Page 139 of Glitched Play

"I don't feel confident."

"You don't have to." She hands me another clipboard.

"You just have to keep moving."

I smile. "That sounds suspiciously like something an O’Ryan would say."

"It probably is, since I am one." We stop long enough to laugh. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”

We separate again before I can answer.

The countdown clock drops below thirty minutes.

Crowds begin filling the seats.

Kids wearing replica Dillos jerseys point excitedly toward the gaming pods while parents take pictures beneath the giant SGI logo. Cosplayers mingle beside former and current NFL players from both teams, streamers from SGI’s platform sign autographs, and cameras capture every reaction.

Someone taps my shoulder.

Dara.

She quietly hands me an updated run sheet. "I made two timing adjustments."

I skim it.

"They're better."

"I thought so." She studies me for a second. "You know..."

"What?"

"I've watched a lot of people run events."

My stomach tightens. "Is that good or bad?"

She smiles.

"Witt would've changed seventeen things by now."

"Oh."

Her mouth twitches before she can stop it. "You've changed one."

"The sponsor graphic. Should I have changed more?"

She shakes her head and studies me like a contract. "No. YOU trust your abilities and planning. Witt expects perfection but what he doesn’t quite get is… it’s about how people feel about the experience. That means more than if the lighting should have a red spotlight.”

"I guess."

She folds her arms.

"You’re really good for this company. He trusts you. I knew when he said to set up the interview you would be hired.” Her smile grows. “Where is he anyway?”

Before I can respond⁠—

"Maci!"

A volunteer waves frantically from the opposite side of the stage.