Chapter 2
MALIA
I think someone else’s fingers typed that text, telling Caleb I’d go with him to his sister’s wedding.
What have I done? Was it stupid?
I know exactly who can tell me that: my sister, Skye. She loves telling me how to live my life better.
“What’s up?” she asks when she answers.
“I maybe did something stupid. Or possibly something amazing. Hard to say right now.”
“Don’t you keep telling me you’re head of some company?” she asks sarcastically. “Shouldn’t you know the difference?”
“Caleb asked me to be his date to his sister’s wedding—”
“Dates are probably good. Especially ones with real people, sis.”
It might not sound like it, but we do love each other. This is our dynamic. Although, yes, I do wish she wouldn’t tease me so much about my work. But I’ve learned to accept it. I’m almost thirty. I can’t force Skye to change.
“Well, that’s the kicker.” I slump down in my gaming chair. It’s worth a small fortune, something Skye would probably throw up over if she knew. She’s always worried about how much money I spend. “I’m kind of his fake date. So that his mom doesn’t try to set him up with a bunch of women.”
“Wait … Caleb?” she repeats. “Isn’t this the guy you’ve had a crush on for months?”
I nod, even though Skye can’t see me. “Yeah. The guy from my gamer group.”
She lets out a short, dry laugh. “Right. The one you’ve never met.”
“Skye …” I drag my sister’s name out. “It’s the twenty-first century.
People are meeting other people online and getting married and having happily ever afters all the time.
You yourself were on dating apps before you met your boyfriend.
And—” I go on before she can say something about how it’s different that I met Caleb playing video games.
“—we text all the time. I’ve known him for almost a year. ”
“You’re right.” She pauses dramatically. “This could be really bad. Do you even know what he looks like?”
“Skye,” I whine. “That’s not important! He’s sweet and kind. I know he’d do anything for his family and friends.” Plus he’s patient and kind in the game, not like guys I’ve played with who blow up over small mistakes. That’s a red flag.
“I know, I know,” Skye says. “You’re right. But what you should really think about is the fact that you’re a bold girlboss used to telling people what to do all day long, but you haven’t asked him out yourself yet.”
“There hasn’t been a right time.” It’s an excuse I’ve been using for a while.
A bunch of little things showed me how great he was—protecting our missions over getting awards and points for solo stuff, checking in with me when we took big hits, and making sure the team recognized me when I did something that saved a mission.
“We’ve had some important missions in the game.
I don’t want to ruin the dynamic if things don’t go well. ”
Skye scoffs, of course. She doesn’t think my game is this important, but the truth is, she’s right that I’m dumb to put that ahead of something that could be really great for me.
“You’re right,” I say, shaking off my insecurities about asking Caleb out. I can’t explain why he hasn’t asked me out, but I don’t want to dwell on it. He’s a guy, after all. Maybe it just hasn’t occurred to him. He can’t be totally perfect.
Maybe he found out somehow that I run Vire Gaming.
I don’t usually tell people I meet through gaming that I run a subsidiary company for a major tech corporation, especially at first. They expect favors or only want me on the team because they think I can get insider info on games.
(I mean, I probably could if I wanted to.) But by the time I’d decided I could trust Caleb, I’d found out about his aversion to women in high-powered jobs thanks to his mom.
“I’m right?” Skye repeats, surprised I agreed with her. We so rarely agree.
I shake off the worry that Caleb knows about my job. He would have said something. “It was silly of me to make excuses. This is a good thing. Amazing. It’s totally going to work out.”
“I love the way you manifest your happiness, sis,” she says, and I can hear the smile in her voice.
My phone dings, interrupting our conversation. It’s probably Caleb, wondering if I’m going to follow up on my agreement to go with him. “Thanks.” I smile in return. “Okay, I have to go. He’s still texting me. Thanks for the talk.”
“Anytime. Love you.”
“Love you.” We hang up, and I quickly open my messages to see what Caleb asked.
Caleb
If you’re sure…
So, so sure. It’s really perfect, now that I think about it. Caleb has given me my chance to go out with him without any pressure of it ruining our gaming friendship. If the vibe isn’t there, it’s fine. Nothing has to change.
Malia
Absolutely.
So, are we going as friends or are we going to fake a relationship to keep the sexy girl bosses away?
Caleb
Um your call?
I don’t want to make things weird.
Malia
But the fake girlfriend thing is what you need, right? Cos if we go as friends, your mom will still be setting you up.
