Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 51193 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51193 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
“Why do you think Dad is letting me stay up late? He’s the one who lost it.”
I laugh. “Way to con your way into staying up past your bedtime.”
He shrugs, clicking a button on the remote to start the game. “He owes me one.”
“It took us three days to get the sword last time. Don’t even think we will find it again before you go to bed.”
Beyond exhausted, I want nothing more than to sleep for days. I rode four buses to get to and from school, attended five classes and a chapter meeting for my sorority, and worked at the bakery today. All I do is work. And then I come home without a second to relax before Cameron wants to play Mage Wars.
Cameron will not go to sleep unless I play with him before bed. He’s obsessed with this new role-playing video game where you choose a character who has magic. As the levels progress, you earn points to collect weapons, spells, and magical artifacts to beat the mages at the end of the boards.
Before we start, my cell phone dings, and I reach into my pocket to retrieve it. My heart rate speeds up when I see Jamie’s name on the screen.
“Give me a second, Cam.”
My brother grunts but does as I ask and pauses the game. “Hurry. We have mages to beat.”
Jamie: I got everything on your list. What are you cooking for us?
Earlier, I sent Jamie the list of foods he needed to buy for tomorrow night’s dinner. What was I thinking? A meal of this magnitude will take a while to cook. At least Jamie will help me. A few hours alone with him, even if his teammates are there too, makes it worthwhile.
Shannon: Italian food, obviously
Jamie: Duh. That’s about as far as I got.
Shannon: You said you don’t mind surprises
Jamie: I lied. Tell me.
Jamie: J/k you don’t have to. How was work?
Shannon: It was work
Jamie: LOL What are you doing now?
Shannon: About to play Mage Wars with my brother
Jamie: Want the cheat codes?
Shannon: What are those?
Jamie: A way for you to beat the game faster
Shannon: How did you get them?
Jamie: I know a guy who knows a guy
Shannon: Can you help us get the Sword of Balthazar back? My dad played with my brother earlier and lost it. Now we can’t get past level fifteen.
Jamie: Easy. But don’t tell Preston or any of the guys I gave them to you.
Jamie texts me a series of button commands we have to hit in the exact order. I’m clueless, but when I mention cheat codes to Cameron, he slams his hand on the bed and screams. Cameron follows Jamie’s prompts. Within seconds, the Sword of Balthazar falls from the sky. It flashes at the center of the screen, spinning in a circle as its magic grants us an additional power.
“Sweet,” Cameron says, gripping the controller in his hands. “How did you get the code?”
“I know a guy who knows a guy,” I joke.
“Can he get us a code to beat the Grand Mage?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. I can ask.”
He looks at me with wonder in his eyes, and I glance down at my cell phone.
Shannon: Thanks for the code. You’re officially my brother’s hero. Any chance you have the code to defeat the Grand Mage?
Jamie: Now I’m feeling used.
Shannon: Shit, I’m sorry.
Jamie: I was kidding… Here it is.
I screen capture the code Jamie sends me, knowing we’ll need it later. Even with an advantage, this game is hard to beat.
Jamie: You have mages to spell. Let me know how it goes.
Shannon: Thanks. You’re a lifesaver. See you tomorrow.
Jamie: Can’t wait.
I smile so wide my cheeks hurt.
Cameron notices and taps me with his elbow. “C’mon, sissy. Stop messing around. We don’t have a lot of time.”
I lift the controller from the mattress and hit the button to join the game. “I’m ready.”
Jamie saved the day.
Without the codes, I’d have spent days on one level with Cameron. As much as I like this game, I would like some time to myself for once. All I have to do is help him beat Mage Wars. And Jamie just gave us an advantage.
Chapter Five
Jamie
After hockey practice, I find Preston in the exercise room in the middle of a set. Pushing the hair out of my eyes, I approach the weight bench, staring down at him.
“Want some company?” I sit on the open bench next to him and tug at the string on the seam of my mesh shorts. “We could take turns spotting each other.”
“Yeah, I guess.” He lifts the bar above his body. “Think you can keep up? You looked like some washed-up has-been on the ice earlier.”
I roll my eyes at him and then help him set the bar on the rack. “I just need to focus.”