Page 12 of Pro Gamer's Aim

We eat in charged silence for a minute. I can feel her gaze on me but I don't dare meet it. Then:

"So, what do you do?" She grabs some water from one of the 24-pack of bottles I bought earlier that day. Tap water usually tastes like shit. "For a living, I mean."

I debate lying, but something compels me to tell her the truth. "I used to be a professional gamer, actually. Retired now though."

"No shit?" Her eyes widen. "That's so cool! What games did you play? Were you, like, famous?"

"You could say that." I pick at the label on my water bottle. "I played a few games. Favored shooters, though."

"Wait. Shooters?" She sets down her pizza. "Like the game I was playing tonight? When you...?" She gestures vaguely at the back door.

How cute. She doesn't know much about gaming, does she? I thought she was pretty well versed in them. "Yes, similar."

Her eyes brighten. "How do you feel about teaching a neighbor your ways?"

Chapter six

Chapter 6

Samantha

Somehow, while I'm finishing off a couple slices of pizza, Asher manages to get a his giant TV set up, with my TV—from my apartment—brought in and placed off to the side, placed onto a folding card table. It works out.

He even brought my gaming system and controller, which doesn't seem any worse for being thrown at him.

By the time I'm done, he's connected his own console to my wi-fi and we're both loading up BABR—Build-a-Battle Royale, one of the most popular games of all time.

"Have you ever played this? Do you need some tips?" I ask him, even though I'm the one asking him for help.

His lips quirk again, and I think I'm falling in love with that half-smile of his. "I'm good. I've played it before."

"I'm trying to rank up, but it's not going well," I confess. "I play with my friends a lot but I'm still in bot lobbies. Um, that's where AI players are."

"I know about bot lobbies. I'm not that old." Asher grins at me, which helps me relax.

It's one in the morning and we should really be sleeping—or something even better than that—but I'm excited.

I've only ever played with Amy and Max, and we've never played in the same room together.

Asher pats the cushion beside him, his eyes glinting with mischief. My stomach flip-flops as I perch on the opposite end of the couch, trying to put some distance between us.

Sure, I could plaster myself against him, but I'm trying not to seem desperate.

He chuckles, a deep rumble that sends shivers down my spine, and tugs me closer until our thighs almost touch.

"Easier to show you the controls this way." His breath tickles my ear.

I swallow hard, hyperaware of his solid presence. As we sign in, I sneak a glance at his profile, his chiseled jaw and full lips illuminated by the TV's glow.

"H.E.L.I.O.S.?" I read his gamertag aloud.

At the same time, he says, "CutePinkBunnyNose? Seriously?"

Heat floods my cheeks. "It's... it's an inside joke. With Amy." It's not. I just didn't know what else to put and made it up on the spot.

"Uh huh. Sure." Asher's smirk tells me he doesn't buy it for a second. "And here I thought you were trying to seduce me with thoughts of cute, pink, bunny noses."

"No! I mean, that's not—" The words tangle on my tongue. I do want to seduce him, but I'd rather him think of me, not a bunny.

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