More Than a Game by Kate Goldman Read Free Book Online

hockey. I mean, I knew it would all end one day. There is only so long you can play such a sport. You get older, your reflexes get slower, but I had a long way to go before all that happened.”
     
    “You have a long way to go before that happens. This will all be fine,” she told him, putting her hand to his cheek to soothe him.
     
    “I only wish I were as confident about that as you are,” he said solemnly.
     
    Leslie smiled up at him as he pulled her hand away from his face and kissed her palm. She could see the sadness in his eyes, mixed with anxiety. A thought occurred to her as she stood there.
     
    “I know somewhere we can go. How about a hike up Marlin’s Mountain? It’ll do us both some good to get some fresh air. I’m off work tomorrow, so we can get up early and make a day of it. A cap and sunglasses and it’s not likely anyone will recognize you.”
     
    “The great outdoors. Of course. I don’t know where Marlin’s Mountain is, but if you say it’s a good time, I’ll go. As much as I love being here with you, I’ve gotten a little claustrophobic.”
     
    “I can’t even imagine. You must be going nuts.”
     
    “A bit. In the meantime, how about a pizza for dinner? I’m starving.”
     
    “You and your pizza,” she laughed.
     
    “What? You don’t like pizza?”
     
    “I love pizza, just not quite as much as you seem to.”
     
    “You can never go wrong with pizza. It’s good stuff.”
     
    “Pizza it is then. I have a surprise for you, as well. It might not be exactly how you would like to be back on the ice, but I have a mockup of my game for us to play.”
     
    “Already?”
     
    “Yes. Now, keep in mind that it has some issues that need to be worked out, but you can at least see where I’ve gone with it and see if you think it is something you would still want to play if you didn’t know the developer.”
     
    “Well, you know, I am rather partial to the developer.”
     
    “Just don’t say that my game is awesome just to please me. Try to be as objective as possible. I want this game to knock my boss’s socks off and sell like hotcakes. Don’t tell me it’s good, if it isn’t.”
     
    “I guess he won’t be too interested in having my name on it now. I’m sorry about that,” Shane said quietly, looking down at the floor.
     
    “Your name will be cleared in all of this, Shane. Just have faith. As far as what my boss wants other than what I’m employed to create for him, I’m not really worried about that.”
     
    “If you say so,” he said, not sounding very convinced.
     
    “I do say so. Now, how about we order that pizza and settle in on the sofa so that I can kick your backside at hockey?”
     
    “Oh? You really think you’ve gotten so good that you can actually beat me?” he said, finally breaking a smile.
     
    “I sure intend to try!”
     
    After ordering their pizza, Leslie set up the game, broadcasting the mobile simulator she used on her laptop to cast it to her flat-screen TV so it would be easier to see. Shane watched with keen interest as she got everything ready for them to play and smiled.
     
    “What?” she asked.
     
    “I don’t think there is anything in the world sexier than a woman that knows her way around electronics like that,” he laughed.
     
    Leslie felt herself blush and laughed it off, chastising him playfully for getting fresh with her. By the time she had everything arranged, the pizza had arrived and they were settled down to eat while she explained how the system operated, since it was in developer mode.
     
    “Okay. Now, when the game goes live, people will have a choice to either play against others or play against the computer.”
     
    “So, we can play head-to-head?”
     
    “Yes. You select your players from all the teams out there, sort of like people do in fantasy hockey on the computer. You can go through player statistics and choose who you think would be best to use as your teammates. Or just choose the