"What do I do? What do I do?" Avery cried out in blind panic.
All the while, Meryn was laughing as she used her character to run around the screen killing things at random. After the quest was over, the five gamers sat back, breathing heavily.
Ellie had collapsed against Grant chortling. Grant's face was buried against the back of her neck, and he was also laughing uproariously.
"You crazy pint-sized terror! I cannot believe we won," Kari exclaimed.
Meryn was still cackling in her chair.
Kari's eyes narrowed, and she reached out and grabbed Meryn's nose. "What should your punishment be for that crazy-ass stunt?"
"Get off my nose Kari!" Meryn tried without success to pull free.
Kari ignored her. "You have to collect all the ingredients the five of us need to complete the next potions quest." She looked at Avery and the twins. "No helping." They nodded, and Kari released Meryn.
Meryn smirked. "It was worth it. I've always wanted to do that."
"Brat," Kari said, shaking her head and smiling.
Aiden stood over his mate, his features drawn taunt. "Who the hell is Leroy?"
Meryn tilted her head. "Huh?"
"Why would you call out another man's name?" Aiden demanded.
"You think..." Meryn began to giggle. "It's my gaming good luck charm. Kinda like a battle cry."
"Like hell it is," Kari muttered.
Aiden looked at his mate carefully. "Why couldn't you call out 'Aiden McKenzie' as your good luck charm?"
Ellie gave up on breathing. Beside her, Grant was pounding his own leg at Aiden's innocent question. Meryn turned to them. "Y'all get it?"
"We don't." Nigel said, pouting with his twin.
"YouTube it," Meryn told them.
"Is this like that sorting quiz you made us take?" Nigel asked.
Meryn shook her head. "Just look it up."
Neil pulled out his phone, and the two redheads bent down to see what Meryn was talking about. Moments later they were laughing at the video and holding up their fists for Meryn's bump.
Grant slowly pushed himself upright. "I can't remember the last time I laughed that hard, if I ever have."
"I think you may have an inner geek waiting to burst free," Meryn informed Grant. He winked and lifted a finger to his lips.
Ellie looked at the twins. "Where did you both place in the online sorting quiz?"
Neil looked up smiling. "The red house. You?"
"Blue," Ellie answered. "What about you Meryn?"
Meryn grinned wickedly. "Green, muwahaha!"
Grant cleared his throat. "Yellow."
Meryn blinked, and Nigel frowned. "Isn't that the fluffy house?" Neil nodded.
Ellie relaxed against her mate. "It suits him perfectly."
Aiden sat down on the other side of Grant. "How do you understand any of this?"
Grant shrugged. "I spend a lot of time alone. It leaves me with plenty of time for movies, TV, and games."
Aiden sighed. "I don't get the Star Trek Wars."
Meryn held up two fingers. "Two, Aiden. They are two different shows."
Aiden's eyebrows came together. "Which one has the green guy?"
"That's Star Wars; his name is Yoda," Meryn answered.
Aiden looked baffled. "How is Beth green?"
Meryn shook her head. "I would explain it to you again... but you'd forget later."
"Green?" Ellie asked.
Meryn pointed to Beth. "She's my political Yoda, showing me how to use the Force to defeat douchebags." She sighed. "I really wish I had a lightsaber, I bet they wouldn't mess with me then."
Neil strummed his fingers over his phone. "Why not? Magic gave you a sonic screwdriver, why not a lightsaber? I bet we could make one with the right supplies."
Meryn turned to Aiden, getting on her knees. "I will give you a year of kinky sex if you help them with the lightsaber."
Aiden leaned forward quickly, his eyes bright. "Deal!" He turned to Neil. "What's a lightsaber?"
Nigel laughed. "It's a Star Wars thing."
Aiden nodded, rubbing his chin. "The only thing I remember about those movies were the small bear people."
"He means Ewoks," Meryn translated.
"Fate gave the ultimate geek someone who doesn't understand anything about the geek life," Elizabeth said smiling.
A loud buzzing had everyone turning to Gavriel. He nodded apologetically then pulled out his phone. When his eyes widened, Ellie was afraid something terrible had happened. He looked up, opened his mouth, closed it, and then handed his phone to his mate.
Elizabeth snatched it, looking as worried as Ellie felt. Moments later, she collapsed back. "Oh Meryn."
Meryn shook her head. "I didn't do it! I was dead at the time!"