"Whoa! You have original games too?" He pulled out the Mario Brothers case and stared at it. "This is worth a lot of money, you know. If the system works."

She shrugged. Jess had tried to get her to sell it instead of the TV but she was too attached to it now.

"You a collector? Or a gamer?"

"Neither. I just have a thing for the original Nintendo." It was just one of the many quirks her mother hated about her. On her eighteenth birthday she'd even gotten a pixilated mushroom tattoo on her hip. Her secret rebellion.

He flipped through a few other games on the shelf Donkey Kong and Duck Hunt. "How do you even get it to work on a modern TV?"

"I run it through a DVD player." It wasn't that hard to figure out, but she often forgot most people weren't like her with technology. She tried to stay humble about it, and not sound like a stuck up b.i.t.c.h, but normal people frustrated her.

"I would kill to play some of these," he said absently. "I was obsessed with Lara Croft when I was a kid."

She chuckled. "You and every other raging hormonal boy."

"That was on PlayStation though. Original Nintendo was on its way out by the time I was old enough to play."

"Me too but my older cousins had one. It was my first experience with technology."

He looked at her, smirking. "So were you, like, a Dungeons and Dragons person?"

She grimaced. "No. I don't do...pretend." A waste of time. She lived in the real world. Well, maybe not quite the same world as everybody else. In her own version of the real world, some forms of frivolous entertainment were allowed, but not others. Even she didn't understand the rules sometimes.

"Ah." He nodded like he was figuring her out.

It made her squirm with discomfort. She didn't like being studied. Numbers were puzzles, not people. Not her.

"So why don't you sell these? You could get a couple thousand for the system if you have the box and everything."

"'Cause I like to play."

His brows shot up then he tsked. "You should at least keep them in good condition. Don't play too much. They'll only get more valuable as time goes on."

She shrugged. "What's the point? You can't take it with you."

"Take what with you where?"

"It's a saying. Like, you can't take your s.h.i.t with you when you die. I'd rather leave behind academic contributions that better mankind than a few pieces of plastic wrapped up in packages." She rolled back to her desk. "And I'd rather play with things that I enjoy while I can than have some extra money."

Money was a necessary evil. Unfortunately she needed it for things like sustenance but little else interested her for spending. More equipment would be nice. Even tattoos didn't appeal much anymore, now that she had the few that meant something.

"That's pretty deep." He narrowed his eyes. "You're an interesting person, Emerson True."

Her cheeks heated. What should she say to that? Thank you? She wasn't even sure it was a compliment. Interesting? No, more like boring. But whatever. If the bronzed s.e.x G.o.d wanted to think she was interesting, who was she to stop him?

"Though extra money sounds good to me." He chuckled and stared at the game. "G.o.d, I'd love to rescore these."

"Rescore?"

"Yeah." He placed them back on the shelf. "That's what I do. I write videogame music."

"Wow." She c.o.c.ked her head to the side, confused. "I thought you were like a rock musician or something."

"Why does everyone think that?"

"You have the look for it."

He grunted, sounding frustrated. "No, I have no aspirations for stardom. I just want to hole up in my little studio and watch people play videogames while I compose. It's probably silly. Maybe I'm more of a geek than you are." He smirked.

"It's not silly. It's...kinda cool actually." Was she seriously impressed? Struggling musician brought to mind mediocre guitar players sitting on the side of the road, begging for change as they sang cheesy songs. "I thought you just strummed a guitar for a living."

"I teach guitar lessons but it's not even my favorite instrument. It's just the most transportable." He chuckled. "What I really need, to be any good, is an awesome synthesizer and better software. But it's expensive so I have to keep teaching until I save up enough. And I tinker around with the s.h.i.t equipment I have now."

She was ashamed that her respect for him grew. Maybe she was being judgy but there seemed to be more skill involved in actual full orchestra composition. She'd heard the music that played in the background to some of the more popular games. They were no joke. Plus, to a videogame fan like her, it gave him major cool points. As if she needed more to feed this crush.

He ran his hand through his hair then sighed. "I should go." With a small smile, he looked her in the eye. "Thanks, Emerson. I know it must be hard to tell people the truth sometimes."

Not until now. And that was disturbing. She stared, unsure of what to say. You're welcome? Why was she always getting stuck in this awkward moment?

The front door swung open. "Hey, Em, we're just stopping in for a min " Jess took one look at Levi then stopped abruptly. "Oh. I didn't know you had company." She gave Em a sly smile. Her girlfriend trailed in behind her.

"I don't," Emerson replied. "He's just a client."

Levi arched a brow. "Just a client? That hurts, Em." He turned to the girls and stuck out a hand. "I'm Levi. Emerson's new investigative a.s.sistant."

