…RILEY…
******
>> EVENING.
Zayden was mashing buttons like his life depended on it.
“Stop cheating, you little gremlin!” I yelled, half-laughing, half-ready to throw the controller at his head.
“I’m not cheating!” he protested, tongue poking out as he focused on the screen. “You’re just bad at this!”
“Oh, really?” I said, lunging forward, pressing the secret combo I’d learned ten minutes ago. His character froze on screen, mine swung a glowing sword, and bam! instant knockout.
He blinked. “HEY! You glitched me!”
I smirked. “It’s called skill, buddy. You wouldn’t understand.”
He threw himself dramatically backward on the bed, groaning. “You’re evil.”
“Thank you. I take pride in that,” I said, stretching my legs out on the carpet. The sound of the game’s victory music filled
