He turned to Liam and said, “I was hoping you might feel that way.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“I wanted to see how it went today.”
“From my corner seat, I’d say it went exceedingly well.”
Colin nodded agreement. Aaron was still upstairs. The two attorneys had moved to the lawyer’s office to discuss details. But as it stood, EA was taking an exclusive interest in Colin’s project, with an eye to also buying Lyric Incorporated, Colin’s newly formed company. They were offering stock and a percentage of both the new game’s purchaseprice and online monthly rental charges. The details of this were now in Aaron’s hands. But whatever the outcome, as long as the product performed as shown, the deal was as good as done.
Colin said, “You’re sure you want to go with a start-up?”
“And give up my future career in retail management? Absolutely.”
The elevator doors opened and they pushed the trolley through the lobby. Once they were outdoors, Colin said, “I have no idea what shape this will all take. But if it’s possible, you’re in.”
He helped load the equipment, waved Liam’s van away, then entered his own car and left the campus. The two-hour drive back to Wilmington proved the perfect elixir. Tiana would be waiting for his call. But first he needed to try to come to terms with what had just taken place.
All that work. All those months and years of study. Oftrying.
On a whim, he passed through Wilmington and took Salisbury Street all the way to Wrightsville Beach. He parked in the East Greensboro Street beach access lot and used the rest room to change into swim trunks, sweatshirt, and slaps. Middle of a November weekday afternoon, with a northeasterly wind blowing, he had the beach almost to himself. He walked away from the Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier, face into the wind, going nowhere, breathing deep. Free.
He found himself studying a trio of smaller oceanfront homes and wondered if he might buy one, settle within walking distance of the place his mother had loved. The feeling was oddly mixed, as if such thoughts were invasive.
The EA software team were two months from completing work on their new game’s raw foundational software, perhaps longer. Colin could not start work until that happened. He would spend the weeks writing up his thesis and …
He spun about and walked swiftly back to the car, doing his best to push the tomorrows away.
When he was back behind the wheel, he took out his phone and called Tiana.
She answered with, “How did it go?”
“It’s done.”
“What do you mean, done? Done, as in they liked it?”
“Done, as in they’re buying exclusive rights. They want me on board as well.”
“But you’re still coming, yes?”
“Of course.”
“I mean, it’s great that you’re now the game world’s latest kazillionaire. But it’s not official until we celebrate.”
“I’m leaving tomorrow.”
That silenced her. “What?”
He had only just decided. “I want to get away. Can I come?”
“Colin, of course …” She sighed. “I hate to do this, especially now.”
“What?”
“My parents are raising a stink. They think I’m too young, they thinkyou’retoo young, they want me to wait until after college and fall in love with a good little Chinese Hawaiian. …”
“They don’t want me to stay with you.”
“For a few days, I could force them, you know, with battle axes and heavy armor. But is that what we want?”