For The Win (Gamer Girls, #6) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,50

said, "walk him out so he doesn't get lost in the house?"

"Sure."

She pushed to her feet and gestured toward the house. Braden went first, she followed - yet once they were inside, he turned to face her.

"So, do I get to see your room?" he asked.

"Really?" she asked.

"Kinda more interested in the computer, but yeah." He pointed one way and then the other, seeking guidance.

"This way," she said. "And it's the computer I got in Columbus, so you should know it."

He followed her up the hall. At her room, Rhaven pushed open the door and walked in. Braden didn't hesitate, closing the door behind him, and then he caught her waist. She froze, but he only leaned in to whisper in her ear.

"I had fun, believe it or not."

She glanced back. "And my brother's about to come inside."

He just lifted his hands. "So this is your gaming den, huh?" Yet his eyes were on her bed.

Her masculine, boring, and not very girly bed. Just like the rest of her room. His eyes scanned the walls, pausing on the calendar with girls in bikinis - a promotional thing from the gas station - until he finally looked at her computer. Rhaven wasn't sure what he'd expected, and yet somehow she was sure this should be embarrassing.

"What's your favorite color?" he finally asked.

She huffed out a laugh. "Black?"

That made him laugh. "Figures." Then he turned back to face her. "Did I pass?"

"Pass?"

He gestured to the back yard area. "That. Hanging out like guys. Being almost normal."

"Oh." And she nodded. "Yeah, I think so. I just hate that it's going to make things awkward for you later."

His brow furrowed. "How so?"

"When I tell them, and they realize you knew the whole time, and yet you sat here calling me Ethan all night."

"And fucking hating it." He stepped a little closer. "So many times, I found myself phrasing things so I didn't have to use a pronoun. I kept jumping over the name they use." Then he reached up to touch her face. "And I never got to tell you how much I enjoyed last night."

Damn it, her face was getting warm again. "Me too," she whispered.

"You sure? Baby, I'm trying real hard not to come on too strong. Otherwise, I'd be throwing you against this wall right now and kissing the shit out of you."

"They'd hear," she pointed out.

He just turned her face up. "I know." Then he leaned in to brush his lips across hers. "That's the only reason I'm not. Figure I can hold off a week."

"Boyfriend?" she asked.

He nodded. "Oh yeah. And I'm hoping you'll think about inviting me to your suite this time." But the sound of someone in the kitchen made him step back. "Want to walk me out?"

"Probably safer," she said, gesturing to the door.

Braden opened it and stepped out. "So, yeah, your headphones are shit. No offense or anything. But that tiny little monitor makes me realize why screen real estate is so important to your designs."

"Fuck off," she told him as she headed toward the front door. "Not all of us play on extra-wide screens and company-bought computers! Some of us have to save up for this crap, you know."

"I do," he promised. "So when are you getting to Denver?"

"Friday. Early afternoon," she told him. "You?"

"Thursday night or Friday morning. Depends on which team I'm on." He paused to wave at Tyler. "Nice to meet you, man. Make sure Bill doesn't sleep out there all night."

"He won't," Tyler promised. "He'll also never admit he passed out. Ethan, want to help with dishes?"

"In a sec," she told him. "Going to make sure Braden remembers how to get back to his hotel."

Tyler just lifted his hand without turning away from the sink. "Later, man."

And then they were outside. Rhaven pushed out a breath, feeling her tension go with it. Not that she'd realized she was tense, but it made sense. The whole time she'd been waiting for something to go wrong. For her dad to say something inappropriate or her brother to pull his shit again. Instead, it had actually been nice.

But Braden didn't get right into his car. Instead, he turned around to face her. "I should probably let you know that Bill grilled me a bit."

"About?"

"You," he said. "Seems your brother said something about me being into guys, and Bill had to ask. Um, I didn't out you, but they know something's there."

"Shit," she breathed, turning partially away. Braden grabbed her arm, but Rhaven shrugged