Role Playing(34)

The problem was, the guild was becoming her focus—and Otter himself was becoming close to a fixation. Maybe Kit was right, and her antisocial tendencies were damaging her. She’d never have thought that she’d be soaking in some twenty-year-old’s attention like sand sucking up water.

She sighed. It had been a while since she’d talked to Rosita. Rosita had moved away sophomore year of high school, but the two of them had managed to stay in touch all these years. Not religiously or anything, but usually about once every two months or so. They caught each other up on their marriages (including Maggie’s divorce woes), their kids, their lives. She was due a call. She texted Rosita, only to have her text back: WORK IS CRAZY. CALL YOU TONIGHT?

That pruned off that avenue. She sighed, then went on Twitter, DMing her friend Mac.

Maggie Le Editor: Hey, you there?

Macross Sagittarius: As it happens. What’s up?

Macross Sagittarius: Surprised you’re not on Blood Saga. Seems like that’s your go-to hang out lately.

Maggie Le Editor: Yeah. It’s been fun. I like my guild.

Maggie Le Editor: Too much, maybe? I was thinking of taking a break from it for a while.

Macross Sagittarius: Okay, spit it out.

Maggie Le Editor: ??

Macross Sagittarius: You only DM me in the middle of the day—your day, not mine—to either scream about problem clients, tell me about worries about Kit, or let me know something about Pedro Pascal.

Maggie Le Editor: I could be just whiny and feeling blue. Or have something amazing to tell you.

Macross Sagittarius: No, you tend to save that stuff till nighttime, when you know I’m having insomnia and because you don’t interrupt your workday.

Macross Sagittarius: What’s the deal, sweetie? Tell Auntie Mac. Some spoiled client driving you up a wall?

Maggie briefly considered making something up, just so she wouldn’t be called out like this. That said, Mac never pulled her punches. It was one of the reasons they got along so well.

Maggie Le Editor: No.

Macross Sagittarius: Is Kit all right?

Maggie Le Editor: Still having some trouble connecting. He sent me a selfie from some anime club, and his roomie apparently turned down the fraternity life, but they seem to be having some trouble in the dorms. He just sounds so lonely.

Maggie Le Editor: It’s why I joined BSO in the first place. To show him how to get out of his comfort zone.

Macross Sagittarius: So why would you walk away from it, then? If it’s to set an example for Kit?

It took Maggie a long time to actually type. Then she gritted her teeth, typed quickly, and hit send before she could stop herself.

Maggie Le Editor: I’ve kind of been talking with the guild leader. Like, a lot.

Maggie Le Editor: Like, maybe every night.

Maggie Le Editor: And we text even when we’re not online. During the day.

Maggie Le Editor: Pretty much every day.

There was a long—and in Maggie’s worried opinion, possibly judgmental—pause on Mac’s end.

Macross Sagittarius: Are you two like dating or something?

Maggie Le Editor: GOD, no! He’s like, 20 or something, I think? Maybe 21.

Maggie Le Editor: And you know I don’t date. That’s not something that interests me.

Macross Sagittarius: What interests me is, if I’d asked that about anyone else, you would’ve said “I don’t date” as the FIRST thing. This time it was second.

Macross Sagittarius: Hmm.

Maggie Le Editor: Hmm? What hmm? No! This is not hmm worthy!

Macross Sagittarius: Well, it’s good you’re not dating. Because ick. There’s age differences, and then there’s age differences with someone who’s practically a minor.

Maggie felt nauseated.

Macross Sagittarius: Is he hot?

Maggie Le Editor: I have no idea. I’ve never seen him IRL.

Maggie Le Editor: I’m not horny for him, FFS. I just really like him. He’s my best friend, other than you and Rosita.

Macross Sagittarius: Oh! That’s so cute.

Maggie Le Editor: I will end you.

Macross Sagittarius: It’s even cuter you think you can.

Macross Sagittarius: Sweetie, if you’re just worried because you’ve got a platonic friendship with a guy who’s a lot younger than you, you’re fine. It’s literally no big deal.

Maggie nodded, feeling the knot in her chest slowly release.

Macross Sagittarius: I wouldn’t meet him in IRL though.

Macross Sagittarius: And maybe watch your innuendos?

Maggie Le Editor: Well, there goes half my sense of humor.

She closed Twitter, then sighed. Mac was right. She just had to be careful, and honest with herself. She genuinely cared about Otter, and would do anything to make sure they stayed friends. She needed to make sure she didn’t make anything . . . weird.

So the kid was nice. Emphasis on kid. She just needed to keep it together. Focus on the game, rather than the players. Maybe reframe the relat—friendship, she quickly corrected herself. Keep their interactions in game, rather than live texting and stuff. That was the slippery slope toward . . . well, she wasn’t sure what it was toward, but it couldn’t be anywhere good.

Which, of course, was when her phone pinged. She didn’t even have to glance at it to know it was Otter.

Otter: Hey Boggy. You around?

Maggie: Yup.