnacle of each suit. Getting a Ten at the end of a reading—as the last card—is like saying a happy ending of some kind is likely. Each suit represents aspects of our lives. Swords represent thought and intellect. Clearly your problem is deeply mentally distressing, but the solution is an emotional one. The Cups are the suit of the heart, of love, family, and connections.”

  He frowned. “So… that’s a really good card. Positive, at least.”

  “Well, yes. Assuming it’s at all relevant. I don’t understand how it connects, quite honestly. And while that seems convenient as the last card, trust me, I’ve dealt plenty of bad cards that predicted failure and loss. If you contemplated whether you’re going to win your next tournament…” She shrugged.

  He should probably tell her he wasn’t playing in tournaments anymore. He’d hardly mentioned it to anyone that didn’t already know from following the pro scene. Now hardly seemed like the time, though.

  “Maybe you’ll rely on your team for success, that you find satisfaction in the game. But that seems off. This card symbolizes embracing peace, finding immense joy. And how are the Knight and Nine of Pentacles connected? And this card—it’s sometimes called the minor Lovers card. Two people entwined, love at its very best by some interpretations. Maybe it means you should date Olivia.”

  “I wasn’t thinking about Olivia,” he muttered.

  He looked back at the white swan on the Six, carrying the figure forward, away from the swords. That was clearly Violet. Even at this moment, even when she didn’t know it, she was pulling him forward, out of the morass. Into the sunlight. Or into a dark, hippy, vegan restaurant.

  This was silly. Just a deck of cards. Paper with pictures on it. It didn’t mean anything particular was going to happen. He didn’t have to listen. It was naive to think that one could love and not suffer for it at some point, especially with last night’s leather-jacket dude looming over his shoulder. Six cards coming up in a certain order shouldn’t be the thing to convince him otherwise.

  And yet…

  “So, did you get an answer?” She turned to him, putting on a wide grin. “Or at the very least, were you amused for a while? Do I get a tip?”

  “I’ll add it to your final bill,” he said.

  “That good, huh?” She sounded dubious.

  “I thought it was shockingly relevant.”

  She flushed with pleasure, and it was all he could do to keep from leaning closer, sliding an arm around her waist, and breathing her in.

  “I’m so tempted to ask what your problem was. But I think that would be prying.”

  He smiled. “It definitely would be.”

  “Maybe just a hint?”

  “Your curiosity is insatiable.”

  “I’ve heard that a few times before, mostly from professors. Not something I hope to hear from men, though, if you know what I mean.”

  He laughed. Was that flirting? Two could play at that game. “Sorry. I’m not concerned, though.”

  “About what?”

  “About the challenge of satiating you.”

  She let out another loud laugh, drawing a few smiling glances. “Well, that can’t be too hard, since our contract doesn’t require you to satiate anything.”

  He grinned. “Excellent point.” They stared into each other’s eyes, her gaze challenging, suggestive… or was he seeing what he wanted to see? “Ah, there I go, being too cocky again.”

  “I know it’s hard to resist for long. So did you decide it was too much Knight of Wands? Not too little? I was on the fence. Maybe it’s both.”

  He clucked his tongue at her. “What did we say about prying?” She started to open her mouth to defend herself. “But yes, mostly too much. I think.”

  Just then, Olivia approached their table. And here he’d thought he’d gotten rid of her.

  “Hey, Violet! Are you still doing readings?”

  Violet shrugged. “I usually get done at ten, but I could do a quick one if you want.”

  “Would you mind if I join you?” Olivia’s hopeful smile seemed innocent. Like she was actually just trying to make friends.

  Violet looked to him.

  “I was actually just heading home. Remembered some work I have to do.” He started to get his feet under him. He watched Violet’s face for signs of a reaction, but he couldn’t read anything.

  Olivia frowned. “Now?”

  “Pro gaming never sleeps,” said Violet with a smile.

  “Pro what?” As if he hadn’t already tried to explain it to her.

  “Sit down and I’ll explain. Talk to you later, darlin’.” She smiled up at him, her voice slipping into a countrified lilt at the end, something that seemed entirely unlike her. Though, she hadn’t ever told him who that cowboy was, and he hadn’t brought it up again.

  That feeling, that lack, that longing to kiss her before he left rose up again—and here was Olivia as a perfect excuse.

  But should he really? Just go for it? Pursue her even if it meant he’d likely suffer in the end? That seemed especially likely now, if she was holding hands with other guys. Competition didn’t faze him, though. The card with the fish, the Lovers flashed through his mind.

  He bent down before he could second-guess himself, swept her hair back, and brushed his lips against her ear in a kiss.

  “Call me when you get home safe,” he whispered. Then he turned and left them to their devices.

  Chapter 5

  Violet stared at the latest paper for a solid ten seconds. She’d dug out some new and groundbreaking stuff from the recent LASE conference. It should be helpful. It should be fascinating. It was fascinating. But the words kept blurring together.

  Maybe she needed another latte.

  She tabbed to the next paper. A dozen looked like they might be relevant to her thesis as she browsed for anything she’d need to polish her final draft and prepare for her defense. But today she had the concentration skills of a hummingbird drinking Monster. Maybe she should go work on making her figures and charts less shitty looking. Or one of the other zillion things on her to-do list.

&
nbsp; She glanced at her phone, then opened the Steam app that she’d never bothered installing until yesterday. It connected up. Jack wasn’t online.

  She locked the phone and tossed it away, disgusted. What the flying fuck? So much for safer than a rebound. Way to turn this into the most fucked-up rebound ever.

  But it wasn’t that, right? It had been almost a week since she’d seen him at Eden. And nothing. She hadn’t even seen him in games with Mouse over the weekend either.

  She should be looking for texts from saves-the-world-and-kittens-and-looks-hot-while-he-does-it Chris, but did she give a fuck about that? No, of course not. Chris had texted her nice things every day since that happy hour. Her replies were half-hearted at best.

  Focus. Cooling solid-state lasers with intracavity…

  That paper finally piqued her interest, and she made it through the whole thing. The next stalled her again. She checked her calendar. Yes. Of course. With a week passing, she was only obsessing because they were a third of the way through the contract. That was what was niggling at her. The wedding was coming up, and if there was going to be another opportunity for Jack to trot her out in front of his family, it had to be soon.

  Maybe he didn’t want to. It shouldn’t have stung that he hadn’t called her up for that happy hour with Olivia, but it had. Had she done too good a job of telling them off?

  Four thousand dollars was steep for maybe eight hours, if her estimate of the length of the wedding was right. She didn’t count that night at Eden. That wasn’t work. She’d enjoyed herself. She hadn’t called him when she’d gotten home, but she had texted him in case he’d had a reason for saying that beyond their fake relationship.

  He’d texted right back, saying good night. She’d longed to do it again every night since. Instead, she had kitten photos and date requests from Mr. Annoyingly Perfect. Did she want to meet up for a coffee? A pizza? A glass of wine?

  Each time, she’d been “too busy.” So many configurations to test, so little time. Right…

  What were the chances that Jack hadn’t needed to talk to her at all? Maybe all those messages from Chris had broken her phone.