Page 66 of Waiting for It

Epilogue

It took four more monthsto get the game in the hands of our customers, even with all the code Mike tried to get rid of, and another two months to make sure everything was stable.

But here I was, in my new office, with my finally-official Director title. I sank back into my executive chair, a permanent smile on my face.

Billie had stepped into Mike’s job in Sacramento, and now that I’d been promoted, she was leading both teams, though several of our developers were moving on to pre-production games. I was heading up one of those new projects, and while it wouldn’t hit market or so much as tickle gamers’ thoughts for years, I was so excited to have a say in it.

My office was a lot like Luke’s, but in a different part of the building. A huge CONGRATULATIONS sign hung from the top of my whiteboard, and my trashcan was filled with paper plates, cake crumbs, and empty soda cups.

My desk was mostly clear, but a figurine of X, courtesy of a miniature sculptor Lyn knew, lived between my monitors.

And Luke sat in the chair across from my desk. “How do you like the new digs, Bosslady?”

“Digs?” It was weird, me being in the Director’s chair and him on the other side of the desk. “They’re swell.” Weird, but amazing. Then again, everything with Luke and Chase was amazing. I was seriously smiling all the time.

“You usually say swell when things aren’t.”

Fair point. “This time, they’re actually swell. I love the new place. I’ll make you come to me sometimes now.”

“You call, I’m here.”

At the sound of a knock, we both looked up. Chase stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. He was subtle about twisting the lock, but I’d seen it done enough times that I didn’t miss it.

“You heading home yet?” he asked.

“Nah. I like it here so much, I thought I might move in.”

“Can I have your theater system, then?” Chase asked.

“What?” I feigned hurt. “You’re not going to come live here with me? In my perfect new office?”

“Say yes now. She’s going to spend half her life here anyway,” Luke teased.

Chase sighed and came around to my side of the desk. “I don’t know. I bet you don’t even get 4K on those monitors.”

“I do.” Perk of the job—high-end gaming rig. “But fine. You can go live in my big empty house, all alone, and I’ll stay here, in my cozy office, with Luke.”

“Whoa. I never said yes.” Luke moved to stand next to Chase. “I have my own cozy office.”

I pouted.

Luke tugged my bottom lip down. “Speaking of awkward segues... I’ve been thinking that I don’t like going home to separate beds. Ever.”

“I don’t think there’s room for all three of us in here, and Chase obviously thinks my screens are too small.” I knew where Luke was heading, but I wanted one more jab of fun.

“Your globes are exactly the right size.” Chase dropped his gaze to my chest. “But I’m sure we can find plenty of ways to entertain ourselves here.”

“Fine. I’ll spell it out. I was thinking someplace besides the office,” Luke said. “As in, all three of us living together in the same place.”

Yeswas on the tip of my tongue. “Did you have a specific place in mind?”

“I figured we’d all want a say in that. Maybe new memories in your place. Or a new place that’s ours. It doesn’t matter, as long as I get to come home to the two of you at night.”

I looked at Chase, who grinned and said, “I’m in.”

“Me too.” I was going to be high on giddiness by the end of the night. Did that count as intoxication? Now I was being silly, too.

“Except for one thing...” Chase looked away.

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