I do as he says, and he slides the ring onto my finger, the weight of the platinum and diamond now making this real.
He leans over to tap a few keys, and then his character finishes proposing to Queen Shanaya. She says yes, and instead of the game ending, the throne room disappears whisking the characters away to another place in the Dragonsbane World.
“What’s wrong with it? Is it broken?”
Jamie shakes his head. “No. Just like our love story, the game has no end. It’s on a never-ending loop.”
I shoot him a confused look. “I don’t get it. Doesn’t a game have to end? Won’t your fans get mad?”
“It has multiple endings. Depending on which experience the user chooses they can live in the Dragonsbane World forever.”
“Won’t you lose money?”
“Nope. That’s the beauty of it. The user has to pay to unlock each world. It’s a game with infinite endings and unlimited possibilities.”
“You’re going to be famous, Jamie.” I smack a kiss on his cheek and smile. “This is genius.”
“It’s all because of you, Shan. I couldn’t have coded this without my muse.” He gets up from the floor, and I sit on his lap again. “How do you feel about dressing as Queen Shanaya for the release of the game?”
I laugh so hard it shakes through him. “Are you serious? You want me to dress up as a video game character?”
He nods, his expression serious. “I’ll wear the Lord of Winterbourne costume if you will come dressed as my queen.”
I admire the giant rock on my finger for a second before my eyes meet his. “As long as I don’t have to get married in the costume, we have a deal.”
He chuckles. “I would never ask you to do that. But I might beg you every time there’s a convention. Fans get kind of attached to the characters.”
“Did you have a crush on a character when you were younger?”
Jamie smirks. “Yeah. I guess my first crush was on Sonya Blade from Mortal Kombat.”
“I liked Johnny Cage,” I admit, and he laughs.
“Lara Croft…” he adds, “… was another one I had a crush on. She’s way too cliché, though, because every guy had a hard-on for her.”
“Well, now you have Queen Shanaya to sit on your boner,” I joke.
Jamie laughs against my neck, hugging me against his chest. “You’re so perfect, Shan.” He stills for a second and then continues, “Now that you’ve made me the happiest man on the planet, it’s time to make your dreams a reality.”
“Don’t buy me anything,” I warn. “The ring’s enough.” I hold it up to examine it again. “This thing probably costs more than my parents’ house.”
“Nah, not that much,” he says.
“Close enough?”
He shakes his head. “Don’t worry about the money. What’s mine is yours.”
“I’m serious about doing this on my own, Jamie. Promise you won’t get involved.”
“I promise. But at least let me call the seller and make the arrangements with Killian.”
I plant a quick kiss on his lips. “Okay, but that’s it.” I slide off his lap, holding my hand out to him. “C’mon, let’s get in the shower.”
“Whatever you say, Queen Shanaya,” he jokes, taking my hand.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Three months later
Jamie
Shannon’s one of the most stubborn women I have ever met. But I’m so damn proud of her. Because her unwillingness to accept my help or money is the reason she’s crushing it right now. She dreamed up Shake-and-Cake back in high school, and she’s made her new business a success on her own.
Leaning out the window of the food truck, I scribble another order on the pad in front of me. Students are lined along the sidewalk, wrapping around the park benches, and into the Quad. With the help of the University and her sorority sisters, Shannon managed to get a temporary spot on campus. So far, the only challenge she’s faced is baking enough cupcakes and pastries to keep her customers satiated.
Almost one year after graduation, our closest friends have gathered at Strick U. Preston and Bex drove from Pittsburgh where Preston plays hockey for the Penguins. Trent and Jemma have the twin babies hanging on them like monkeys. Thea is crying for the red velvet cupcake sitting on the counter in front of me, while Teddy’s thrashing in Jemma’s arms reaching for his twin sister.
Tucker drove back from New York with Sam. She was the teaching assistant for our Business Ethics class during our last semester. I never thought I would see Tucker settle down with anything other than a beer, but he’s really changed since he met Sam. He’s been holding onto an engagement ring for her and plans to propose in some over-the-top Tucker fashion. Drake is the only one missing. He was supposed to be here, but an earthquake in Southern California forced him to miss his plane.
“Jamie,” Shannon calls, her back turned to me. “Can you take the muffins out of the oven? They’re gonna burn.” Her eyes are pointed down at the counter on a dozen vanilla cupcakes, frosting bag in hand with her signature pink icing on her fingers.
“You got it, boss,” I joke.
She snickers at my comment.
Watching her work is one of my favorite things to do. Shannon’s never more in her element than when she’s baking. And to think our relationship started with her cooking for my friends and me. Like me, Shannon loves to create. I envision worlds and characters, but she makes something even more powerful.
Her delicious pastries have attracted thousands of people. Every newspaper in the city has featured Shake-and-Cake in their food sections, recommending it to all of their readers. At the rate Shannon’s growing her business, she’ll be moving to a physical store soon enough. Both of our dreams are finally coming to fruition.
I never thought I would be the visionary of a tech company, or that my new video game would be the hottest upcoming release. Shannon had a lot to do with that. If not for her inspiring Quest for Shanaya, I have no idea where I’d be right now.
