Match Game: A Fake Dating Hockey Romance

13. Lydia

Ishould be feeling happy that I’m en route to a work trip where I’ll be in the presence of other excited collegiate esports professionals, but I’m still fixating on what transpired last week and wondering if I acted the right way about everything that went down with Griffin. I thought I had a good enough reason to not tell him about the fundraising. I just wanted to feel like I was in control of something because it was my job to do so, but I paid the price.

Am I a coward for refusing to accept help from someone I know has enough money that it feels like he’s not even making a dent?

No, but I am extremely humble. And it’s what’s torn our friendship apart.

I haven’t spoken to Griffin since what happened. He’s messaged me to ask if I’m okay and after a beat of no response, he just left our texts with, “When you’re ready to talk, I’ll be here.” I wish the ball wasn’t in my court. He’s been traveling for games, so his response time would be delayed anyway.

We’re about to board the plane for Las Vegas, and I’m slightly stressing over the fact that I have to be a chaperone the entire weekend. We’re going to a conference held at one of the newest hotels on the Strip: a cyberpunk-themed hotel called the Cyberscape. It’s the first time I’ve attended anything conference-like for work. Back in my tech days, there would be big conferences dedicated to our job field, like RSA or Dreamforce, but those were held in San Francisco, so it wasn’t very far of a trip to attend. Plus, while it is rather cool to see Moscone Center completely transformed to appease all of the techies that attend it, I didn’t feel the love for cybersecurity or CRMs as I do for esports. When I was younger, I would fantasize about attending E3 one day, the conference where all the news about the hottest video games would debut to the world.

The students all seem to be excited that we get to travel for an esports conference. They might just be happy that they get to skip classes, but a few of them were giddy in their seat when they learned they might get to meet some of the biggest names in gaming when they play their exhibition matches at the Esports Arena at the Luxor Hotel. I’m more happy that I get to connect and network with fellow Directors of Esports. I’m also speaking on a panel about “Women in Gaming,” which I hope means that there’ll be several women there who share in my commiseration about trying to compete with the guys.

Once the airplane makes its way from the gate, I peek at my text messages before turning my phone to airplane mode. No text from Griffin, even if my stubborn ass is supposed to tell him when I’m ready to talk.

In about an hour and a half, we successfully land in Vegas, and I gather up the students so we can make our way to the shuttle stop, where a bus will take us from the airport to the Cyberscape.

“Lydia.” Drew, one of the students, taps my arm. “Do we have a curfew?”

“Uh, no. Not really.” They’re college students, I think they’re old enough to be making their own decisions. “My rule is that I’m going to be taking attendance at every morning of the conference, and if you’re not there, then I will find you and you will suffer the consequences of missing whatever programming you had signed up for. But I’m not going to say you’re not allowed to be out past a certain time. I will make a big note, though,” and I say this, by pointing to everyone on the team. “If any of you participate in anything illegal and get caught, you are heading straight back to San Jose.

I also will caution that you are responsible for your own money, should you try your hand at gambling. It’s not like a video game where you get unlimited tries. You pay for those tries and it is very easy to blow through your money if you’re not careful.”

They nod to acknowledge my warnings and soon, we’re loading our bags and heading to the Cyberscape Hotel.

Off the bat, the hotel perfectly encompasses that Vegas grandeur. There are fancy shrubs that line the driveway up to the hotel and screens on the walls leading into the lobby. While some hotels have a specific kind of grandeur—the Bellagio with its Italian flair or the Blossom that has flowers dripping from the ceiling—the Cyberscape radiates technological advancement. While there are valet and bellmen who help us unload our luggage, there are also autonomous robots that are moving up and down, pulling guests’ luggage on a wagon-like extension, small but mighty creatures that will soon make these bellmen obsolete.

We walk into the lobby, which looks like it’s straight into the future. Behind the check-in desk are large monitors that display any and all information that you need to know. The weather, breaking news of the hour, and what the wait times are for each restaurant in the hotel. And a very nice welcome sign that lets everyone with the “National Association of Collegiate Esports Gaming” know that the hotel is so happy they are staying here.

