Page 23 of Gamers' Omega

I laughed. “They’re great, but I’m just their friend.”

“I dunno,” she argued. “They’ve been coming here for a long time, and I’ve never seen them joke around with anybody else the way they do with you. They’ve always been polite and great tippers. But when they’re talking to you, they’re focused on you. All of them. Before, one or two would talk while the others continued whatever game they were playing, then they’d switch when somebody else had to talk. They stop playing for you.”

I shook my head. “You’re imagining things.”

“Trust me, hun,” she replied. “Those men have come here for years. They’re different with you. There’s something there.”

Mandy finished with the bread basket and hustled back out of the kitchen.

Was she right? Was there more than just friendship between me and the guys?

Did I want that?

Chapter 7

~Early April~

“Hey Hot Stuff,” Ian teased as he strode in.

I laughed and looked behind him. “This isn’t your usual day… or time. Meeting everybody here?”

He grinned. “Naw. I’m picking up a to-go order. My team just finished up with a large project and I’m treating them to lunch.”

“Not in lieu of a bonus, right?” I jabbed.

Ian burst into laughter. “Hell no. My bosses know how to keep good people. I don’t know what the bonuses will be, but they will definitely be better than a pizza party.”

“Good to know.”

“In case you go into architecture?”

“Yep!”

He grinned. “Just let me know when you do. I’ll help you with the homework.”

“Ew, homework? Nevermind.”

Ian laughed again. “I feel that.”

“Is the order under your name?” I asked.

“Yeah.”

“Lemme go grab it.”

“Ok.”

I ran to the back, grabbed Ian’s order—half a dozen pizzas—from the holding area, and returned to the front.

“Anything else?” I asked as I pulled his order up on the computer.

“Yes,” he replied. “But nothing on the menu.”

I turned and met his gaze. “Hmm?”

“Are you busy tonight?”

“Uhhh… no. Why?”