Isn’t the point to not get set up?
Caleb
Well, yeah.
But I’m just happy you’re willing to go. I could always just insist that it’s awkward she’s introducing me to people when I have a date.
Like I said. Your call.
Malia
Oh we’re totally doing the fake girlfriend thing.
Going all out.
I laugh to myself. Pretending to be someone else is nothing new for me. I do it all the time when I’m gaming. My persona on Shadow Heroes is a former CIA agent who’s now a white-hat mercenary. I’ve been dozens of other characters in my life when I game, and being this character …
Caleb’s girlfriend.
That sounds really fun.
My cheeks heat as I think about standing close to him. Him slipping an arm around my waist and kissing my temple. Dancing close. I shiver at the daydream.
Caleb
We should meet. IRL.
You know, so the first time we see each other isn’t at the dinner.
The gig might be up immediately.
I imagine telling him I’ll be the girl with the copy of Pride & Prejudice. I snicker to myself. He wouldn’t get it. I don’t think Caleb has ever seen a Meg Ryan movie in his life.
Malia
We definitely should.
I swipe to pull up my calendar, checking my schedule.
Work is always normal. I’m vigilant about my nine-to-five and having a proper work-life balance.
(Maybe that’s why Skye thinks I don’t make enough, because I rarely work overtime …) We have Shadow Heroes time scheduled in the next couple days.
Friday is the best night, two days from now.
But will that sound too much like a date?
Malia
Dessert. Friday night? 8 pm?
Caleb
Yes, absolutely.
And by the way. Thank you for this. Really. This is a huge favor, and I will owe you big time.
I grin down at my phone.
Malia
I know exactly who to call when I need my next hacking job done.
I’ve put a few things together about his “extracurricular” activities based on things Caleb has said and looking up a few things on the Grayson Hollis–Libby Bennet case from last year.
Caleb
Ha. You don’t need me.
I kind of wish I was meeting Caleb for the first time at the rehearsal dinner. Then I would be wearing a stunning evening dress. I still take care with my appearance when I get ready for our date Friday night.
It’s not really a date, but I’m calling it that in my head. Getting into character, of course.
I wear a loose cream-colored dress that hits my mid-thighs and an oversized mauve blazer just to give this a professional tone.
I don’t know why. Because I’m more confident when I’m Girl Boss Malia?
Probably. I add white sneakers with details in the same color as my blazer to balance it all out.
I leave my dark brown hair down and curled and wear my makeup low-key but still accenting my hazel eyes, bringing out the green in them.
My phone pings with a text.
Caleb
Here. You?
I look up to the door and spot him.
Then catch my breath.
Caleb is tall and … gorgeous. He has brown hair, a few shades lighter than mine. He’s wearing dark jeans and a beige-colored sweater fitted enough to show off his broad shoulders.
I was honestly okay with whatever he looked like. Short, skinny, and cliché nerd? It wouldn’t have mattered to me. Honest. He’s a good guy. I’ve dated a cliché nerd or two in my life, given my interests and my career, and they were great guys too.
So Caleb is a pleasant surprise, and I have to squeeze my hands into fists to keep from fanning myself. Then I raise a hand to catch his eye and wave.
I’m pleased to see that Caleb seems as surprised at me as I was with him, but I was expecting that. Pleasantly so as well, I think, based on the way he gazes at me as he makes his way over to the table. He’s wearing a small smile, and it grows as he gets closer.
I stand to greet him. “I’m a hugger,” I say when he reaches me. “Is that okay?”
He chuckles, a warm sound that I already know. “We’re already friends, right? Definitely okay.” He opens his arms, and the familiarity of his voice makes it easy to melt into him.
Yeah, I’m feeling allll the vibes. I pray that Caleb is feeling it too. If not, that’s okay. I have two full days to act like his fake girlfriend and complete my side mission of making him fall for me.
We draw away from each other and slide into opposite sides of the table. “It’s really good to meet you in person,” I say. “I’ve always known we should be IRL friends too.”
“Agreed.” He stares at me again for a long moment and then shakes himself out of it.
Definitely a good sign.
“So,” he goes on, “if we’re doing the fake relationship thing, we should probably get our fake story straight, right?”
I nod. “Agreed. And we should keep it as close to the truth as possible. We met in that Houston gamers forum, you helped me find a place since you’d just been searching yourself, and we ended up gaming together.”