Page 102 of Fake Game

Their red, blue, and green lights surround me as beacons of safety, blocking out everything else, and it allows my mind to clear slightly.

“Wait, there are still more people waiting to see me.” My eyes break past their barricade to look at the small line of people that still remains, no more than fifteen or so.

“Deer,” Jackson warns. “You need to rest.”

“No.” I shake out of his arms. “No, it’s not fair to them. They didn’t do anything wrong.”

“We can let them join the line first tomorrow,” Aleks tries to barter.

“They’ve been waiting for hours.” I fold my arms over my chest. “Would you guys leave them?”

I can’t see their eyes, but I know I’ve struck a chord because each of their shoulders droop ever so slightly.

“Fine, but we’re staying.” Jackson shifts off to the side and rests on the metal bar that separates my area from Lee’s. He looks like a gargoyle standing watch, and I can’t say that I hate the way it makes me feel to have his protective presence.

Aleks joins him, leaning on the metal rail as well. Parker, however, drops to the ground and pulls off his mask. Aleks kicks him and Parker rolls his eyes before sliding the mask back on and standing with them too.

It makes me laugh.

I lock my eyes with Jackson’s mask and give him a small nod of my head, which he returns.

Then, with a deep breath and new smile on my face, I turn around and greet the next person in line.

TWENTY-EIGHT

JACKSON

I’ve never been a violent person.

But right now, it’s a struggle to keep myself in check as I look at the way Deer’s arm is still marred with dots of red where that asshole’s fingers gripped her.

The door to our suite beeps open, and Lee comes running in. Her stride doesn’t break as she beelines for the armchair Deer is curled up in.

Reading her best friend, Deer unfurls her body and holds her arms out so Lee can crush her in a hug. Although, considering they’re both five foot, crush is a bit of a stretch.

“Are you okay? They wouldn’t let me come over, safety and all that blah blah.” Lee grasps her jaw with both hands and starts looking her over.

“It’s fine, I—”

Lee gasps, holding out Deer’s right arm. “Fine? That is not fine.”

My fists clench and I have to look away before my blood begins to boil again. I’ve barely got it simmering beneath the surface.

“I bruise easily.”

“Nolan never should’ve let it get that far. He’s going to get an earful from me.” Lee stalks past me, and Aleks shoots up to grab her by the waist.

“Not so fast.” He lifts her up and promptly plops her onto the couch between him and me.

“Your team followed protocol.” Parker looks up from the floor where he is playingKill Strikeon his phone. “But I already spoke to the company; they’re sending over some extra people for tomorrow. We’re also going to give Deer one of our personal detail for the meet and greet.”

“We should’ve done that earlier,” I mutter.

I’m kicking myself. The boys and I don’t need the same security attention as the girls do. We know how people get at these events when it comes to them, and we let our guard down.

I let her down.

“Coulda, woulda, shoulda.” Deer stands up and crosses in front of us, propping her hands on her hips. “What’s done is done. Let’s move on, please.”