Page 24 of Fake Game

“Deer, I will break this door down if you do not open it. You know I can.”

I hear a muffled, “Shit,” followed by some shuffling before the door snicks open a few inches.

The buzzing in my ears intensifies as I stare down at the infuriating woman before me. Deer’s puffy lips are pursed tightly as she looks up at me briefly before averting her eyes to the right.

“You came?”

“You called.”

I give the door a nudge, pushing my way into her apartment.

Deer’s pink obsession is a mirror to Parker’s love for blue; they both make it their entire personality. Part of me used to think her whole pink thing was just a gimmick, but one look at her apartment—which looks like a unicorn and a fairy had a love child—is all you need as proof that even her blood would run rosy.

“Sure, come in. Make yourself at home.”

I turn around to see her fold her arms protectively over her chest, and I force myself to look at her unnaturally blue eyes.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing.”

“All right.” I shrug before dropping down on her bubbly couch.Thing is fucking uncomfortable.

“What are you doing?” Her fingers tighten on her biceps, biting into the fabric of her pastel cardigan.

“Making myself at home.” I pull out my phone and swipe it open, aimlessly scrolling.

She lets out an unamused scoff. “Seriously?”

I say nothing and it furthers her annoyance as she stalks over to me.

“No, seriously, what are you going to do? Camp here all night? This isn’t funny.” Her voice deepens and the ends of her words cut off, her Irish lilt peeking through.

“You didn’t call me for no reason, and I’m not leaving until I know why.” I look up at her. “Plus, you look like you haven’t slept in days.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“It’s not a compliment.”

She lets out a frustrated groan and stamps her foot before spinning around and stalking into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her.

Not even a minute later, the door flings back open and she stomps over to me and points a single sharp nail at me.

“Fine, you want to know so badly, Mr. Can’t Mind His Own Business? The police called me because someone tried to swat me again while I was streaming.”

My blood runs cold as the Antarctic Ocean, and any amusement flees my body.

“What?”

“It’s fine. They knew it was a false alarm. It just made me feel a little off, so I called you. But I’m fine.”

I fucking hate that word.

Fine.

Such bullshit. She isn’t fine. None of this isfine.

I stand up, placing myself inches away from her. Deer’s eyes flare as she takes a small step back.

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