I got through the level easily and then the next. I kept going until I was sure I'd gotten so far ahead of Drew that he'd never catch me.
My phone rang. I'd left it behind the bar but, with no music playing, I could hear it easily. Well, the call could go to voicemail. That was the whole point of voicemail. There was nothing so urgent that I needed to interrupt my game. I should've turned the bloody thing off before I started but now I blocked it out.
I hadn't lost it, I was still the champion. No one could come close.
Shit, I'd died.
"Nice try, Carlie." Since when did Drew be so patronizing?
I glared at him to let him know that cracks like that would get him a clip around the ears.
A couple of customers came into the bar. I jumped up to serve them while Drew played.
"Don't worry," said Alex. "I'll look after them. Can't disturb your game."
I wasn't sure if he meant that in a sarcastic way or not but I sure as hell sat back down.
"Thanks, Alex."
He saluted me and walked over to the bar. I should've told him to grab my phone but I didn't want to be in the middle of checking it when Drew died.
He'd gotten to level 10. I grinned. That was his hell level. No matter what, Drew struggled to get past it. When he was just playing for kicks, he'd ask me to do it for him. I don't even know why he had so many problems with it. It wasn't particularly challenging or that much different to the other levels. He just had a mental block with it.
I prepared myself to take the controls and finish this game off. I guess, even if Drew finished, I should offer him his job back for playing well, despite his loss. That would make me feel better about beating him and, well, we did need him around the place. I'd been too quick to dismiss him and too proud to admit I'd been wrong. I'd taken my personal feelings out on him and probably contributed to the problem by leaving him in charge while I snuck off for a cigarette.
Drew let out a satisfied sigh. The little bugger had gotten through the level. He’d nearly caught up to me. I wiped my forehead.
Luckily, he died before he got quite up to my level.
"Sorry, Drew, but you know I'm not holding back," I said.
"I wouldn't expect anything else from you," he said.
I hunched over the table, ready to play. I'd gotten over all my shitty emotions now. I was strong. I'd go for the jugular.
"Hey, I thought you were working, not playing games."
I glanced up for just a moment when I heard Holden's voice. A split second but that was enough. Dead. Game over for me.
But Drew still had to catch me.
I stomped over to Holden. He tried to hug me but I pushed him away.
"You made me die."
"It's just a game."
"It's never just a game."
I didn't want him hugging me or acting like we were anything more than enemies in front of people. I gave him a look to say to keep it on the down-low. He grinned and winked at me. Winking was not even good. Us talking was not good. The wink did give me a fuzzy feeling, though.
I tried to walk off but he grabbed my arm. "I'll pretend all you like but, when I get you out of here tonight, I'm going to fuck your brains out."
That sent a rush straight through me. I should've told him to fuck off. He couldn't just assume I'd sleep with him again. The trembles going through my body told a different story.
Luckily everyone was too busy watching Drew to notice. He was about to die, I could feel it. He’d die and I’d win. That was the way this went.
I snuck another look at Holden.