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“Really?” she squeaks, jumping in the air, clearly not needing a second invite.
My friend Pen is the only other person I’ve met who is this excited about gaming, but looking at Leah right now, she is a close second. But then, I’ve not discussed my hobby with many people, especially not those I date. This is my private space.
Leah jumps into my chair, and brings up the server where I speak to others on the platform.
Her head spins towards mine.
“No way, you’re ExchangeAce69?” she asks. The incredulity in her voice makes me smile.
“That would be me,” I say.
I step up next to her, take the controller, and show her my setup.
“Gabriel, this is amazing.” Her eyes widen as the main sixty-five-inch screen comes alive with the game while the smaller monitors display the various chatrooms I’m a member of.
“I built it with a friend.”
“Really?”
“Yes, I’ve known them for years. An old friend of my elder brother, Elijah. She introduced me to gaming. Helped me build my first computer when I was thirteen.”
My body warms under the scrutiny of Leah’s gaze.
“You dark horse.” Leah chuckles. “Who would have thought the successful Gabriel Frazer is a secret gamer capable of building his own computer?”
“Pen was at uni with Elijah. She helped him set up Frazer Cyber Security. She is still a shareholder, but life took her in a different direction.”
Leah stares at me. “Pen?”
“Penelope Dawson.”
Leah’s eyes widen. “As in the Penelope Dawson. The software developer, whose company branched out into all the fancy hardware. I think I was reading about the new accessibility hardware and software they’re developing. The woman is a genius in all things tech. She’s made millions. A woman from very humble beginnings who’s made it huge in a man’s world.”
I turn away, amused at Leah’s fangirling over one of my closest friends.
“I can’t believe you know Penelope Dawson,” Leah says, grinning and shaking her head.
“I have done for many years, but enough talk about Pen. So, you game?”
“I do.” She grins at me. “Well, I used to. I got tired of watching movies when Vince went out.”
My spine stiffens at the mention of her ex.
“So, I bought a Dawson gaming console. It was incredibly addictive. I started with simple games like Spiderman, and then moved onto the online platforms when I realised I didn’t have to play alone. I enjoy the competitive nature and teamwork.”
I got hooked for the same reasons. Something about talking to people online is entirely different from speaking to them face-to-face. Less small talk and a common goal. No one knows my net worth, and gets hung up on it.
“Are you going to tell me who you are?” I ask, wondering who she is. Have I played her?
“I’m AuburnShadow2006,” she says, giving me a smug look.
I’m surprised. Pen and I have discussed her. She’s a great problem solver, not that I can tell her that.
“I’m impressed,” I say. “We will have to set your console up.”
Her face drops. “It got fried in the flood,” she says.
“Why didn’t you mention it? I’d have replaced it along with everything else.”