I check in with a front desk agent, opting to not check-in with a robot even though they present the option to you, who gives me my keys for myself and the five rooms that are set aside for the students. I take note of who is sleeping in which room, sound off each room assignment, and hand them their room keys. Makes it easy when you have only boys.

The kids get dismissed and excitedly head up to their rooms to settle in. The conference doesn’t begin until tomorrow, so tonight is a free night to settle in and enjoy being a tourist before a busy two days. They have to choose their own dinner options, but that’s easy to find. The hotel itself has seven restaurants at different price points, plus we’re close to a lot of other hotels on the Strip, so they are not short on options at all.

I make my way up to my own guest room, perched on the hotel’s sixty-third floor. These hotels are truly on another level of grandeur. Imagining the thousands of people occupying these rooms right now is unfathomable.

I press the key fob to the door, and when it blinks green, I open it to a spacious king-sized room. There’s a bed and a small armchair, but the amenities are high-tech. There are LEDs along the headboard that are flashing rainbows and a smart remote that controls everything from one tablet: the lights, the curtains, the AC.

I gasp when I see two joy cons resting on the TV stand.

“Oh my god, you can play games in your room?!” I squeal and hurriedly set my bags down to boot up the console. Maybe I should be an adult—unpack my things, and figure out what outfit I’m going to wear tomorrow, but I think I deserve time to unwind, play a cup, or a few. I wrangled up a bunch of kids and successfully got them to the airport. I deserve a break.

I start it up and smile when the familiar Mario voice announces what game I’m playing. I’m about to start a grand prix when my phone starts blowing up with text notifications.

LGU ESPORTS CREW

Drew: holy shit there”s switches in our rooms!!

Noah: damn this place is high tech

Blake: come to mine and Dev’s room for some versus action

Dev: yeah so i’ll school your ass

Drew: Dev Lydia’s in this chat rmbr

Dev: oh shit sorry. you can come if you want Lydia!!

I roll my eyes playfully. These kids. The coaches might give me grief because they’ve reached the threshold where they think they’re high and mighty adults, but the kids aren’t like that. They’re no-nonsense and fun to be around. And they don’t berate me for the decisions I make for the team. They’re just happy to be here. While they’d probably play in good fun and low stakes, I’m not going to interfere with their time alone for the night. I want my time to play my games, too. Just me and the NPCs.

Lydia: haha it’s okay, y’all have fun. don’t forget to eat.

Noah: you got it, Lydia. speaking of which, I’m hungry guys. can we eat and then play switch?

Dev: ...yeah that’s probably a good idea.

The chat goes quiet, and I decide that I should find my own food to eat. The hotel has many different cuisine options, even one from an up-and-coming celebrity chef who serves elevated Mexican food, but I’m in the mood for something comforting. Something that hits close to home. And I know I’ll find something that checks my boxes next door at the Blossom Hotel and Casino.

I walk down the expansive block of South Las Vegas Blvd. These hotels are like campuses, with how large they are and how much is going on at their fronts. Sure, everyone knows the Bellagio fountains, but even some of these entryways are just as grand.

I walk into the Blossom and smile at how elegant and Asian the interior looks. I have never been to China, but the intricate palace-themed architecture in the Blossom is stunning. It’s surreal to think that my ancestors might have been people who worked on building these palaces or the ones the Blossom tried to replicate.

I walk up to the food court, which is all Asian-fast food. I’m unsure of where to start or how much food I’ll actually be able to eat versus what I’m inhaling with my eyes.

My eyes catch on a food stand with the words “Happy Noodle” at the top. The menu is simple: there are only three options for noodle soup, and the first one, the Signature Beef Stew Noodle Soup, sounds delightful.

I place my order and sit down. My eyes fixate on a couple who are enjoying noodles and playing flirtatiously with one another. It makes me happy but also makes me want to gouge my eyes out.

This is unlike myself. I’m not the kind of person to get jealous over strangers engaging in PDA,

Maybe it’s because I’m missing Griffin’s small, friendly touches. The strictly platonic touches that somehow have me feeling very romantic things for him. I don’t want him to hold anyone else the way he held me when I needed some comfort. And I’m trying to wrap my head around how he can so effortlessly do those things and only think of me as a friend when I’m over here losing my mind over him.