I set the hot muffin tin on the counter to let them cool, and Shannon glances over at me with a smile on her lips. “Thanks, husband.”
I wink at her. “You’re welcome, wife.”
She blows me a kiss that I pretend to catch in my hand, and she giggles. When I blow one back to her, she does the same, except she holds her closed hand over her heart. I never thought I could love anyone as much as I do Shannon, and to think I almost made a horrible decision by letting her go.
I’m thankful every day for realizing my mistake. I used to think no one understood me the way Cece did. But I was so wrong. Shannon doesn’t understand code or most of the complicated shit I talk about, but she makes an effort and by doing so, she has literally become part of my world.
I married Shannon on a beach in Lake Como, Italy with all of our friends and family in attendance. After I proposed, I didn’t want to waste another second. There’s no reason to wait when you’ve found your soulmate.
“A reporter from the New York Times wants to talk to you,” Tucker says through the window.
I snap my head in his direction and see Sam at his side.
She pushes her long, blonde hair behind her ears and smiles. “Tuck’s joking,” Sam says. “I don’t write about food. I don’t know the first thing about it other than Shannon makes the best cupcakes I’ve ever tasted.” She angles her body toward the tables spread out along the sidewalk staring at the girls serving customers. “I see what makes Shake-and-Cake so popular,” she says, pointing at a crowd of boys drooling over one of the girls. All of them are wearing short black skirts, tight, hot pink tops, and very high heels. “I bet I can get one of the reporters I know to come down here and write about Shake-and-Cake.”
“That would be great,” I say.
“Yes, I would love you forever if you could pull that off,” Shannon says turning to smile at Sam.
She smiles back. “I’ll see what I can do.” Sam bites into the cupcake in her hand and holds it up,
speaking between bites. “I’m sure once they try these, they’ll be hooked.”
Abby Gale, the former president of Kappa Delta, came through on her promise to enlist the pledges to help Shannon. They work for free, which is exactly what a startup needs. Abby’s only request was that she’s in charge of their wardrobe. Shannon hates clothes and couldn’t have cared less.
As part of the pledging process, the girls have to work here. According to Shannon, that beats the initiation she had to endure. The girls seem content with their roles, swaying their hips to the beat flowing through the speakers fixed to the top of the truck as they deliver treats to people crowded at tables along the sidewalk.
Shannon wipes the icing from her hands and drops a towel on the counter. “How many more orders do we have?” She looks exhausted, barely able to keep her eyes open. We’ve been here for the past eight hours, and the crowd has only let up for short periods in between extreme busy rushes.
“We can close up soon,” I tell her.
“Not yet,” a woman says from behind me.
Shannon and I both turn to face a voice that sounds familiar, surprised to see Mrs. Rizzo. She’s holding a wrapped package in her hand, gripping a cane in the other. Mrs. Rizzo pushes a white box with a big silver bow across the counter to me.
“It’s a wedding present,” she says. “I never got the chance to mail it.”
Shannon approaches the counter and leans over taking Mrs. Rizzo’s hand in hers. She gives it a quick squeeze and smiles. “You didn’t have to get us anything. Just coming here today means the world to me. Thank you.”
She means every word. Shannon loves Mrs. Rizzo like a grandmother. They grew very close over the five years she worked at the bakery. Mrs. Rizzo is the reason she wanted to become a baker. Shannon talks about how much she misses her all the time.
“It’s nothing.” Mrs. Rizzo swats her hand. “Just a cake decorating set I picked up. When I saw it, I thought of you.” She hesitates for a second, her bottom lip quivering. “I also wanted to talk to you about something. Do you have a few minutes?” She motions her head toward me. “You, too, Jamie. I’d like to speak to both of you. Now that you’re married, you make decisions together. That’s how my Angelo and I did things.”
Shannon nods and then asks one of the girls to watch over the truck. We follow Mrs. Rizzo to an open table further away from the students.
“I’m so proud of you, Shannon,” she says with a warm smile. “My Antonio loved you like a daughter, and so do I. He would’ve loved to have seen you grow into the woman you’ve become.”
A few tears spill down Shannon’s cheeks, and she wipes them away before I get the chance. Leaning into my side, Shannon reaches across the table for Mrs. Rizzo. They have a special bond like a parent and child. Now that I work with my father, instead of for him, I understand what it’s like.
“I wish he was here, too,” Shannon says, her tone soft. “Mr. R taught me a lot about owning a bakery. So did you. If not for both of you taking a chance on me when I needed a job, I doubt I would be here right now. For that, I’ll always be grateful.”
The Rizzos never had kids of their own. Shannon was lucky to have people like them come into her life because her parents never pushed her in any direction. In fact, they didn’t even want her to start Shake-and-Cake. They were so afraid of her failing they tried to stop her before she ever got it off the ground.
“I’m selling Rizzo’s Bakery,” she says, a pained expression on her withered face. “Now that you’re gone, and I’m getting too old to stand in the kitchen, I have to retire. I know you’re looking for a new location for Shake-and-Cake, and I was hoping you would consider moving into Rizzo’s.”
