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His character assumes a thinking pose. I grin, impressed that he’s so immersed in the game that he’s emoting. But then, what did I expect? Jackson Cross spent the first ten years of his life stubbornly addicted to video games, turning it into a passion, then a profession, when he dropped out of college.

TheRealCreator: Check the streaming app.

I close the game. Go to the app. Stare at the rectangle in the middle of the screen. There’s a play icon, meaning it’s a video. My lips feel dry. I lick them, which does nothing.

When I click play, I feel like it’s the beginning of something special. I stopped believing in fairytales a long time ago. But—and yeah, it’s naïve—now, I’m not so sure.

He brings the camera to his face, temples pulsing, his inner conflict clear in his tight features. “Hey, Dakota,” he says in his gruff voice. “I hope this video doesn’t dwarf what we’ve got going on in the game.”

I laugh, delighted. But also with a hint ofholy shit this is too good to be true. I knew, didn’t I? Maybe. Now, Ifeelit. And that’s much more important.

In Empire, I respond.

DakkyDuck: I promise, Jackson, no one will know about this. Ever. I swear. I’m not some fame-hungry streamer who’s going to use you. I’ve had chances to sell my soul to get bigger. I’ve turned them all down.

TheRealCreator: That’s good to hear. I didn’t plan on any of this.

DakkyDuck: Any of what?

TheRealCreator: THIS.

His character mimics yelling, waving his arms, instead of speaking.

TheRealCreator: Tuning into your streams. Thinking about them when I’m supposed to be working. Making announcements just for you… because I want to. Because I can. Because it’s fun, having a secret just for us, something the rest of the world doesn’t know about.

Warning signals blare in my mind. Does he have other girlfriends? Is this his usual go-to move with streamers?

I want to step into the cave with him, to see where the dirty talk will lead. I don’t date much, and I’ve been working so hard, I just want to have a little fun. But at the same time, I know I need to slow down and get a second opinion.

I type, forcing my fingers into action.

DakkyDuck: I’m sorry, but I have to go. I don’t want to rush into anything.

TheRealCreator: I understand. Before you go, let me ask you something about the game. I swear, I didn’t invite you here just to obsess over your thick, fine figure and that smile that lights up the whole internet.

The compliments make my body buzz all over. I should probably know better. I’ve spent so long being so stubbornly independent, but now I feel special. Seen in a way my streams can’t accomplish. Wanted. Hungered for. It’s a new, exciting adventure that makes me want to build a whole new empire out of it.

DakkyDuck: Sure… and don’t be shy with that sort of talk.

TheRealCreator: I wouldn’t be able to stop telling you how badly I want you alone, all to myself, even if I tried. And I’m not going to try.

A pause, then his next message follows.

TheRealCreator: My question… what do you think about this zone repurposed for role players? I’ll take the existing enemies and scatter them across different levels and dungeons. The scenery and the atmosphere here would be perfect for RPers, no? Yes?

DakkyDuck: Don’t you have entire teams to handle this sort of thing?

TheRealCreator: Sure, I do. But you play this game more than any of them. And somehow, I think you care more.

My throat tightens at my next question.

DakkyDuck: What makes you say that?

TheRealCreator: On your stream, sometimes, you get choked up in certain places. The summoning stone near the bank. The water fountain. The elder tree. These were all early additions to the game, which makes me think you’ve got a nostalgic connection to it from those early days.

DakkyDuck: You noticed me getting choked up?

My emotion swells at his attention to detail.