Page 145 of Fake Game

“W-why?”

He shrugs, placing his hand on mine. “Thought it would be less stressful for you and safer if we had it to ourselves.”

“So, you rented out the theater for me?”

“Yeah.”

“As in the whole thing? Not just the auditorium?”

“Yup.”

“Oh my Gods. Why didn’t you tell me?”

It’s the second largest movie theater in the whole state, which for Cali is pretty freaking huge. It would’ve cost him several thousands of dollars, and he did it for me—for my comfort.

“Because it’s something you needed to conquer up here.” He gives my temple an affectionate tap.

That’s it.

I’m done.

I’m in the gutter, being swept away downstream by this man without any hope of going back.

All my life, I’ve hidden my struggles, kept them trapped deep within me so no one saw them buried beneath my light. Not Jackson, though. He understands me down to the center of my fractured core and doesn’t shy away. He sits there with glue and helps me fill the cracks so that I can become whole again.

I slip my hand onto his thigh and lean forward. “Thank you.”

“Anything for you.”

“Please don’t start making out. It’s bad enough that we have one exhibitionist couple in this household.”

Jackson grabs a piece of crust and throws it at Parker who narrowly dodges it.

“What the—did you just throw bread at me?” He blinks in offense before grabbing a slice of banana bread and reeling his arm back. “You wank—”

“Oh, no, you don’t.” Sydney’s hand shoots out to stop him. “Seriously, are you both five?”

“He started it.”

“Really?” she deadpans.

Parker juts out his bottom lip in a pout, and it fractures her mask, pulling a smile at the edges.

Jackson’s phone begins to ring on the table, and I spot an image of his parents on the screen.

“Hang on, I have to take this. You knuckleheads clean up.” He pushes off the stool and gestures to Aleks and Parker before heading in the direction of his room.

“Do you see the way he treats me?” Parker grumbles.

“I can help?” I offer.

“Nope.” Stevie puts a hand on my shoulder. “Apartment rules dictate that Aleks and Parker have to do it themselves if Jackson cooked. We’re exempt.”

My own phone starts buzzing on the counter, and I flip it over to see Lee blowing up my messages.

LEE:GIRL????

LEE:STEVIE SAID UR AT THE BOYS APARTMENT

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