“And that’s bad?”

“It’s—”

“Next!”

I didn’t get a chance to find out Jasper’s reply because we’d finally reached the front of the line, and Jasper had to show his ID, get a lanyard with a badge, and move down the line to a security-type woman in an event T-shirt and gloves who inspected Jasper’s decks like they might be laced with actual explosives. I received a different-colored badge since I was simply watching. Finally, after all that, we entered the event space, which was full of rows of folding tables and chairs in the center of the big ballroom and a few vendor booths in the adjacent room.

The room buzzed with a flurry of activity and eager gamers ready to beat each other to a metaphorical pulp. Reminded me of game days for soccer tournaments, everyone all ready to get started. There were rows of tables, not playing fields, and way more colorful hair and nerd humor T-shirts, but the competitive spirit was similar. Later, they’d be dragging from a long day, but this early energy was contagious.

Two weeks ago, I would have laughed at the idea of finding card shuffling sexy, but watching Jasper get set for his first match made this weird mix of pride and awareness gather in my insides, mingling with that energy to bounce on my feet the way Jasper was always doing. He was simply so quietly competent at what he did, arranging his space and cards with practiced fingers. As kids, Jasper had always been the messiest kid in his family, far less ordered than I who had enjoyed sorting his Legos into little bins—but as a gamer, Jasper was methodical, everything evenly spaced and squared with the table. His play mat featured the same Frog Wizard he’d cosplayed as.

“It’s possible your outfit is fancier than the actual one.” I pointed at the picture. “But good job matching the colors and stuff.”

“Thanks. I tried. He probably wears it better, but it’s fun.”

“Nah, you’re cuter than his big warty head.” The light words escaped before I could call them back. Jasper’s eyes went wide and his head tilted. But then his opponent arrived, a younger girl with a serious expression.

Jasper shook his head like he’d misheard me and turned his full attention to the girl and the start of his match. I, however, couldn’t move on that fast, couldn’t stop from obsessing over my slip. I blamed how rattled I still was over the boyfriend revelation. It was yet more proof that Jasper was miles removed from the kid I’d once known. And worst of all was how desperate I was to get to know that person, to uncover his secrets. That sort of yearning was dangerous.

But I couldn’t seem to stop.

Chapter Eleven

Jasper