Page 90 of Fake Game

Holy fuck. Deer is a legacy. Hell, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say she comes from video game royalty.

“I knew it wouldn’t take long for people to figure it out if they knew what my name was. I mean, look at Lee; you can find herentire family history on Wiki. I didn’t want people to think my entire gaming career was based on who my family is—it’s hard enough to get taken seriously as a female gamer.”

“But you don’t even playGods League.”

“Yeah, for a reason.”

“Does this mean you’re secretly super OP? Have you been holding out on us?”

She rolls her eyes. “I’m still not as good as Aleksander—and I don’t want to be—but I could crush Parker.”

“Anyone can crush Parker inGods League.”

“Fair.”

“So, no one knows? Not even Lee?”

She shakes her head. “No. It all seemed too risky.”

“But you’re telling me.”

“Well, you are my fake boyfriend, and I didn’t have much of a choice after Savannah.” Her upper lip twitches. “I didn’t count on my ID being logged into a system, I thought it was just a normal bar.”

“I’m sorry about that.”

“Will…will Savannah say anything?”

“No.” I reach my hand out and lay it on her knee, giving it a squeeze. “If anyone knows discretion, it’s Savannah.”

“How do you know her?”

Here we go.

TWENTY-FOUR

DEER

“Savannah?”

“Yeah, the beautiful woman who seemedwellacquainted with you.”

The words leave me easier now. Everything feels easier now. It doesn’t feel like there are a set of claws gripping onto my shoulders, crushing me in on myself and making me crack under the pressure. The Category Five hurricane in my stomach has also calmed down, and I’m no longer at risk of upchucking the entire contents of my digestive system.

Granted, there was a moment there when I really thought I might just pass out from the sheer panic of it all. But I’ve gotten pretty good at quelling my anxiety attacks in the last couple of weeks—nightmares aside.

My head is still spinning from the fact that my secret is no longer my own. I’m not alone anymore. Sure, Jackson is my fake boyfriend, my fake partner—but he is my partner, nonetheless. And it feels so fucking good to have someone in my corner who understands me.

I just hope I won’t regret it. Especially since my heart is becoming more and more invested as I remain in his orbit. There’s something comforting about him that makes me feel protected.

“I met her through the club.”

“You keep saying ‘club.’” I raise one of my hands in air quotes. “But you’re not really giving me much to go off.”

He lets out a barking laugh, running his hand through his long hair. His smile is uninhibited, one I’ve rarely seen, and Gods damn if it doesn’t make him look even more attractive.

“What?” My hackles rise, feeling like there’s some inside joke I’m not privy to. It’s the same feeling I got when I saw Jackson with Savannah.

“No, it’s just—” he leans back on his forearms, “let me start at the beginning.”

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