Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 93713 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93713 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“You go that way,” he ordered, pointing at the screen.
“I don’t think—”
“Don’t think. Do.” Typical cocky SEAL, certain he knew best. “Trust me. Come on. I trusted you about mushrooms.”
“You did.” I had to smile at the memory of how he’d let me guide his meal. I fucking loved that, perhaps even more than this game. “Okay, okay, I’m going, but I better not get sniped.”
The game was stimulating enough that I’d have a hard time sleeping later, even with my meds, but it was worth it for the rush of adrenaline when Avery proved correct and his strategy led us to victory.
“Damn. You’re good.” I whistled.
“Told you.”
“And so modest, exactly like every other SEAL I’ve met.”
“You know it.” His toothy smile was so wide it revealed dimples I hadn’t noticed before. Venus was missing out. He’d said I’d have someone new soon, but he’d likely have me beat. “Another round?”
“Absolutely.” Screw sleep. It was still plenty early, and there was a planet full of baddies to hunt.
“I want to pick a new character this round.” Avery started flipping through avatar choices on the screen. He was cute, the way he was drawn to the biggest, toughest warrior-class fighters, eventually settling on a giant orc-like thing with three horns and a fur vest.
“Damn, man. Leave some firepower for the rest of us.” Laughing, I bumped his shoulder. “In fact, I’m going to try a healing class because I have a feeling your ass is gonna be injured a lot.”
“Ha. Now I need a good name.”
“Butch? Rambo? Steel?” I bumped him again, and this time he chuckled with me.
“Shut up.” Scrolling, he typed A-X-E-L. “Hey, look, you can even choose your character’s pronouns. And their orientation.”
“Oh yeah. I read about that too. The game creators made inclusivity a huge priority. The homecoming montage at the end of the raids even gets personalized to your picks—like they’re taking flack for having two dudes kissing in some of the village scenes.”
“Seriously? I wonder if you can turn that off?” Avery wrinkled his nose, and I turned more fully toward him, tempted to give him a harder shove.
“What the hell, man? You a homophobe?” Given that Avery was employed by A-List, I wouldn’t have expected that, but I’d seen stranger cases of narrow thinking.
“No, no.” He held up his hand. “I’m cool.”
“What then?” I kept frowning at him, trying to figure his deal out. “Scared of seeing two dudes kiss?”
“Nah. Bring it on. I just wasn’t expecting it, that’s all.” He shifted in his seat, jaw set and hand tight on his controller. He was so not cool. I was tempted to pick a rainbow flag-flying character simply to watch him squirm more, and I banged the buttons to choose a wizardly healer for myself far harder than necessary.
“Ready?” I cued up the next round.
“Whoa. Dude. Did I offend you? Are you bi or something? I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” Avery seemed contrite, but I had a diverse enough friend group to value acceptance. I’d been in enough toxic locker rooms over the years to avoid hanging with someone uncomfortable with same-sex couples.
“Not bi. Just open-minded.”
He made an indignant noise at my sharp tone. “Hey, I’m open-minded too.”
“Uh-huh.”
“No, really. I’ve even wondered about kissing a dude a time or two. You know, just in theory.”
I let out a frustrated laugh. Avery sure was clueless. And talented at wording things the worst possible way, but almost endearingly so.
“Everyone’s wondered that.” I rolled my eyes at him. “And accidentally-on-purpose clicked on gay porn just to see what the fuss is about. Remember, I worked in intelligence. I heard that one a ton. But not everyone’s so uptight about it.”
“Sorry.” Avery’s mouth sagged. “I suck. I’m sorry. I need to watch my mouth.”
And his attitude, but I decided to cut him a little slack. “It’s okay. Just try harder to have a better filter for your brain.”
“I will.” He licked his lips, nervous little darts of his pink tongue. “Have you? Ever thought about it, I mean?”
“Sure.” I stretched, making my neck crack. “Here and there. Not much. I’ve only dated women, but with three exes, it’s not a huge sample size. So sure, I’ve had the passing wonder if things would be different with another guy.”
“Yeah.” Avery exhaled hard. “Exactly. Stray thoughts. But you’ve never done it?”
“Kissed a dude?”
“Or anything else.” His nervous twitching around on the couch was going to give me a complex. I had a rather strong urge to pin him in place.
“Nah. Never really had the opportunity. Haven’t been single all that often, honestly.”
“Same. It’s not like there’s a ton of gay guys in special forces.”
I had to snort. “You’re not looking very hard. You do know we work for two former SEALs dating or living with other men? And their assorted queer friends? You think they’re the only guys-into-guys in the military?”