I feel my lip wobble, and tears start to splash into my soup. What is with me crying in the most inappropriate places?

“Um, excuse me?” A soft, high-pitched voice has me looking up. Oh, it’s the lady sitting over there with her...boyfriend? I assume. Maybe they just met. What happens in Vegas, am I right?

“Hi,” I sniff. “Um, can I help you?”

“Oh! I’m sorry,” she says. “I just wanted to ask if you were okay. You were crying into your soup. You know the place is called Happy Noodle?” She points at the sign above the order window, of a drawn logo of a woman smiling and pointing to a steamy bowl of soup. “There shouldn’t be any sadness while eating it.”

“Yeah, I get it. The noodles taste amazing, by the way. I’m just...going through some shit, apparently.” Shit being a jumble of emotions of being attracted to someone while also stressing out about a job that I’m passionate about.

She chuckles. “Yeah, I’ve been there. A bunch, to add. I know I might be a weirdo for coming up to talk to you, but I saw you were crying, so I thought I would ask if there’s something I could do to help.”

“Thank you.” It unexpectedly really helps to know people can care. “I’m just going through...relationship stuff? Yeah, we’ll say that.”

“Ah, relationship stuff,” she nods. “I know that feeling.”

”Really? You and your...boyfriend, I assume, look like you’re madly in love.”

“Well, we are, but that wasn’t how it always was. When we first started having feelings for one another, it felt like the universe didn’t want us to be together. We were both working here, and the former manager wanted to kill us. I know it sounds wild, but when in Vegas, right? Anyway, we got through it because love survives all, but not with some hiccups along the way.”

Wait, why does this all sound so familiar? I heard something about this on the news...wait.

“Hold on,” I hold my hand out to stop her. “Are you Marissa Waters? Like famous poker player Marissa Waters?”

“Oh,” she perks up and nods. “You know who I am?”

“Yeah!” I exclaim. “I love seeing you at the World Series tournaments. Any time I see a woman playing poker, actually. And you’re doing so well this season. It’s always awesome to see a fellow Mixed-Chinese do well at something they love.”

“Oh!” She blushes. “Thank you. Do you play poker as well?”

“No. Not well, anyway. I’m more into esports and video games. But card games are cool, too!”

“Don’t worry,” she reassures me, “I definitely love a good video game every once in a while. Kellen plays them all the time. By chance, are you here for the Collegiate Esports Conference?”

“Yeah...” How did she know about that?

“Taylor, the General Manager of the hotel, is Kellen’s best friend. He gives us the rundown on what’s going on there. Apparently, this is a huge deal for collegiate esports. He’s a video game nerd, too, so he’s hoping everything will go well.”

“Me too,” I note. “For my own personal reasons. Networking and hoping that my students are going to be on their best behavior.”

“Oooh, are you a coach?” Her face lights up at the thought.

“No,” I correct her. “I’m a Director for Esports Gaming. So all of the business stuff related to esports. Fundraising, operations, marketing, all that jazz.”

“That’s really cool,” she replies. “Are you enjoying it?”

“It has its ups and downs. But that’s like with any job, right?” I don’t think that I could want any other job; this is my dream job. But with many dreams, you have to work hard to chase them.

“Yep,” Marissa nods. “I don’t know if any job really comes easy. But as long as you’re happy.”

“I think I am. I know it may not seem like it.” I make a motion around my face. “But I think things are looking up.”

“Good. It was good to meet you...”

“Lydia,” I tell her. “Thank you for coming to check on me. I feel a lot better now. The whole...relationship stuff hasn’t magically fixed itself yet, but I think things can only go up.”

“That’s great! I hope things work out for you, Lydia. Have a good time in Vegas!”

She walks away and grabs her boyfriend’s hand. I smile as they happily look into each other’s eyes and share a kiss. I unlock my phone and type “San Jose Stingrays” in the search bar. Right now, the Stingrays are losing to Colorado, but only by one goal. I debate sending a text to Griffin to wish him good luck but ultimately decide not to, in case he loses and he doesn’t want to hear from me to add salt to his wound. Instead, I finish my noodles and decide to gamble a few dollars before it’s time to go to sleep and prepare for the first day of festivities.