Page 118 of Forbidden Game

“Was that Sydney?” Jackson walks past me and opens the fridge, grabbing the water filter pitcher and pouring himself a glass.

“Nope.”

“Really? Looked suspiciously like her,” Stevie coos, a black pleated mini skirt and oversized sweater covering her previously exposed skin.

“I know.” I tilt my head and lower my voice dramatically, “It’s just the uncanniest thing, isn’t it?”

“Seriously, dude,” Aleks deadpans as he throws up a hand to cover Stevie’s eyes. “Can you not be naked?”

“No need to be jealous.” I shrug, and stroll back to my room, happy to take the easy out. There is no way for me to avoid this conversation if I stay out here. They’re all too nosy. Especially Stephanie. I saw that little glint in her eye.

Girl is too observant for her own good.

I slip into my room to find Sydney burning a hole in the ground as she paces the length of the room. She’s thrown on one of my shirts; the fabric brushes her knees. Hot. She nibbles on her thumb, deep in thought.

She stops when she sees me and rushes over.

“I can’t go back out there, Parker.” Her eyes widen so much that the tips of her eyelashes brush her eyebrows.

“I’m not one hundred percent sure what your alternative is, though, love. Unless you want to dip onto the balcony and rappel fifty floors to your place. I’ve done it a bunch of times in Devil’s City, and I’m sure Jackson has some ropes and a harness hidden in that compartment under his bed he thinks no one knows about.”

I throw my thumb in the direction of the sliding doors that blend seamlessly into my floor-to-ceiling windows. In addition to my room being the largest in the apartment, it also leads directly onto the balcony. Owner privilege really does have its perks.

Sydney raises her hands, and they curl like she wants to strangle me. Which she probably does.

“Parker, this is serious.” That telltale anxiety begins to pulse off her.

I reach forward and cup her hands between my own, forcing them to relax as I place a kiss on them. Tilting my head down to soothe her panicked expression, I give her a sincere smile.

“It’s all going to be fine, Syd.”

“They saw me!”

“They think they saw you,” I correct.

It’s the wrong thing to say. I knew it was, but the words still left my mouth.

Her eye twitches the way it does when she gets mad at me.

I pull her into a tight hug, attempting to diffuse her emotions. She tries to push out, but after a moment she goes slack and her arms reach around to curl around my waist.

“This was not the plan,” she mutters into my chest.

“I know.” I stroke her damp hair in a repetitive motion. “I know, but it’s not the end of the world.”

“What am I supposed to say to them?”

“Whatever you want. I’ll take your lead.”

She peers up at me and gnaws on her bottom lip. “It seems sort of pointless to try to lie.”

“Then we don’t.”

“And you’re okay with that?”

“Sydney. I couldn’t be more bloody proud to be dating if you if I tried. I’d introduce you to the royal family if you’d let me.”

“You’re joking.”

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