Chapter Four
Morgan
As we get closer to the table, I try my hardest to continue checking out the rest of the team. While the rest of them look about the same as the first half, I don’t really see them. My eyes keep coming back to this Dex guy. I wonder if that’s his real name or just a gaming nickname. Do they have nicknames? The kid did refer to him as "DosDex," but I still need to figure out what MLG and a positive K/D could be.
Again, with an elbow jab to my side, Ruby excitedly announces in my ear, “We’re next!” The name card on the table informs us that first up is a guy named Ben "Fordify" Ford. He smiles at us and with a nod, signs the shirt. Then he slides it to his right as we move along. Next up is the hot gamer girl, also known as Bernadette “BurndIt” Ross. She starts signing the shirt and in the sweetest voice says “Hiya! Thanks for coming and seeing us today,” with a smile. She then slides the shirt to…him.
I realize as she pushes the shirt to him, that I was unsuccessfully able to make eye contact with either Bernadette or Ben. I couldn’t stay focused as they each signed the shirt because I kept sneaking glances at Dex. I also realize that it is getting increasingly hotter in here—the closer I get to him. What the heck is wrong with me? I’m not the kind of girl who gets nervous talking to a guy.
Sure, sometimes I will avoid guys in general, but I’m not scared of them. I’ve gotten along with most of the guys Gia and Ruby date. There were a couple of guys I hung out with in college, mostly to study though. So why the heck do I feel like I’m about to do something utterly stupid, like that split second before you realize you’ve missed the step and are about to fall down the stairs?
“Hi,” he says in this perfectly male, deep voice. “How are you ladies today?”
I distantly hear Ruby reply, “Well, we’re just fine. Thank you for asking.”
And she nudges me as I realize that while he asked both of us that question, he is only looking at me, and I’m not moving or saying anything. Apparently, I'm a freaking mute. Why can't I form words? Get it together, Morgan!
"Hi," he says again, but to only me this time.
And just like that, I snap myself out of it, slap on a smile and reply, "Hi," as I reach out and offer my hand like it’s some formal introduction. Again, I ask myself, what is wrong with me?
With a smile that reaches his eyes, he grasps my hand in his as I say, "I'm Morgan, and I have no idea what a positive K/D is."
I hear Ruby stifle a laugh beside me. I'm never going to live this down. Somebody should just shoot me now. But to my surprise, Dex doesn't laugh at me. He is still smiling at me and says, “Hi Morgan, I'm Dex. And don't worry about it, this guy sitting next to me," he jerks his head to his right, "doesn’t know what a positive K/D is either, but at least you're honest."
I quickly glance to his right and see a guy with short blond hair turn toward him glaring, but then turn toward us, smile and says, "He doesn't know what he's talking about."
I slide my eyes back to Dex and realize he is still holding my hand even though the handshake stopped a minute ago. I quickly drop my hand and smile as a big bouncer type guy comes up to us and says, "Sorry ladies, you’re holding up the line. Keep moving."
Ruby apologizes, and I apologize to Dex because I'm still staring at him. But we move along, and now the gamer to Dex’s right, Simon "SezSimon" Palmer, is signing the shirt. Dex looks back at me as he finishes signing a poster and says, "it was nice meeting you, Morgan," with a warm smile. I can only manage a smile and nod as Ruby finishes getting the last signature. Then we finish and get out of the line.
We walk a little bit before Ruby stops, grabs my arm and doubles over with laughter. My face starts to redden with embarrassment, but her laughter is contagious, so I can't help laughing too.
"Oh. My. God. Morgan. What was that?" she asks through fits of laughter.
"I don't know," I answer honestly, finally able to calm my speeding heartbeat.
"I have never, ever, seen you act like that. Even when our mean, scary new boss singled you out in that department meeting that one time. I know you had no idea he was going to ask you to share, but you did, and you kicked butt. But yet you stand face to face with a hot guy, and you completely blank on how to be normal Morgan. Oh, my God. Gia is going to be so mad she missed this," she says. By this time her laughter has subsided but I'm positive she now has the hiccups. The weirdo gets the hiccups whenever she laughs too hard.
And yeah, she was right about that meeting. Our new boss was scary and mean. And out of the blue, he called me out to explain the current promotion our team was working on. I wasn't the team lead on the project, so I was totally unprepared, but I pretended like it didn't faze me and gave the group a rundown. Ruby was right; I kicked butt. But what the heck happened five minutes ago?
"I have no idea what possessed me to do or say what I did, but I hope that never happens again," I reply.
"I think he likes you though," she says.
"Ah, yeah. Right," I snort.
"No, really. You might have had a total spaz moment, but he couldn't keep his eyes off you either, and while everyone else might have been looking at you like you were cray-cray, he, my friend, was not."
Humph. Even so, it's not like I'm ever going to see him again. I just roll my eyes and mutter a “whatever.” The sooner I can get past this little blip of embarrassment, the better. Standing around chatting about it is not going to help, so I pull on her arm and start walking. “Come on, let's go. Not only do you owe me for missing that panel I wanted to go to, but you also caused me to have my greatest, most embarrassing moment, ever. How are you going to make it up to me?" I ask, relieved as she joins me.