Page 51 of The Proximity Factor

I cared because she cared, but beyond that, she was right; I wasn’t interested.

“Well, I’m getting to the part that you’re going to love. Like LOVE in all caps, love. So, she’s bored out of her mind at the expo and she’s only here because Richy asked her to be here. She said I was the best part about being here.”

I felt the same way about Lanie.

“Anyway, we kept chatting, and then I told her all about you and how I’m, like, totally into you. So much so that I learned all about MMORPGs and all your funny terms. She thought that was awesome. Oh, I also showed her a picture of you, and she thinks you are so hot. Which you are.” She kissed my cheek again.

I was trying to keep up but finding it difficult. There was something just so infectious about Lanie that I couldn’t help but smile. I didn’t even care if this conversation concluded with me attending a Taylor Swift concert, despite having sworn it would never happen.

Lanie finally came up for air and took a breath before going right back at it. “Anyway, Jacie said we should hang out together at the expo, and I was like, ‘For sure we should, but I’m kind of working right now. But maybe if your boyfriend would agree to play my boyfriend’s game.’” She gave me an abashed look. “I know we haven’t defined the relationship yet, but just roll with it. I’m not asking for a commitment here, even though we are living together.” She grinned.

I hoped I saw where this story was going, and if it meant Richy the Kid was going to give my game a shot, Lanie could call me whatever she wanted. It honored me she would even consider being my girlfriend.

“Jacie was like, ‘I got you girl—Richy does whatever I tell him to do.’”

I couldn’t believe I was hearing this. Could this be my shot at redemption?

“And so, I was like, ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you!’” Lanie placed her hands on my cheeks and as seriously as she could, said, “We need to go now. He’s downloading your game as we speak, and he and his gamer buddies are going to play it in front of the entire expo.”

It took a second for what she said to sink in. When it did, I almost prematurely blurted out that I loved her. That would have been terribly awkward. Not that I didn’t feel deeply for her—I did. I just couldn’t think of another emotion as strong as love, that wasn’t exactly love, to explain how I felt about her at the moment. No one had ever done anything like that for me. “Lanie,” I breathed out. “You are incredible.” I leaned in to kiss her, wanting her to know how much she meant to me, even though I wasn’t someone who was into public displays of affection. But she abruptly loosened herself from my hold and grabbed my hand.

“Let’s go.” She pulled me along. “By the way, I know you were just going to kiss me. Keep those lips ready, buddy. That kiss is happening today.”

Her wish was my command.

I couldn’t believe we were on our way to see Richy the Kid play Ruptured Worlds. Some worry crept in. What if he hated it? It would do more damage than good.

Not only was Lanie a goddess, but she was a mind reader. “Richy is going to love your game, and you’re going to have your dream.” She seemed so confident about it.

I gazed at Lanie. Everything about her, from the way she bounced with excitement as she walked, to her golden hair gleaming under the bright lights, made me think I wanted a different, more lasting dream than the one I’d come here with. Even if that meant taking a corporate job.

By the time we arrived at Richy the Kid’s booth, there was an enormous crowd gathered. The last three years of my life seemed to come down to this moment. It was going to make or break my company. But when I looked at Lanie, for once it didn’t feel like it had to make or break me as a person. If I left here with Lanie and I had to accept a corporate offer, I didn’t see how that could make me less of a man. Maybe it would even make me a better man.

A beautiful Black younger woman pushed her way through the crowd and ran straight to Lanie. “There you are, girl.” She eyed me, giving me a good once-over. “This must Parker. Love the hot, nerdy vibe you have going.”

This must be Jacie, I thought. “Um, thanks.” I wasn’t sure what to say.

Lanie and Jacie giggled.

Jacie grabbed Lanie’s free hand. “Richy wants to meet you both before he plays.”

I swallowed hard while Lanie dragged me through the crowd. I’d dreamed of this moment but never actually thought it would happen, and now that it was here, I wasn’t sure what to say or how to act. All I could do was hold on to Lanie, to whom I owed this very moment. I owed her so much more, including my emotional and physical intimacy.

Every eye was on us as we reached the center of the crowd. It made me want to crawl out of my skin, but Lanie took it all in stride, smiling and laughing like it was no big deal. I suppose performing for thousands of people in football stadiums around the country would lend to a poised demeanor.

“Hey, baby, come here and meet Lanie and Parker,” Jacie called out to Richy, who was talking to some of his buddies I’d seen on his YouTube channel. My game’s waiting room was up on his massive screen. Nerves coursed through me like a parade of electric shocks.

Richy came at me with his arms wide open. “What’s up, brother? Me and my boys are in the lobby now waiting to kick off your sick game.” Lobby was a term for the in-game waiting room. The women stepped back to give Richy room to wrap his arms around me. “I’ve been hearing some wicked things about your game,” Richy said close to my ear. “We’re going to find out.” He patted my back.

The air somehow disappeared from my lungs. I hadn’t been this nervous since my wedding day.

Richy stepped back and raised his arms up. “Let’s get this party started. We’re going to live stream this one, so you all be on your best behavior.” The crowd laughed and cheered.

Meanwhile, I felt like I might vomit. He was live streaming this? My company really did come down to this moment.

Lanie saw the look of panic on my face. She took my hand, pulled me to her, and stood on her tiptoes, making us eye level. “It’s going to be better than okay,” she whispered. “Just hold on to me and watch your dreams come true.”

A moment of clarity came over me while looking into her bright-blue eyes. There was something else I wanted more than being back on top. I wanted Lanie. I brought my hand up and gently cupped her neck, my fingers tangling in her hair in what was the most vulnerable moment of my life.

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