So she’d done what any self-respecting woman who’d just been dissed would do: she ordered another drink and huddled closer to her friends. For a while, the three of them had stuck together like a trio of nesting dolls, one on top of the other, as they inched through the crowd, introducing themselves—that is, the character version of themselves—to the other players. It wasn’t long before a very good-looking guy with striking blue eyes and a perfect shadow-beard had swept Kat, er Bridget, off to a quiet corner.

“Our Bridget sure is having a good time,” Andie observed.

“To be honest,” Julia confessed, “I’m a little jealous.”

“Don’t be. He’s an NPC.”

“A what?”

“It’s a LARPing thing.” Andie twirled the cocktail stirrer in her drink. In her role of NYC fashion designer Carrie, she’d been ordering cosmos all evening.

“Spell that out please, nerd girl.” The affection in Julia’s tone turned the word into more of a compliment than a tease.

“NPCs are nonplaying characters. In this case, actors the resort hired to help create the immersive world for the guests. Mr. Blue Eyes is definitely one of them.”

“How can you tell?”

“Besides the perfection of his jawline?” Andie jerked her chin in the couple’s direction. “See that little button he’s wearing?”

Julia glanced back over at the guy Kat was with, trying to be discreet as she examined him. Bingo. “I see it.” Over one firm pec perfectly showcased inside a tight black V-neck T-shirt was a little blue button. “Is there something significant about it?”

“For a game to feel immersive, the actors will blend in with the players. But it’s protocol for nonplaying characters to indicate their status with some kind of token. Something simple like a wristband, or a scarf…” Andie fixed her gaze. “Or a button.”

“Interesting.” Julia observed the room for a moment, and sure enough, she began to spot buttons on several other guests chatting and laughing. Of the fifty or so people in the room, she estimated around a dozen were wearing the blue buttons. “Think anyone would notice if I got out my notepad again and wrote all this down? It would be great background info for the ‘Take Me!’ piece.”

“And risk blowing your cover?” Andie teased. “Maybe you can convince Kat to walk around with it for you.” She turned back to the couple. “Though she is a little busy at the moment.” Andie whistled. “That man is almost too pretty. He’s got that I’m not a doctor but I play one on TV vibe.”

Julia laughed. Andie was right. He was a very specific, almost too perfect, brand of gorgeous. A thought occurred to her. “I think this is further proof that the powers that be definitely think Kat is the TrendList reporter.”

“How do you figure?” Andie asked.