She gasps, covering her mouth with her hand. More tears spill down her cheeks. I hook my arm around her back and dab at them, but the tears keep falling.
Shannon lowers her hand and stops crying long enough to choke out, “I would be honored. Thank you, Mrs. R. I will make you proud, I promise.”
She scratches the corner of her eye. “You already have, Shannon.”
“What do you think?” Shannon asks me, hopeful.
“I say, do it. We were looking for a location, and this one already has a customer base.”
“Can we afford it?”
I almost laugh but hold it back. “Yes. You’re already turning a profit on a brand new business. Shake-and-Cake is a success.”
We’ve talked about turning her business into a franchise once we expand. A lot of food bloggers and journalists have raved over Shannon’s food and her business model. Some of them wish there was a location in their city, and in a few years, we could make that a reality. One step at a time.
Shannon flings herself into my arms, hugging me hard as she smacks a kiss on my cheek. “I love you, Jamie. Thank you so much for taking this journey with me.”
“And you on mine.” I kiss her back. “I love you, too, Shan.”
Epilogue
One year later
Jamie
Droves of people shuffle into the massive event room in Las Vegas desperate to try Quest for Shanaya. So far, only the beta testers and major publications have played. Gamer Nation Con has grown over the years, or maybe it just feels that way now that all eyes are on me. Today is the official unveiling of Quest for Shanaya to the public.
In the past, my dad was the focus of this convention. So was Cece’s father, who has since expanded my father’s old Universe into something almost unrecognizable. I’m glad my siblings and I don’t have to be part of the old company. Now that we have something new, my father’s legacy is behind us. We can start fresh with the Dragonsbane World and the games that will cement our legacy.
PC Mag and PC Gamer Magazine have already raved over Quest for Shanaya. I never thought in a million years I would ever be featured in either magazine, mostly because I never thought I could ever step out from my father’s shadow. But I’ve succeeded. I did it with Shannon at my side, my very own Queen Shanaya.
Four months pregnant, and hiding it well in her Queen Shanaya costume, Shannon stands at my side waving to fans. She was supposed to wear the Princess Shanaya outfit made of tight leather, but with her stomach growing, she opted for the long Victorian gown made of purple velvet and lace. It’s the same dress worn by Shanaya after she slays the dragon and becomes queen. Shannon looks regal, too stunning for words, and practically glowing. With the crown atop her head and a scepter in her hand, she captures the crowd.
The fans love her. They wave back, pointing at Queen Shanaya. I’m dressed as my character, the Lord of Winterbourne, though I opted for the knight costume he wears right before he becomes king.
“How are you feeling?” Shannon asks, her hand in the air and a smile plastered on her beautiful face. “You’re on in five.”
“I should be asking how you’re feeling not the other way around.”
She touches her stomach for a brief second, and then her hand falls to her side. “Your son is happy. He likes it here. I think he’s gonna be a gamer, too.”
My heart swells from her words because every part of me hopes she’s right. From the moment Shannon told me she was pregnant, I started planning our child’s future in my head.
“We don’t know if he’s a boy,” I point out, fingers crossed.
“Call it a gut instinct,” she says. “I just know we’re having a boy. Another Jamie.”
I shake my head. “No more Jameson’s. Too confusing. Two is enough.”
“Maybe we can name him after one of the characters in your game. Seems fitting since Quest for Shanaya brought us back together.”
I laugh at her comment. “You want to name our son Balthazar or Thornston?”
She nudges me in the arm and chuckles. “No, silly. I was thinking Colton, after the Lord of Wellington. We can call him Cole.”
“Cole…” I pause to mull it over and give her a quick nod. “Yeah, I like Cole. Colton O’Connor.”
My dad rushes up the stairs toward us,
flagging me down. “C’mon, J. They need you on stage.”
I glance over at the stage located in the middle of the event center, nerves creeping up inside my chest. This time, they’re the good kind of nerves that get my blood pumping.
My time has finally come.
The world is about to see all of my hard work. And now it’s time to deliver the keynote speech to kick things off.
“Good luck, my king,” Shannon says with a wicked grin. “You’re gonna crush it.”
I raise her hand to my lips. “Thank you, my queen.”
She’s the only queen who’ll ever own my heart.
Drake Donovan has no problem getting girls and can wow most of them with his big stick… but that won’t work on Taylor. Are you ready to find out how Drake wins her over?
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Dear Reader
Thank you so much for reading Jocking Jameson. Of all my books, this one was so personal for me and probably my favorite to write. I’m a tech guru, a former systems analyst, and a lover of Star Trek, science fiction, video games, comic books, and pretty much anything nerdy. I poured a lot of myself into Jamie’s character. That’s where all the nerd speak comes from. I also really love sports.
Well, I hope you loved Jamie and Shannon’s book. I bet you were so happy he didn’t pick Cece. If you liked this book, or any of the books in the series, I would love you forever and send a thousand hockey hugs your way if you would consider taking a second to leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, or BookBub. Reviews help other readers decide if they want to read a book, and I would really appreciate your support.
Jocking Jameson: Face-Off Legacy #4 Page 15
