The Wager: A Game Changer Companion Novella (Playing Games Series)

Chapter One - Liam: Obligations

Staring out at the thick blanket of snow, I continued to wonder why I was even here. My friend, Thad, insisted I tag along with him and his family this Christmas. Even though they'd always taken me in when my parents neglected to, I still felt like I was on the outside looking in—an intruder—especially on the holidays.

Thad wouldn't give up the fight, demanding I come with him to their vacation home in North Carolina. He blathered on about not having anyone to hang with when the family started their annual holiday traditions he seemed to loathe. Sometimes the man didn't realize how good he had it. I didn't even know a family had traditions, or bothered to spend time together, until I started hanging around his clan.

Even though we were both grown men, spending time with family was always top priority in his household, even now. I could count on one hand the amount of times my own family sat around a dinner table together. Yet now, even as adults, his parents and their children all gathered around the table together at least once a week. Although I joined them for their Sunday dinners, I still felt a bit awkward crashing their trip this Christmas.

I should've been home playing some lonely kid in an MMORPG so he would at least have a buddy when being ignored by his family like I was. Thad thought the idea was ridiculous though, and instead, dragged me along for the ride.

I continued to watch the snow fall as I waited, a shiver running down my spine as little puffs of cotton covered the once-green lawn outside. Tonight was the big holiday party and, of course, since Thad was from the area, he insisted on setting me up with some chick he used to go to school with. Needless to say, I wasn't stoked, but at least I had a chance of connecting with someone who wasn't after my money or status. That was always a major issue back home.

Being the lead game developer at nZone Studios, I had a knack for attracting women who either wanted a free ride in life or to get their foot in the door as a tester—neither of which were a good fit. For once, I wanted to meet a chick who just wanted to be with me for... well... me.

The sound of jingle bells coming from the door to the cabin told me Thad was back, yet I had no desire to turn and look at who he had on his arm. I knew my crankiness would just ruin the night of others, so I took a deep breath and plastered a forced smile across my face before swiveling to see who walked in.

There Thad stood, his head hung and hands in his pockets, defeat clear in his stance, and I couldn't help but laugh at the poor schmuck.

"It's not funny," he said, his voice harsh, yet needy, like he wanted me to ask what was wrong before he spilled the beans.

"What happened? Did our girlfriends pop on the way here?" I joked. Once, I caught Thad teaching himself how to dance with a blow-up doll—that was his story anyway. I wouldn't have been a good friend if I dared to let him live it down. His reaction as soon as I walked into the room was even more epic than the act.

"Har, har. Very funny, asshat," he scoffed. "But we did get turned down."

"Wait, you didn't ask them ahead of time?" Thad told me there was a set of twins he went to high school with who wanted something to do this Christmas Eve. Little did I know the dipshit never even bothered to ask them.

"I talked to them, I promise. They just said something else came up." I could tell the brushoff was hurting his ego, so I tried to stifle the digs that came bubbling up in my mind.

"Eh, we're better off. Let's just get to the party. We'll be fine without dates," I said, throwing my arm around him and ushering him out of the door.

"Really sucks I gotta show up with a loser like you on my arm," Thad said, pouting and fishing for me to boost his ego. He obviously didn't know me as well as I thought.

"At least it'll shock your family. You usually show up to these things stag. They'll be elated you finally came out of the closet," I joked. Only after I said it did I realize it was also a below-the-belt blow toward myself.

"Yeah, wanna rephrase that, moron?" he chided, elbowing me in the stomach so I'd get off him. Well, at least my little blunder made him laugh.

Forgoing the holiday music, Thad blasted some old-school Metallica while we drove to the party across town, the bass rumbling through my body making me feel a bit more alive. It was hard for me to get into the Christmas spirit, especially since my family lacked the heart for such holiday cheer my entire childhood.

"I plan to get plastered tonight," I informed him just as our headlights reflected off other cars in the clubhouse parking lot.

"Fuck, no. If you face-plant in the snow, your drool will freeze and I'll lose my gaming buddy. I have a raid set up for tonight."

"But I didn't bring my favorite controller," I said, the complaint seeping through my teeth before I could stop it. I wanted an excuse to get faced tonight, and I knew my friend would put the kibosh on that if gaming were at stake. Honestly, any other day of the year, and I would've been the same way—putting the game before all else. But, tonight, I just wanted to be left alone. Spending time raiding with others didn't sound like a great way to spend the evening.

I could practically feel him rolling his eyes as he responded. "Then use the keyboard, you whiner."

"But, I like using my controller." I paused, trying to think of more to complain about. Now it was becoming more like a game than actual excuses. Annoying Thad was one of my favorite ones to play. "My fingers weren't built to run over the keyboard like that. Carpel tunnel galore," I said, wiggling my fingers in his face.

"You'll survive," he said with a loud, snorting laugh.

Before the retort I had saved up could bellow from my mouth, the man hit me in the chest with a large, fuzzy Santa hat.

"Hell no," I said, refusing to wear the thing.

"It'll make you look a bit friendlier, Grinch," he explained while donning his own fashion abomination. With a smile, he added, "Pretend you have a little Christmas spirit."

Rolling my eyes, I climbed from the car and into the frosty night. Being from Florida, I was definitely not used to the cold. If anything, the stupid hat would keep my ears warm.