Page 20 of Fake Game

I pause mid plate scrub. “Didn’t you ask him?”

She shakes her head.

That’s weird.

“I can give you a ride.” Stevie smiles as she comes up next to me to wash her wine glass.

I shoot a desperate glance back at Sydney. I love Stevie, but she really isn’t the best driver. Neither am I, but Stevie is arguably worse. She hits objects that aren’t even moving.

“We can give you a ride back to yours,” Parker offers, sensing my distress.

“Thanks.” I turn to give Lee a big hug before saying goodbye.

“We still on for tomorrow?” she asks.

My stomach drops at the mention of tomorrow’s horror stream we’d previously planned, pre-swat, and it must show on my face because she gives my hand a squeeze.

“We don’t have to if you aren’t ready yet.”

I shake my head. “No. If I put it off, I’ll just keep doing that. Plus, Blade said he would join.”

“Okay, love you.”

“Love you.”

I grab my phone from the bowl in the hallway and rush to catch up to Syd and Parker, who are waiting by the elevator.

“You good?” Sydney gives me a once over as we descend to the lobby.

“Of course.” I smile, unlocking my phone and checking for any notifications. My eyes snag on a Discord message from Jackson.

SHIELD:lmk if you need a ride

I check the timestamp to see he sent it a little over an hour ago and gnaw on my lower lip, contemplating whether or not to text him back.

We exit into the lobby and head out into the chilly night air. The valet brings Parker’s blue Porsche around, and I stare at it with knowing dread.

“I’m going in the back, aren’t I?”

Parker places a hand on my shoulder and gives me a wry smile. “You are the shortest.”

I let out a deep sigh as he shifts the passenger seat forward so I can crawl into the obscenely small backseat. Honestly, I don’t understand why these cars even bother having back seats.

The passenger seat locks back into place, and Parker and Syd get into the car.

“Comfy?”

I give Parker a sugary-sweet smile. “Positively cozy.”

Parker takes off, revving the engine as he races through the streets. Sydney lets out a hiss at his speed, but he just reaches over and rests his hand on her knee.

I look down at my phone again, at Jackson’s message. He’d said he drove me because Lee asked him to, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. So, why was he there? Maybe he really had been in the area. But that still didn’t totally explain everything.

My brain spins, like it’s trying to solve a Rubix cube but half the colors are missing.

Parker swings out at the front of my apartment complex and comes to a stop.

He scowls looking up at the building. “I really wish you would move.”

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