Page 54 of Fake Game

“Exactly.”

“You’ve lost me.”

Jackson sighs.

“Look, I know you’re a man of few words, but I’m really going to need you to spell this out for me, big boy.”

“Don’t call me that,” he grunts.

“I’m waiting.”

“Grace works at my father’s hospital; I couldn’t exactly ditch her in a shitty way. It would’ve gotten back to them, and I would’ve been in an even worse situation. The Wangs are close with my family. My mom even called me to make sure I made a good impression on this date and that I not screw anything up.” We stop at a red light, and he runs his hands through his hair. “Grace was a little too into the whole idea, and I didn’t have many options until you showed up.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. Like I said, it’s just a one off.”

“Sure.”

His dismissal burns.

We sit in silence the entire ride back, light music filtering through the speakers as I fidget with the lace on the edge of my skirt. All the while, I can’t stop myself from sneaking small glances at him, some part of me disappointed that this is where the farce ends. The same part of me that lit up when he held my arm and pulled me close, that broken part of me that seems to be slowly stitching itself back together the longer I’m around him.

The situation might have been fake, but the way my heart beats is very real.

THIRTEEN

JACKSON

“Hey, just wanted to let you know I’m popping out for a bit. Ya know, in case you can’t find me and think I’ve been kidnapped by mafia men who helicoptered onto the roof to sell me for ransom.”

I swivel around in my gaming chair to stare at Deer. She has one hand braced on my doorframe, the other on the handle, as she leans the top half of her body into my streaming room. A fluffy white purse hangs from one of her elbows, and her pink hair is styled in two elaborate space buns with two small braids framing the front of her face.

I want to tug on those braids, see that frustration light up her eyes. The same frustration I saw last night when I pulled her into my date.

“Where are you going?”

“Nail salon.” She releases her grip on the handle and proceeds to wiggle her fingers at me. “They’re too long and messing with Parker’s keyboard. I was hoping to delay it a little longer, but I’m going to go nuts if I keep accidentally hitting the W key every time I go to tap S.”

“Okay, give me a second to save.”

I spin back around and pull up the save screen to make sure I save over the right file. I am in the middle of completing a questand have to make sure I don’t save over the wrong file in case things go pear-shaped and I have to revert to a previous save.

I’m surprised to see her going out on her own. The first four days she was here, she barely even left my room. Lee managed to get her out last night, and I guess that’s made her feel more comfortable. It’s a good thing. I was worried the swatting had really shattered something within her, especially with the way she screamed in her dreams.

“Oh, no need. Syd texted me Francis’ number and said I could use him while I was staying here. Said it would be safer than calling a rideshare. Which is kinda valid, as much as I don’t wanna admit it.”

I frown.

Sure, it made sense to give her access to our private driver, especially since her car was still parked at her place. Syd’s been using Francis to get around Cali for years now, but that doesn’t make me any less annoyed at the situation.

Quickly saving my game, I turn off my monitor and twist back in time to see Deer tossing me a grin and a half-assed wave as she spins around on a pair of those ridiculously high heels she seems to own a million of and leaves.

“Bye,” her voice trills.

“Hang on.” I shoot out of my chair and stalk after her with a few long strides. “Are you sure that’s safe?”

She cocks a brow up at me. “He’s your driver.”

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