Em snorted.

Grinning madly, Jess shook his hand. "I'm her roommate Jess. This is Dani." She hiked a thumb at her girlfriend, who looked unimpressed. "You have no idea how good it is to see a boy in the apartment. I mean I've tried to convince her girls were better but she wouldn't budge on the whole straight thing, but lately I'd been suspecting she was one of those as.e.xual people who's just not attracted to genitals of any kind but "

"Okay!" Emerson flew out of her seat and walked straight for the door. "He was just leaving."

"I could stay a little longer." He shoved his hands in his pockets and winked at Jess.

"No. I've got s.h.i.t to do." She yanked open the door and gestured into the shared apartment hallway. "One of which is strangle my roommate." She glared at Jess.

"Ooh! Can I watch?" Dani said.

She froze at the door, staring at her bouncing, grinning roommate, her smug but s.e.xy client, and the slightly transgendered, definitely kinky Dani.

My G.o.d, I'm surrounded by crazy people.

"Out!" She pointed to Levi.

Jess awwed like a disappointed child. Levi headed for the door, chuckling in that s.e.xy rumbling way guys did.

"Keep me posted," he said on his way out.

After she shut the door behind him, she turned to give Jess her best death stare.

"You guys are so cute together!" Jess clasped her hands together and bounced on her toes again.

"Cut it out," Em grumbled. "You look like a teenager at a boy band concert."

Dani slumped onto the couch and got lost in something on her phone while Em sat back at her desk. Concentrating on work with Jess jumping around like a hyper Chihuahua would never work so she started browsing some of her favorite hacker blogs.

"Where'd you meet him?" Jess asked.

"He contacted me about... Can't tell you. Client confidentiality and all that." She smirked, knowing it would drive Jess crazy.

"Aw, come on! You're no fun." She sat down next to her girlfriend and laid her head on her shoulder.

Dani turned and bit her forehead, making Jess squeak.

They were so weird. She'd asked once what Jess saw in Dani. She was such a strange choice for a partner. She didn't talk much, and when she did it was odd and random and sometimes creepy.

Jess had answered, "You can't have crazy girlfriend s.e.x without the crazy girlfriend."

In some strange way it made sense. But the more she saw them together, the more their love became evident. At first she'd figured it was about s.e.x. Jess had some crazy fetishes no doubt Miss Disturbing was into, but now it'd turned into more. They had what most couples she'd seen didn't. Authenticity.

With all the lying and cheating and betrayal she uncovered week after week, she was starting to lose her faith in love. But Jess and Dani didn't put on pretenses. Though they fought hard she'd had to put headphones on more than once they didn't lie to each other. They didn't pretend. They didn't fake polite to move on and avoid conflict. They were real.

"Well he's cute," Jess said. "I think you should go for it."

"He's taken."

Jess waved a hand negligently. "A minor detail." Her expression turned pensive and she c.o.c.ked her head to the side. "Although... He's hot. Why the heck is he looking for dates online? He could have his pick of girls around here."

Emerson shrugged. "I don't ask questions about motives. I just do my job."

"Maybe he's secretly a woman," Dani offered.

She rolled her eyes and turned back to the computer.

Jess laughed and the two of them started talking about celebrities that looked like cross-dressers. Emerson tuned them out. While she scrolled through the blogs, her mind didn't stray far from Levi. He'd just found out his dream girl wasn't all he thought she was. Sadness crept in. Poor guy. Maybe she should've offered him a drink. Or the phone number for a therapist.

She shook her head. It wasn't her job to fix people. It was her job to find the information then send them on their way. It wasn't usually this hard. But with Levi, something compelled her to help him. No, not help him. Tell the b.i.t.c.h girlfriend to f.u.c.k off then jump him. That sounded like a better plan.

Ugh. What was wrong with her? It was the dry spell. It had to be. She needed something to clear her mind off him. Too bad she wasn't a drinker. Maybe some p.o.r.n and her vibrator. No, then he'd just end up in her fantasies. That would be awkward next time they met. G.o.d, she should just quit the case.

On the couch behind her, Jess and Dani whispered quietly to each other. She snuck a look over her shoulder. Their faces were pressed close together as they shared smiles and giggles then a small kiss. They weren't obnoxious with their PDA, to spare Emerson, but sometimes she didn't mind it. Not that she'd tell them that or they'd end up making out on the couch every night. Most couples barely acknowledged each other past the five year mark. It was nice to see affection, even knowing it wouldn't last long. Eventually, someone would stray, or accuse the other of straying. Jealousy would come next, then insecurity, then a p.o.r.n addiction, and next thing you knew you were sleeping in separate bedrooms. Love was the beginning of the end of happiness. Or so she told herself.

Chapter 7.

