For The Win (Gamer Girls, #6) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,97
screw faster or wait your damned turn, woman!"
Riley laughed at that, and her eyes fell on Rhaven kneeling beside Dez. "Hey!" she said, striding over. "What are you doing here, Rhaven?"
It was Dez who answered, though. "She's helping me tape while waiting for her boyfriend."
"Boyfriend?" Riley asked. "So, that's official?"
Rhaven could feel her cheeks burning. "Yeah," she mumbled.
"Braden!" Riley yelled again.
"Fuck off, woman," he called back.
"Grats on the girl," she replied. Then she squatted down. "Rhaven, you want to help me for my expo this time? I came to see if Braden's ok with it, but I'm thinking about doing a gamer girl tournament after the final round. Eternal Combat booth next door. It'll be me, you, Zara, and Kate. I wanted to have Kitty, but she's kinda laid up."
"The baby," Rhaven realized. "How's she doing?"
"Good," Riley said. "The birth was easy, she's recovering well, and little Ryan's a good boy. Now, Murder? Well, he's neurotic. The man won't let Kitty get up in the middle of the night. He hovers over her, trying to be available for anything she could need, and I'm pretty sure Kitty's about to kill him. That's why he got kicked out and told he was coming."
"He's here?" Dez asked.
Riley nodded. "He didn't want to be, but Kitty's hormones are in the rage stage. Granted, that's not abnormal for her, but still. Void had to drag him along."
"Then who's with Kitty?" Rhaven asked. "She can't be home alone all weekend with a new baby!"
Riley lifted a hand, easing her fears. "Knock's girlfriend is crashing at our place to help. Knock's boyfriend too. The other two guys are stopping in to help with horses and anything else. Kitty's fine. My house may never be the same, and I think it's about to burst at the seams, but she's probably the most pampered new mom ever." Then Riley grinned. "And my nephew's adorable. Just ask Murder for a picture - and plan an hour to see them all."
"Nice," Rhaven said.
Riley nodded. "So, the demo? Want to fight me?"
Dez gestured to Rhaven with her screwdriver. "She's been targeted by KoG."
"Shit," Riley breathed. "Ok. We'll get your back. But, how about it? Fight me, Rhaven!"
"Ok!" Rhaven said, relenting. "You'll probably walk the map and wipe all of us, though."
"Nope," Riley said. "I was thinking about making it me against the red team. Now I'm thinking we should put you on yellow, Kate and Zara on red to support each other, and I'll play blue. Show off the uneven side aspect, right?"
"I'm in for it," Rhaven promised.
Riley's lips curled a little higher. "Dress up for it. Heels. Skirt. Super sexy. We're going to make some boys drool."
Which was when Braden finally came around the corner. "What are you doing?"
Dez flicked the point of her screwdriver between the two women. "Girl's tournament. EC, after the final round. Riley on blue, Rhaven on yellow, Kate and Zara teamed up on red. Put them in the underground base and lock the doors. Set a monitor to each of their feeds."
"And why are the boys drooling over my girl?" Braden asked.
"Marketing," Riley assured him as she pushed back to her feet. "Oh, and the party's in Ice's suite tonight."
"No more clubs?" Dez asked.
"Getting shot at kinda kills the vibe," Riley explained. "Besides, we need to make plans. I heard KoG just targeted my friend." And she glanced at Rhaven. "We gotta get the boys on the same page."
"And what page is that?" Rhaven asked.
"Dunno, but Cynister's here. We get to bounce around some ideas, so come." She turned, but paused. "What are you drinking, Rhaven?"
"Whiskey," Rhaven decided. "Irish if you've got it."
"I'll have it," Riley promised. "Braden?"
"Beer," he said.
"Not good enough," Riley told him. "Try again."
"Whiskey," Dez said. "He drinks it with me. Got room for a guest?"
"I'll tell Ice to pull a love seat out of the way for you," Riley promised. "Just know that Crysis is here, and he's no longer required to be locked in a room to prevent our friend from being identified."
"What time?" Dez asked.
Riley gestured to the booth. "Right about the time this thing is up and running smoothly, and you're no longer fretting about it. I'm heading up there now." And she looked at Rhaven. "Don't walk anywhere alone."
"You're alone," Rhaven countered.
"I'm really not," Riley promised.
Braden just crooked his finger, gesturing for Rhaven to get up. "Go. Riley's right, we both know it, and I can do that. Go play, baby."