Page 40 of Forbidden Game

“What can I get you?” Jace asks once we reach the first bar.

“I’ll take an iced tea,” I tell him, pointing at the bottles in the fridge nestled between the waters and hard seltzers.

Jace orders our drinks while I watch one of the TV screens above the bar. It shows the current match playing on the main stage. Two esports teams are competing in VERTEX, and I recognize one of the players as a guy the boys play with occasionally.

“Here.” Jace hands me the bottle.

“Thank you.” I twist open the lid and take a deep gulp.

I actually haven’t had anything to drink in a few hours, now that I think about it. I’ve been so distracted by watching Parker and monitoring the guys back home that it didn’t even occur to me.

“Let’s go back to our seats before someone nicks them.” Jace puts his hand out again for me to hold onto. I don’t bother pointing out that our seats are in the reserved area, so no one can nick them, per say.

It takes us longer to get back to our section because some girl got the wings of her cosplay stuck to the tail of another girl’s cosplay, and they were making a fuss in the middle of the staircase.

We sit down just as the MC announces the players taking the stage.

None of them have the same energy as Parker.

He stands there in his blue glory, waving at the crowd before taking his seat at his desk. The camera zooms in on him as he tears off his mask and runs his hand through his hair. A chorus of high-pitched cheers breaks out across the crowd, hundreds of women fawning over him.

“Popular one, isn’t he?” Jace comments.

I tilt my head in a shrug. “Without a doubt.”

“And now for the speedrun of Styx. Players will begin their game in five, four, three, two, one!”

Each gamer starts up their game, the load screen shifting into the opening cut scene.

“I have to say, I was surprised when I learned about his little side career. Thought my cousin was joking when she told me. None of the boys knew about it.” Jace takes a large sip of his drink.

Apart from their families, no one knew about The System’s real identities. Most of the people who worked for The System didn’t even know their identities. Everything was a need-to-know basis. It wasn’t until Stevie, Aleks’ girlfriend, entered the picture that things began to change.

“And what do you think now?” I ask, keeping my eyes on the screens above the stage.

There are five, four of which mirror the screen of each gamer, while the one in the middle moves between face shots of the gamers and the announcers. Parker’s screen is the last one, and I watch as his character runs across a barren field.

“Honestly, it makes sense. He was always busy once he moved to the States, but none of us could figure out why. He wasn’t helping out at the hotels enough for that to be the case, and growing up, Parker was never as into the business as the rest of us. I’m not shocked he found a career that’s more his speed.”

I hum in agreement. I’ve only known Parker since I began working for The System, but even I know he is the type of person who can’t stay still. He needs to be constantly stimulated, and his career is the perfect outlet.

“I’ll admit; I’m surprised his family has been so supportive. Despite Parker’s reluctance, I still thought he would inherit Covington Hotels. With how focused he is about this whole gaming thing, I’m not so sure anymore.”

I say nothing. I really have no clue where Parker’s head is on the subject.

Honestly, it’s something that I have wondered myself. In the past few years, I haven’t worried too much about Parker’s role as the Covington heir because it didn’t really impact his gaming career. But it was still something that always lingered in the back of my mind. Out of all the guys, he really did lead two separate lives, and now they are being forced to face one another. I’m not sure if they can coexist.

Considering that Parker hasn’t brought it up, though, makes me think it’s not something I need to be worried about. Mathias also hasn’t mentioned anything on the matter either.

But still, there were those rumors.

My stomach sours at the thought of Parker leaving his gaming career behind, of leaving me—I mean us—behind. At the end of the day, he was raised a Covington.

I shake off the thoughts and take a deep gulp of my iced tea.

Three hours pass by in a blur.

Jace attempts to make more small talk, but I think he eventually realizes that I’m more invested in Parker than chatting with him. Instead, he busies himself with a spreadsheet on his phone while glancing at the game in between.

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