For The Win (Gamer Girls, #6) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,177

has a shotgun." She winked to make it clear why she'd heard that.

"He mentioned my dad?"

Amy nodded. "He bragged a bit after he got back. That guy was on top of the world. He's been into you for a while."

"I just thought he was too good for me," Rhaven admitted.

Amy pulled the papers off her printer and passed the originals back. "Braden's flawed. I promise he is, but we all are. The trick is to find someone whose flaws work with yours. I think you two are pretty cute together."

"What's Mark's flaw?" Rhaven asked. "I mean, if that's not rude to talk about."

"He's a recovering alcoholic," Amy explained. "It's not a secret. He's been sober for a long time - since before I met him - but it means no alcohol in our place, you know? He doesn't mind if I drink, but I kinda do. Just the idea of him kissing me and that setting him off or something? It doesn't seem fair, so I haven't had a drink since we started dating. Now the evening smoke sessions out back?" She winked. "Do not ever try to keep up with Dez. Just don't. That woman has some kind of magical ability to metabolize narcotics into brilliant ideas."

Rhaven laughed. "I'll keep that in mind. Oh, and I'm supposed to be looking at my team today?"

"The files are at your desk," Amy assured her. "Pretty sure you'll figure out which one it is."

With that, Rhaven headed to the back, yet the moment she stepped into the warehouse, she realized that Amy was right. It was impossible to miss her new section. Four computers had been placed in a square, and all of the empty space around them had some baby announcement proclaiming, "It's a GIRL!" Pink was everywhere, from streamers to sparkling confetti, and in the middle of it all was a banner announcing, "Congratulations!"

Then there were the flowers. Black, dark red, and colors that contrasted with the frilly pink were everywhere. It looked like a dozen different vases, and they all held a different bouquet. Rhaven didn't make it more than a step before her eyes began to get misty. By the next, she had to press her hands to her lips. And the tears were trying to break free before she even reached her chair.

"Oh my god," she breathed. "You all did this for me?"

"Welcome to the team," Samantha told her. "When the first call came in, we all decided that if they're going to complain out there, then we'll celebrate for you in here." She rubbed Rhaven's shoulder. "Nice to have another girl on the team."

"The roses?" Jeff said, pointing to himself. "Those are from me. And if you ever get sick of muscles over there, just look me up." He made a mockery of winking at her.

"That," Braden said, waving his finger in Jeff's general direction, "is why you're still single. I keep telling you to hit on the available ladies, man. Not the taken ones."

"All the gamer ones are taken!" Jeff pointed out. "Well, or under age."

Rhaven heard them, but she was looking at the flowers. Calla lilies, roses, and more that she couldn't name. There were so many, and all for her. Most of them were black or a very dark red, colors she was known to wear. Then, when she pulled out her chair, she found that it wasn't empty. Sitting in her seat was a large stuffed creature that looked a lot like a troll, except for the blindingly pink hair and black lips. A female troll? No, there was a little tiara on its head, and the shirt said, "Troll Princess."

"Because I'm the troll queen, you have to be the princess." The voice came from the back door, and Rhaven looked up to see Dez and Chance both standing there.

Rhaven just hugged the plushie. "Thank you, guys."

"It's a transition shower," Chance said. "Saw the idea on Reddit and figured that since we missed your coming out, well, we'd double down for your legal document change."

She was crying. She knew she was, but she didn't even care. Dez, however, understood. Grabbing a box of tissues off someone's desk as she passed, the woman squeezed them between some flowers and then lifted the laptop bag on her shoulder. Digging in the front pocket, it only took her a couple of seconds to find mascara, eyeliner, and a compact.

"These are yours, and they stay in the office," she said, holding them out. "Seems this crew