For The Win (Gamer Girls, #6) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,91
an ego boost. Usually before telling me to go hit on some girl. Kinda been going on for years, and it's just a joke."
She ran her eyes over him. "So, your type, Braden?"
"Uh..." The man had yet to get a whole word out.
"Yes," Amy said. "He has a thing for the kind who need a little backup. Braden likes to be the hero."
"He's kinda mine," Rhaven admitted, reaching over for his hand.
He laced his fingers with hers. "So fight back. When they out you, lift your chin and say that doesn't make you less of a woman. When they try to make fun of you, trust that we will stop it. When they tell you to quit, just place higher. Fight them the same way Riley is. The same way Dez is. Fight back by not letting them rule your life, and I swear I will be with you every step of the way - or until you make me stop."
"Me too," Jeff told her.
"All of us," Sam assured her. "Deviant is more than just a game company, Rhaven. We're a family, and you're kinda banging my brother."
"Wait," Andy said, pointing between her and Tim. "Does that mean that's incest?"
"Fuck off," Tim said.
"Kinky!" Andy teased.
But that was enough to make Rhaven laugh. It also was the break they needed to get back to work. When Tim grabbed one of the large drapes that would shield the inside of the booth from the outside, Jeff took the other side. Rhaven found the next and looked to Braden, making it clear she was willing to help. He just pointed to the side, indicating where that fit.
"You don't have to help, you know," he assured her.
Rhaven just shrugged. "Might as well. One more set of hands makes it go faster, and I kinda don't have anything else to do. My computer is in a box. My best friend is moving into her own suite. I guess I could see what's on TV, but this kinda seems more fun."
"Fun?" he asked. "Baby, this is not fun. Now, what do you know about wiring a network?"
"Not much," she admitted. "I learn fast, though."
From behind her, Sam asked, "You don't know networking?"
"Worked at a gas station," she admitted. "Only had one computer in my house. I mean, my brother has some ancient laptop and four different consoles, but yeah. Nothing to network."
Sam looked at Braden. He grinned and glanced over to Amy. She didn't notice at first, but when she did, the woman flinched in place. "What?" she asked.
"Rhaven's never used a network," Sam told her.
Amy just laughed. "Yeah, so Dez gets in tomorrow. She'll teach you, Rhaven. In about two seconds, and in a way that will make you slap your head."
"Gotta set up the network tonight," Braden reminded them. "We want this thing ready to go by midnight."
"Then looks like you're teaching her," Amy said. "Your girlfriend, after all - since you've been so willing to brag about it."
Braden groaned. "I'll show you, Rhave. And when Dez gets here, you can speak her language."
"I probably won't even see her," Rhaven reminded him.
"I have a feeling my best friend will make sure she talks to you," he countered. "I had to meet your family, Rhaven. It's only fair that you suffer through meeting mine."
She looked over and met his eyes. "Yeah, I like your family, Brae."
"Good," he said, smiling just a little too much. "I kinda like yours too. Now hang that in the corner, ok?"
She did, and together, they made sure that the Deviant booth was something to be proud of. To Rhaven, it felt good. It felt like she really was part of the team. Best of all, she liked the other developers. They made her feel like this was where she belonged. It was almost like all of her fantasies were coming true this weekend.
She'd come out to her family and they still loved her. She'd gotten the guy of her dreams. To top it all off, she was pretending to be a real game developer. Evidently, KoG's best attempt to destroy her life had basically done the complete opposite.
Chapter 31
By the time they were done, both of them were covered in dust and dirt. Some from the floor. More from the curtains and boxes they came in. Still, the booth was up, the computers were all connected, and she honestly felt like she'd helped. Laughing with the other developers was just a little bit of a bonus.