Page 18 of The Proximity Factor

“Maybe you should consider some of the job offers you’ve received from Sony and Microsoft,” she hesitated to say.

I thought about the hefty six-figure salaries both companies had offered me to come work for them in their gaming divisions. It felt like such a sellout move to accept either offer, no matter how good the perks and pay were. Stephen and Maren would certainly have a good laugh at my expense if I did. Not that I should care what they thought. I mostly didn’t. But I had something to prove to myself and them—mainly that I didn’t need them and I could build something better and more successful than anything we’d ever created together. Yet, I knew I was on my last leg. If things didn’t turn around soon, I would have to abandon my dignity and play the corporate game.

“I might have to,” I conceded. “But not yet.”

“Don’t sell your car,” she begged me. She, more than anyone, knew what it represented to me.

Wanting to ease her mind, I said with conviction, “I’m not there yet.”

“If you do it, I won’t accept any money from it. I’ll take out some student loans.”

“No, you won’t. I got this.” Despite my lack of certainty, I assured her.

“I love you, big brother, but you have to stop trying to save my world.”

“Not gonna happen,” I responded adamantly. “I made a promise to you, and I’m going to keep it. End of discussion.”

“Don’t go all chauvinistic on me.”

“I’m not being a chauvinist. I’m just telling you how it is.”

She laughed. “Which is exactly what a chauvinistic pig would do.”

I hung my head. “Please, Daphne, it’s been a hell of a week. I just want to take care of you. Let me do something right in my life.”

“Parker, what’s going on? You do so many things right. You’re the best brother a girl could ask for.”

I was glad she thought so. More and more, I wondered if I really was a loser. “Don’t worry about me. I’m all right.”

“You’re lying. You can talk to me.”

“I appreciate that.” I hoped she would move on, but that was wishful thinking.

“So, what has you so down? Did Maren do something? Your roommate? Are you still upset you didn’t get into that gaming expo thing this summer?”

That still irked me. The expo organizers had denied my application. Some BS that they were accepting a limited number of independent gaming companies this year. Maybe it was for the best. It was more than I could afford, and I knew Idle Mind Games, my previous company with Stephen, would be there. Stephen was touting the news all over the place that he was one of the keynote speakers. As far as the women went ... “I have nothing to do with Maren or Lanie.”

“How do you live with someone and have nothing to do with them?”

“It’s easy. You just have to be a jerk,” I lamented, the memory of the utter hurt in Lanie’s eyes hitting me like a ton of bricks. When did I become such a bastard?

“Parker, that’s not you,” she whispered.

I ran a hand through my hair. “I don’t know, kid. Maybe it is.”

“It absolutely isn’t. You’re the best person I know,” she cried.

Her declaration touched me more than she would ever know. “I’m glad you think so, but—”

“But what?” she interrupted.

“I just don’t think I have it in me to get involved with anyone.”

“Ooh. Like romantically involved? Are you attracted to Lanie?”

“No, no,” I spluttered like an idiot. “You’re taking it wrong. I only meant I don’t need the distraction of a woman in a platonic way.”

She giggled. “Oh. My. Gosh. You find her attractive. I need a picture of her now.”

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