Maeve shrugs, stretching her legs out in front of her. “Luca gave me a key to all your rooms for emergencies.”
“Are you having an emergency?”
“I’m bored.”
“Sounds like a you problem.”
“I think I’ve found the solution. Watching you die in your funny game.” She glances around again, taking in the setup with more interest this time.”You’ve got a stupid number of screens.”
“It’s efficient.”
“I think the word you’re looking for is excessive.”
“It’s necessary.”
She hums like she doesn’t believe me. The enemy takes down our nexus and the game is over.
I wait for the screen to load, queuing up another match as soon as I’m back in the lobby. Maeve has worked wonders on Isobel. There’s color in her cheeks, she’s eating again, talking. Even small smiles and laughs here and there.
Jace has even accepted her presence.
I glance at her again. “Why aren’t you with Iz?”
Her eyes soften at the edges. “Giving her some space. Hovering like a helicopter isn’t going to help.”
I study her.
“Fair,” I say, turning back to my screen.
She doesn’t say anything.
“Was she always like this?” I ask.
She arches her brow. “Like what?”
“Handles everything on her own. Refuses help.”
Maeve lets out a small breath, leaning back in the chair. “Yeah, pretty much. Mom and I used to invite her over so she could get a break from that evil douche canoe… didn’t want to be a charity case or something. She wouldn’t believe she wasn’t.”
Figures.
The match starts and I fall back into rhythm.
Maeve watches for a minute, leans forward. “So are you actually good at this?”
“I am. I was doing great before you sabotaged me.”
“Sounds like an excuse.”
I don’t bother responding, just farming my minions. I engage with the other midlaner early, chunking his health down, forcing him to retreat.
“That was kinda cool.”
“I know.”
“At least you’re humble.”
“It’s a burden I bear under great duress.”
