Chapter 45
An hour later, as they were packing up the room, Liam told him, “Excuse me for bluntness, but I want in.”
Colin did not pretend to misunderstand. His body felt weightless with fatigue, a gentle torpor that added its own sweet music to pushing the trolley back toward the elevator.
A number of people in the huge central room stopped what they were doing and waved.
As the elevator doors closed, Colin saw smiles.
He turned to Liam and said, “I was hoping you might feel that way.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“I wanted to see how it went today.”
“From my corner seat, I’d say it went exceedingly well.”
Colin nodded agreement. Aaron was still upstairs.
The two attorneys had moved to the lawyer’s office to discuss details.
But as it stood, EA was taking an exclusive interest in Colin’s project, with an eye to also buying Lyric Incorporated, Colin’s newly formed company.
They were offering stock and a percentage of both the new game’s purchase price and online monthly rental charges.
The details of this were now in Aaron’s hands.
But whatever the outcome, as long as the product performed as shown, the deal was as good as done.
Colin said, “You’re sure you want to go with a start-up?”
“And give up my future career in retail management? Absolutely.”
The elevator doors opened and they pushed the trolley through the lobby. Once they were outdoors, Colin said, “I have no idea what shape this will all take. But if it’s possible, you’re in.”
He helped load the equipment, waved Liam’s van away, then entered his own car and left the campus. The two-hour drive back to Wilmington proved the perfect elixir. Tiana would be waiting for his call. But first he needed to try to come to terms with what had just taken place.
All that work. All those months and years of study. Of trying.
On a whim, he passed through Wilmington and took Salisbury Street all the way to Wrightsville Beach.
He parked in the East Greensboro Street beach access lot and used the rest room to change into swim trunks, sweatshirt, and slaps.
Middle of a November weekday afternoon, with a northeasterly wind blowing, he had the beach almost to himself.
He walked away from the Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier, face into the wind, going nowhere, breathing deep. Free.
He found himself studying a trio of smaller oceanfront homes and wondered if he might buy one, settle within walking distance of the place his mother had loved. The feeling was oddly mixed, as if such thoughts were invasive.
The EA software team were two months from completing work on their new game’s raw foundational software, perhaps longer. Colin could not start work until that happened. He would spend the weeks writing up his thesis and …
He spun about and walked swiftly back to the car, doing his best to push the tomorrows away.
When he was back behind the wheel, he took out his phone and called Tiana.
She answered with, “How did it go?”
“It’s done.”
“What do you mean, done? Done, as in they liked it?”
“Done, as in they’re buying exclusive rights. They want me on board as well.”
“But you’re still coming, yes?”
“Of course.”
“I mean, it’s great that you’re now the game world’s latest kazillionaire. But it’s not official until we celebrate.”
“I’m leaving tomorrow.”
That silenced her. “What?”
He had only just decided. “I want to get away. Can I come?”
“Colin, of course …” She sighed. “I hate to do this, especially now.”
“What?”
“My parents are raising a stink. They think I’m too young, they think you’re too young, they want me to wait until after college and fall in love with a good little Chinese Hawaiian. …”
“They don’t want me to stay with you.”
“For a few days, I could force them, you know, with battle axes and heavy armor. But is that what we want?”
“No.”
“I’m so very, very sorry.”
“For what? They’re your parents. Do you still want me to come?”
She breathed long, soft, and replied, “More than you can ever imagine.”
“Oh, I can imagine a lot. Believe me. More than a lot.”
“What are we going to do?”
“Nothing’s changed. I’m still coming.”
“Tomorrow? Really?”
“If I can get a ticket. What’s the nicest hotel close to you?”
A pause, then, “The Kahala. But it’s super expensive.”
“You just said it yourself. I’m about to become super rich. Will you call them and book me a room?”
She laughed, a sound like silver bells. “For how long?”
“Tell them … through the new year.”
“Colin … that’s six weeks!”
“Call them now, okay?” He fished in his pocket. “Here’s my card number. Do you have a pen?”
Another chiming of those silver bells. “You’re serious!”
“You were the one who said we needed to celebrate. I’ll call you as soon as I’ve booked a ticket.” Now he was the one to laugh. “I hope I don’t freak out or something. I’ve never flown before.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No, Tiana. This is a season of firsts.”
“I can’t believe you’ve never been on a plane!”
“I’ve never been anywhere.”
Until now.