Page 46 of Cosplay & Consequences

I rolled my dice, counting it up in my head. “With critical damage? That’s eighty-two hit points.”

“God. Damn,” Crayden swore.

“What does that mean?” Daniel asked, laughing.

“What’s your maximum hit points, Roderick?” Bray asked.

“Forty-seven.”

The smile on Bray’s face faded away. She hit a music cue, and a mournful tune began to play.

“The damage you take from the hellish flames that sink into your body exceeds your total hit points,” Her tone became somber and grave, but I knew she was milking this moment for all it was worth. “I’m sorry, but Sir Roderick of Meh has died.”

The entire crowd gasped in horror. Daniel, however, reveled in the moment.

“Do I get any last words?” Daniel asked, vibrating in his seat in excitement.

“Oh, God. Actors and their last words,” I groaned, which caused the crowd to laugh.

“Sir Roderick of Meh, who performed so gallantly on this day, what are your last words?” Brayonna asked.

“I reach out to Grover,” Daniel said, dropping his voice to a low grumble. Matching words to actions, he reached across Bennet to take Louis’ hand. “And I say… Grover! Remember this moment. Tell the world of my actions here today. Let the people of Rex Dondrion remember the name of Sir Roderick of Meh in the ages to come.”

Grover chuckled. “Yeah, dude, there’s no way I’m going to remember that with an intelligence of six.”

“I loot the hag!” Pippin shouted.

“Can I have Meh’s boots?” Cricket asked.

“And that’s where we are going to end it tonight!” Bray shouted to the cheering crowd.

I smiled at Daniel, who gave me a smirk in return.

Once again, Daniel offered to walk with me back to the hotel, and I accepted without hesitation. The thrill of the live show began to wane, and I could tell his energy level was off like when I first saw him at the theater. His shoulders were slouched, and while he smiled, something seemed off. Part of me wondered if this was a sign that maybe he had some doubts. Not that we were dating or anything, but compared to earlier in the day, he was very low-key.

“Are you okay?” I asked, slipping my arm around his.

“Hmm? Oh, I’m fine,” he said with a shrug.

“You’re awfully quiet.”

He shrugged again. “Must be the trailer shoot tomorrow. There’s a lot riding on it.”

“Opening night jitters?” I suggested and gave him a little bump with my hip.

That seemed to knock him out of his funk a bit. His gaze turned to me, head tilting. “Maybe.”

“Just do what you did yesterday at the interview,” I assured him, and I slipped my hand into his.

“You’re supposed to be impartial,” he teased me.

“I want you to do right by your niece,” I said, dodging the statement.

His smile faded a little, but he gave my hand a squeeze. But when he dropped me off at my floor, I could feel the doubt creeping into my head.

Maybe this thing between us was just a fling after all.

Danny