Even Odds by Elia Winters Page A

inspiring Isabel to roll her eyes even as she felt her cheeks heating in a blush. “What about you?”
    â€œI’ve got the booth until one, and then there’s a panel I want to hit this afternoon, but mostly touring the big names today, same as you.” There was a good chance of them running into each other. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. On the one hand, she liked seeing him, but on the other, it was probably going to get weird.
    Just then Dan sidled up next to her, smiling mischievously. “Why, hello there. Isabel, who’s this nice person?” Isabel glared at him, but he ignored her glare. Without waiting for her answer, he extended a hand. “I’m Dan. I work with Isabel.”
    Caleb shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, Dan. I’m Caleb. Isabel and I met at the party last night.”
    â€œOh, that’s nice. It’s always so good to meet new people at a party.” His grin was so wide, his tone so smug, that Isabel gave him a gentle smack on the back of the head.
    â€œJust ignore him, Caleb. Dan’s an asshole.”
    Caleb changed the subject. “So what do you do at PI Games, Dan?”
    â€œI’m a level editor.” Dan held up his iPad displaying the Squish title screen. “ Squish is our latest game. Just came out last month.”
    â€œI’ve played it, actually.” Caleb nodded. “Good game. I was just telling Isabel how much I enjoyed it. I’ve got to run, though. Isabel, I’ll see you at the tournament tonight.” He turned to face her, smoothly ending the conversation with Dan. “You want to make any wagers on the outcome?”
    Isabel shook her head, smiling. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
    â€œFair enough. See you tonight.” Caleb walked away, giving her ample opportunity to admire the way his ass looked in his cargo pants. Nice. Once he was out of sight, though, she realized she hadn’t returned his hoodie. She’d have to remember to bring it to the tournament tonight.
    Dan let out a long, low whistle behind her. “I’ve gotta say, Isabel, I didn’t think you had it in you.”
    Isabel turned back to Dan, who was chuckling. His amusement annoyed her. “What?”
    â€œI didn’t think you’d really go through with this.” He shrugged. “No judgment. You surprised me, that’s all.”
    She hadn’t intended for her time with Caleb to become public knowledge, and when she thought about what it might mean for her career, she felt a wave of discomfort. She might be exaggerating, though. PI Games wasn’t Pixel Dream. Her coworkers were comfortable with her. Maybe it was time for her to start trusting them a little more. “Maybe you don’t know me as well as you think you do.” She took an iPad from the display table and stepped forward to try and make some sales.
    â€”——
    Isabel tried to stay away from the PI Games booth after her shift ended, mostly to give herself some space from work and put off answering any questions Matthew might have about the night before. She attended a really fun panel on classic board games, ending up with a giant list of games she needed to find on eBay. She could only stay away from the booth for so long before curiosity got the better of her, though, and returned to the main expo hall later that afternoon when her panel finished. The convention was as busy as ever, the afternoon crowds even thicker than those of the morning. When she approached the booth, Matthew was selling a shirt to a boy while Lloyd explained Squish to an interested-looking redheaded woman. She hadn’t even realized he knew how to play.
    The boy wandered away with his shirt, leaving Matthew free. “Did you have a nice lunch? Dan told me you had a visitor this morning.” Matthew waggled his eyebrows.
    â€œI thought the purpose of these conventions was to make friends.” Isabel