Page 130 of The Daredevil

“I’d be happy to be your partner in crime, Viking, Daredevil, Sex Fiend—a man with many names.”

He laughed. “Now we can go to the mall. Something is waiting for you there.”

* * *

Royce

Holding hands, we browsed Providence Place, a busy mall I hadn’t visited in a long time. I did my shopping mostly online, but seeing what shops were available was a pleasant change.

My heart still hammered at Michelle’s declaration. I knew she loved me, but I didn’t know the depth of her love. It matched what I felt for her.

With love overflowing inside me, I took her to a new popup shop by a group of young entrepreneurs I’d met at a convention with Remi last year. Game Genius was a temporary retail space used to promote new products and generate awareness.

“Are you buying a video game?” she asked as we entered the busy store.

It was a lot busier than I expected. One wall had a wide selection of video games, while the other offered a variety of apps.

I led Michelle to the app section, where a group of people sat in lounge chairs and on the floor, playing on their phones.

“Oh my God, Royce! Look!” She rushed up to the poster of Eat Your Monsters. Her bunny avatar, Nibbles, was in the image. “It’s real!”

Her reaction was exactly how I’d pictured it.

She walked up to the group of people, ranging from teens to older women and men immersed in the free version on their phones and tablets.

“I like your cat avatar,” the teen wearing a baseball cap said to his mom, who sat beside him. “We should get this game. It’s on sale today.”

Michelle gripped my hand and squeezed, joy beaming in her eyes.

“It’s fun, isn’t it?” she asked the kid.

“Yeah. My sister would love it too.” He grinned.

More people entered the shop, asking about Eat Your Monsters.

“Do I have the updated version?” Michelle asked me while checking her phone. When she saw it was already there, she smiled. “I can’t believe you released it already.”

“It’s the right time. You’re getting half of the profits.”

“I am? Why?” She blinked, looking adorable.

“Because you inspired it and helped me figure out how to enhance the game by playing. I saw all your moves.”

“I was your guinea pig?” She narrowed her eyes.

“The most gorgeous guinea pig ever.”

We left the shop, headed across the street to the WaterPark, and sat on the bench, looking at the canal.

Excitement still glistened in her eyes. “This will help people overcome their monsters. You’re a genius.”

I let out a half-laugh. “It’s just observation and applying that creatively. You helped me see it from a different perspective. Life is all about perspective.”

“I love you so much, Royce.” Her lovely brown eyes bore into me.

True love was someone who could thrill me just by looking at me. Michelle was the only woman for me. I hadn’t dared to open my heart to love, but Michelle was the catalyst that changed my life.

The space between love and no love was risk. Loving her was my biggest risk . . . but also my biggest reward.

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