Playing Passion's Game by Lesley Davis Read Free Book Online Page A

addressing the table. “So, you all work in the same shop?”
    “Elton is the manager and the rest of us are his underlings,” Zoe said. “He commands and we all bow before him.”
    Elton snorted. “I wish.”
    “So you started the team at work?”
    “Elton and I started working together at Gamerz Paradise at the same time and we’d been playing for years before that,” Trent said. “Then when Chris came and was interested too, we started to go online as a trio, which grew into a larger group. We turned professional two years ago when the gaming business really began to take off. Since then we’ve gained Eddie, Zoe, and Rick and become a formidable team.”
    “Why the robes? I noticed no one else dressed up today,” Juliet said.
    “It was Elton’s idea. He said we should bring a bit of showmanship to the proceedings. Everyone else had their name printed on a T-shirt, but we storm in wearing our Reaper robes. It makes us stand out.”
    “Whether we win or lose, the crowd remembers the Reapers when the gaming is all done with,” Rick added.
    “And the skull face?” Juliet looked over at Elton, who was in deep conversation with Monica.
    “That’s Elton’s own special trademark. He’s the team captain, and he’s very aware that the face makeup unnerves some of the younger crowd we play against. He’s as purposely ghoulish as possible. He’s our version of those Maori rugby players who do the haka to frighten the opposition.” Trent signaled the passing waitress for another round of drinks and got a saucy wink in return. Trent caught Juliet looking from the waitress to her and back again.
    “She seems to know you.”
    “She should. We come here nearly every other week.”
    “Didn’t you go out with her once?” Eddie asked around a mouth stuffed with pizza crust.
    “Once,” Trent said stonily. She couldn’t remember how long it had been, but the encounter had been brief and characteristically one-sided. The waitress had thought it was a turn-on when Trent had purposely kept her hands pinned to stop her from touching her back. For Trent it had been necessary, but the sex had left her as unfulfilled and empty as always. One-sided sex was Trent’s way. It was quick and lacking in true intimacy, but it was the only way she would allow herself to be. She couldn’t afford to be vulnerable; she’d learned that lesson. Trent studied the pattern on her plate for a moment before turning the conversation away from herself. “So what line of work are you in, Juliet?”
    “I work for a bank.”
    Trent grimaced. “In this current climate? Not a safe bet for a long career.”
    “True, but I’ve been with this company ever since I left college.”
    “Several years in one job is a long time,” Trent said. “You must love your work.”
    Juliet shrugged. “I used to love the challenges it created, but I can’t help wondering if I’m truly destined to stay there forever.”
    “I love my job,” Trent said. “I work with a great group of people, get to talk games all day, and meet new folk to talk games with.”
    “It’s perfect for you. You’re lucky to be so settled.”
    “You’re not so settled?”
    Juliet ran a hand through her hair which almost distracted Trent from her reply. “I’m bored. I can’t help but wonder if there’s something more.”
    “There’s always something more. You just have to decide if you want to take it up on its offer when it presents itself to you.”
    “Do you want more, Trent?”
    Trent was stopped from answering by the waitress deliberately leaning over her to set her drink down on the table before her. By the time she had removed herself, Kayleigh had engaged Juliet in conversation and the moment was lost.

    *

    Once the meal was over, everyone started to ready themselves to leave. Trent worked her way around her friends saying good night and answering the kids’ questions while she slipped on her jacket and prepared to go back to clear up the hall. She was