For The Win (Gamer Girls, #6) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,2

out there. A set of picnic tables had a crew of cowboys passing around what had to be a joint. She did her best not to look at them.

It only helped so much. Josh, the biggest asshole of the group, still saw her. "Hey, faggot!" he yelled. "Get the fuck out of the park. There are kids around here!"

She didn't bother replying, just walked a little faster. By the time she was in high school, Rhaven had learned that it wasn't worth fighting back. It never worked, and there were always more of them than her. Saying something always ended in the same way, usually with her bleeding. So she shoved her hands a little deeper and stared at the ground, watching it pass as she made her casual escape.

Behind her, they kept yelling and taunting. Then, something landed just in front of her. It looked like a water bottle, but the fluid inside was brown and viscous. Disgusting! That was someone's dip spit! Her throat tensed, a wave of nausea hit, but she just kept walking. If it wouldn't make things worse, she would've run.

Because this was her life. She was always stuck on the outside, watching while others found their own ways to be happy. So often, people complained about things that she would die to have happen to her. Being asked out by the ugly guy, as an example. She felt like she was the observer, cursed to do nothing more than watch everyone else live their lives while hers slowly but surely slipped away. So she grabbed her phone again and sent off a text.

Rhaven: How's work, Kate?

It didn't take long before the answer came back.

Kate: Slow, thankfully. We've pretty much got Denver all set up. Adam's got a new security contract for the event, too. And, best part, your suite will be next to ours!

Rhaven: I don't need a suite!

Her best friend was dating the man who owned the hotels for the gaming conventions. Kate worked for the company, but not directly for her boyfriend. Instead, she was the second in charge of events like the gaming tournaments. It was how they'd met, but never in a million years would Rhaven have guessed that someone like Katelyn Gaskill would be her friend.

Kate was built like a supermodel, all lean and elegant. She was a natural redhead, with that lovely coppery-ginger hair. She was beautiful in a way that men either loved or hated, and yet the nicest woman in the world. When the incel hate group had tried to out Rhaven as trans, Kate had stepped up, becoming Rhaven's personal hero. Best friends had followed shortly after.

Kate: I'm allowed to claim one as my own, so I'm claiming yours. I mean, since I'm definitely spending my nights with Adam. I may have set it up so that Deviant is right across the hall. Chance and Dez across from us, but Braden's right across from you. :P

Rhaven: I keep telling you he's just being nice. Don't make things weird for him!

Kate: And I keep telling you that you're beautiful and he's serious. So I'm making things weird for you instead. How's your day?

Rhaven: Typical. I'm almost home, then going to log in for a few hours.

Kate: I'm here for two more, and then I'll join you. Play with Paradox tonight?

Rhaven: Nope, it's your turn to hang with PsychoDreads. Besides, might be some updates on Kitty!

Kate: Sold. Txt me when you're online.

Rhaven: Promise. Just got home, so I'll see you in game when you get here!

Kate: Enjoy killing people!

Rhaven chuckled and put her phone back into her pocket as she stepped into the yard. Her dad's trailer was starting to look old, but it was still home. The problem was that the driveway was filled with cars. A few she recognized as her older brother's friends'. One was the beater Tyler called his own. The one she usually borrowed when she needed to drive. At the back was her dad's truck. That meant everyone was here, and for some reason that felt like an extra weight on her shoulders.

Pulling in a deep breath, she jogged up the stairs and headed inside. Naturally, Tyler's friends were scattered across the living room. Five of them, plus her brother, and the sound of digital guns was much too loud. Half-full bottles of beer covered just about every surface, each one placed before one of the guys, yet they were all staring intently at the TV. Then, like a pack of