Levi stared at the letters on his phone screen. Small black shapes that held so much meaning, so much promise, so much personality. It was the window into the mind of the woman he might come to love. Two days ago his foundation had been shaken. Now it felt like the world was crumbling around him. Little black letters couldn't show honesty, loyalty, truth.

Hope: Where are you? I haven't heard from you in two days. I miss you so much.

For the last forty eight hours he'd been agonizing over what to say. He wanted more information before he confronted her, but having normal conversation felt weird. Part of him was hurt that she was keeping up these lies, and the other part of him was still holding out hope. Hope that there was a reasonable explanation. That she was still the girl he loved.

Right now he was between students at the music shop where he taught. The small family-run business was a perfect fit. They allowed him the flexibility to make his own hours and use his own curriculum for teaching. He could've opted for a bigger store but he wouldn't have the freedom to teach the way he was comfortable. Larger studios were more controlling with their methods.

Levi knew from experience, kids learned in all different ways. When he'd been diagnosed with Dyslexia, the specialist had told him he'd probably never be a good musician. But music was his pa.s.sion. He found ways to learn that didn't mess him up as much and compensated for his visual challenges with his ear instead. Luckily, he had a naturally good ear to start with. Because of his issues, he adjusted his style for each child he taught. Kids weren't one size fits all, so why treat them that way?

His next student was due any minute. Keeping Hope on edge was keeping him on edge. He hadn't been able to sleep or eat the last two days. It wasn't fair to hold out on her any longer. She was probably worried sick. They hadn't gone this long with at least checking in. He'd have to find a way to stall their normal flirty conversations until he felt more settled about their future. For now, he would rea.s.sure her he was at least okay.

Levi: I miss you too, sweet girl. And I'm sorry to disappear like that.

He paused, thinking through excuses he could give her. Family emergency seemed lame, and she'd want details. Taking a cue from her, he typed...

Levi: Computer problems.

See how she likes it.

It was spiteful and he hated himself right after he'd sent it, but there was so much built-up frustration, sometimes it got loose. He'd been waiting not-so-patiently to hear from Emerson again. More information would either ease his mind or confirm his worst nightmare. Either way, he'd be free from this emotional purgatory.

Then there was something about Emerson that had stuck. The quirky hacker girl was always in the back of his mind. Maybe it was because she held the key to his future, but sometimes he found himself wanting to hear from her just for the sake of hearing from her. Just because it was her.

He'd emailed her twice already, asking if she'd found anything yet, pretending to be pushing her along though it didn't seem like he needed to. Her factual emails with small sparks of humor made him smile. He'd felt guilty about it at first, but then he'd figured out why he was drawn to her.

Projection. He was so desperate that he was projecting his desire for Hope onto Emerson.

The spying, he'd justified too. Maybe that was his superpower justification of d.i.c.k moves. But she'd lied to him first. She'd betrayed him logical explanation or not. She couldn't claim to have feelings for him while lying about things as important as a real name and photograph. Didn't she understand how many times he'd looked through those few photos, imagining meeting her? He'd memorized every expression, every line in her face. She haunted his dreams the blonde Hope with the sunny smile. He was having trouble replacing that image with the plain brown-haired girl on Em's computer. It wouldn't be easy to adjust, but he'd do it. If she was really the Hope he knew, he could get used to this new face and name.

And Emerson... As soon as he met the real Hope, he'd stop this projection s.h.i.t too. Maybe he needed therapy.

The bell above the door to the shop rang, startling him as he stared at his phone. Hope would be in cla.s.s now and unable to respond.

Rising from the stool he was perched on behind the counter, he smiled at the mom and son as they approached. "Hey there, buddy!"

The seven year old boy with messy black hair was one of his favorite students. Dark and serious, he made the perfect budding rock star. But his mother, on the other hand, was a whole different creature.

Reluctantly, he addressed her. "Hi, Mrs. Miller."

She gave him a dazzling smile. "I've told you before, call me Steph." As always, her hair was perfectly coifed in a bun. Her clothes looked designer. Red lips matched her neatly painted fingernails. She was the cla.s.sic rich, bored housewife. "Any new performances coming up? I'd love to go to one." The sway of her hips as she walked toward him looked like a come hither call of a seductress.

Girls. .h.i.t on him from time to time a perk of playing the guitar but this was different. It wasn't fun and flirty. The way she looked at him left him feeling almost violated. Even now, her gaze slid down his body, stopping at his crotch before coming back up. A smirk touched her lips before she licked them slowly. A cougar. Only if she expected someone with money, she was stalking the wrong prey.

He swallowed hard then moved around the counter. "I told you, Mrs. Miller, I'm not a rock star."

"You should be." She perused him again. "You have the look for it."