Chapter 87
Life had a funny way of surprising you sometimes.
The elevator rose smoothly and came to a stop on the third floor.
With a soft ding, the doors slid open.
What appeared before Riley was nothing like she’d expected.
It didn’t look like a private game room–more like a carefully curated, single–player video game museum
This wasn’t some cluttered gamer’s den. It was a clean, inviting space that felt both futuristic and warmly nostalgic Onlin s taken up by a floor–to–ceiling glass display, softly lit by focused spots. Inside were gaming consoles from every for ic NES all the way to t ne opposite side of print.
Mixed in an
It remi stems.
of game cartridges and discs were organized by genre. Many were rare, limited ed, high–quality action figures of iconic game characters.
vitably, of his CEO office–it carried a similar kind of intentional, collected vibe.
d the display, her eyes sweeping across the co curiosity. “Did you… play all of these p>
the day,” Sebastian replied, as brief and by the collectibles. Instead, he led Riley to less electronic screen spanned nearly th rgonomic gaming chairs.
He motioned for her to take one escreen. He began unboxing an ed into the chair.
hed as Sebastian to pus, intent te ned to glance at the man beside the ones that interested me a gentle blue light in front of t t bag she’d brought and wacked over ard slightly focused an usually cited in the Ned
-the art fil her maybe the world vinyach
After she’d drunk about half the milk, Sebastian finally finished setting up.
He walked over holding two controllers and offered one to Riley.
She took it. It felt smooth in her hands, with a slight textured grip, and the buttons had just the right kind of spring.
Riley got ready, expecting Sebastian to start the game right away, but he paused.
He stood in front of her, his tall frame casting a light shadow where she sat. His deep eyes looked down, his gaze steady anc on her face.
The light around them seemed to dim, leaving only the sharp gleam in his eyes.
“From what I know,” he said, “most women aren’t really into this kind of thing.
ou came back with me tonight just to do something you thought I’d like p>
estion caught her a little ard.
ey’s heart tightened, jus
She didn’t look away
“No. If I were trying
Meeting his sear
“Actually,
“Games few f new ok her head honestly.
purpose, I’d have picked a better way–not something I’m not even good at p>
llowed a faint smile to touch her lips.
ng in college.
u have to completely focus–helped me tune everything else out and calm down fast. Back then, h the same stuff. We played online together a lot. It’s just… after I moved to Havenbrook, lite got busy. k up p>
etly. The sharp intensity in his eyes softened into something Riley couldn’t quite read player games,” he repeated, thoughtful, “and you still made friends to play with online remor in her chest.
Want to talk about that part of her past with anyone not even him, the man she was in this arrangement with ed the heart of the topic smoothly. Her expression eased back into a casual smile as she said lightly you can chakr just about anything, if you want to, right p>
held her in a long, quiet look. He didn’t press further se to respect what she wanted to keep to herself ulled the other chair closer, sat down beside her, and started the game.
the screen flashed a bright, cheerful classic two player co op Mario
*This work?” he asked
“Absolutely.” Riley raised her eyebrows, a hint of confidence returning.
Soon, light, upbeat game music filled the room.
For the next hour or so, they barely spoke. All their communication happened through jumps, shared moves, and the occasio misstep of the two little characters on the screen.