Out of Character by Annabeth Albert

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Jasper

“What are you doing here?” My Wednesday was already going haywire when George walked into the game store. I’d had an early morning class and now was helping Arthur because another employee had called in sick and there was a bunch of new merchandise to inventory before the weekend rush. I’d have to hurry to make it to the cosplay group on schedule, and I did not have time to deal with freaking George of all people.

“Now, is that any way to greet a paying customer?” He looked slick as always—expensive sneakers, pristine clothes despite slushy weather, perfectly arranged hair, and weaselly expression already in place.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “I thought Arthur banned you from the store.”

“Correction. He banned me from playing here. Not shopping. My money’s as good as anyone else’s, and I need some booster packs for a draft party I’m having tonight. Thought I had enough but it looks like I’m more popular than I anticipated.”

With anyone other than George, draft parties were super fun as everyone got a set number of card packs and raced to build decks with the cards they scored and then played each other for prizes and bragging rights.

“Planning to cheat more so-called friends out of premium cards?” I wasn’t going to bring up Milo by name, but I couldn’t resist a dig.

He made a scoffing noise. “You’re jealous that I’m a superior player.”

“Superior at cheating, sure.” I shrugged, no closer to retrieving the packs for him.

“I could go pro and you know it, Quigley.” His sneer transformed him from slick to slimy and no way could I let that stand.

“Prove it.” Slapping my hands on the counter, I stared him down.

“How?”

“Rumor has it you recently acquired Frog Court cards. Play me for them.” I could already hear Milo’s protest in my head, but I was too pissed to reconsider my brash proposition. Milo might hate the idea, yet I’d also bet he wouldn’t turn down the missing cards. I’d almost qualified to the finals at the Philly tournament. I could do this for him as well. Even simply thinking it had my shoulders lifting. I wanted to be the one to do this for him.

“In your dreams.” George made a dismissive gesture. “Even if I had said cards, why would I wager them against you? What’s going to be your bet? Even that beat-up roller skate you call a car isn’t worth as much as a single one of those cards.”

He had a point, but I also knew exactly what would tempt him. “I have a ticket to the launch party in NYC.”

“Keep talking.” He was playing it cool, but the light in his eyes gave him away.

“Play me in the new tournament style they just announced. Best two out of three.” I liked this format because it was newer and therefore less likely that George would have already found a hack. “Bet me those cards.”

“I might think about it.” His smug smile had my fists clenching.

“You do that.” I finally gave in and slapped the booster packs down on the counter for him. “Now how many did you need?”

“Fifteen from the latest set.” He pulled out a gleaming credit card. “Why are you suddenly so interested in rares? They hardly fit your…style.”

“None of your business.” It was, however, Milo’s business, and he was undoubtedly going to have lots to say about me trying to goad George into a game. In fact, it might be better simply not to tell him yet. Wait to see if George actually took the bait.

At least that was how I attempted to rationalize things on the way to the hospital. I was a couple of minutes late, and Milo was already in costume, sitting in the waiting area with Kellan, laughing at a story Jasmine was telling while April sat on his other side. Watching him with my friends gave me a strange pang. I loved seeing him integrated into our little group, loved him getting better taste in friends, but I also knew how much more it was going to suck if things didn’t work out between us. It wouldn’t be only myself who was let down.

“Hey.” Milo noticed me hovering. “I was getting worried about you. You better change fast.”

His concern felt almost as good as a hug and I smiled at him. “Will do.”

When I emerged in my costume a few minutes later, Milo and Kellan were deep in conversation with April.

“Jasper! You know how Mom doesn’t want me doing any crowded big events? She was going to make me skip the revue at the college despite us having tickets. But Kellan has a work-around.”

“Tech rehearsal tomorrow night. Full run-through. Limited audience. I can get you guys in, get you seats away from anyone else.”

“I might have already said yes.” Milo gave me a crooked smile that melted me even more than his earlier concern. “Your sister is pretty persuasive.”

“Better extend that persuasion to Mom,” I warned. “But sure. I can pick you up if Mom says it’s okay. Where is she, anyway?”

“Dropped me off so she could do a conference call in the car.” April made a face. “And had a million warnings about keeping my mask on.”

“She’s not wrong.”

“But you’d like to do your own remembering. I get it,” Milo added, an unexpected bit of compassion from him. While I figured he was referring to his own mom, I also hoped he didn’t think that I was a nag, trying to get him to change more than he wanted to. I wanted him to find his own way. But not pushing was hard.

“How’d that group-house interview go?” I asked him in a whisper as we all made our way to the lounge.

Milo groaned. “Postponed. One of the housemates is sick.”

“That sucks.”

“Yeah.” His posture deflated, and I wanted again to hug him, but I refrained.

“Looking splendid today, everyone!” Natalie greeted us. “And Prince Neptune, your fame precedes you. The family that you did the drawing for last week showed it around, and I’ve had a number of inquiries as to if you’d be with the group today.”

“I’m here.” Milo blushed deeply even as he hurried to get a sketchbook out. “If I skip playing, I can probably do more than one sketch.”

“We’ll give you a reprieve,” I joked as I waved him over to a table. Even once I was set up for a game with a kid who was new this week, my attention kept wandering to Milo, watching him draw a thin boy with a heavy cast as a mighty Viking warrior complete with shield and horned helmet. Pride made my shoulders lift and my chest expand. He was incredible. And, at least in that moment, he was mine.

“Tell me it’s pizza night,” Milo joked as we packed up. We were the last two of our group left because Milo had kept drawing past our usual ending time. His final tally of sketches was four—the little Viking, a flying superhero, a hulking strongman, and a special request for a mermaid.

“You have definitely earned your pizza,” I replied as we headed for the hall, letting my tone turn low and flirty. “And I owe you—”

“Dude. Lionetti. What the hell are you wearing?” Two of my worst nightmares greeted us before we could reach the elevators. Luther and James, in gray janitorial outfits with matching scowls, were pushing big utility carts that stood between us and an easy escape. High school had taught me to always be aware of the exits where the two of them were concerned, and even Milo’s presence wasn’t enough to stop the chill racing up my spine.

“Forget what he’s wearing. What are you doing with this Willy Wonka reject?” Luther gawked at me.

“Aren’t you a little old for playing dress-up?” James sneered at me. “What are you supposed to be, anyway?”

I opened my mouth to defend the Frog Wizard costume to them, but then closed it because I knew these guys. They’d just twist my words, make it worse, and I wasn’t about to give them fresh ammunition. No, the best thing to do with bullies like them had always been to walk away fast.

But they were blocking an easy escape, and Milo appeared to have put down roots next to me. His eyes were wide and stricken, and his skin had turned a pasty, pale green.

“You look f-ing ridiculous. Both of you. Who put you up to this? Is it some sort of prank?”

“Blink once if you need a rescue.” Luther laughed as Milo continued to stay silent. “Better make sure no one takes a picture of you two. You wouldn’t want it to go viral.”

I was dangerously close to decking him because this wasn’t high school. I wasn’t risking my scholarship prospects with an expulsion. I didn’t have to take this heckling, and even if Milo had turned into stone, I didn’t have to stay there and wait to see what if anything he was going to say to his friends.

“Come on. Let’s get out of here,” I said firmly to Milo because I didn’t want to abandon him, but I also wasn’t going to stand there and let Luther and James pick us apart. However, when I stepped forward, Luther playfully swung his cart into my path.

“Okay, now I’m mad.” I glowered at him, and right when I was about to shove his stupid cart, Milo suddenly came to life and stepped in front of me.

“Stop,” he said, and time came to a screeching halt while we all waited to see what he was about to do.