Page 52 of Fake Game

“I told Jackson he should probably just tell them. It really helps with the stress, andLei yiwould have his back. From the way she raves about him, I know she’ll get everyone else on board. And you seem really sweet.” She pats my hand. “Seriously, there’s no sense in Jackson being dragged around on pointless dates when he’s already got such a cute girlfriend.”

Lee lets out a choking noise.

My. How the tables have turned.

“Thank you,” I smile, pulling my hand from her grip. The practiced persona of Deer, the darling of the streaming world, comes spilling forward as I play my part.

I curl myself into Jackson, placing my hand on the center of his chest. The hand he has lazing on my shoulder halts, and I feel the rest of his body stiffen. I stop myself from smirking, pushing my sweetness dial even higher.

“It’s been so hard with him going on these dates. Absolutely rips me apart.” I raise my head, angling it to look up at him. Gods, why is he so freaking tall? I can trace the entire outline ofhis jaw from down here. “But I know I can trust him. We just have that bond, don’t we, babes?”

Jackson looks down at me, sliding his hand from my shoulder down the length of my arm to rest above my elbow. Goosebumps break across my skin as he gives my arms a light squeeze, something warm stirring low within me. The corners of his lips tilt up in a small smile. And while I know it’s just the one he uses in public, it still throws me off-kilter.

“Of course.”

I can feel the words rumble through his chest, and I’m frozen, caught in his gaze.

“Well, I wish you guys the best of luck. And don’t worry, I’ll keep everything above board when I see your dad at the hospital. Promise.”

“Thanks, Grace.”

“No worries. See you!”

Grace gives a sweet wave as she walks away, and my brain finally starts to come down from the high.

“Okay. What the heck is going on?” Lee pokes her finger into my hip.

“Ow.” I step away from Jackson, ungluing my body from his to glare at her.

She cocks her split eyebrow and crosses her arms.

“Ask him.” I shrug my shoulder back toward Jackson.

“It’s not a big deal.” The indifference of his tone matches how cold my skin suddenly feels without his contact.

“Did you or did you not tell that girl that Deer’s your girlfriend?” Lee takes a step forward into our space, trying to look menacing. Except we are the same height, and it really doesn’t do much to deter Jackson when he is a solid foot taller than both of us.

“I just needed an excuse to cut the date short.”

“And you decided to use me?”

“You’re the one who offered, Sparkles.”

“And you’re the one who made it sound like you’d rather throw yourself off a cliff than pretend to date me.”

“It was a onetime use,” he shrugs.

“Onetime, my—"

“Hi, sorry for the wait. Here’s the check.” Our waitress finally makes her return.

“Right,” I reach for the two bills I’d thrown on the table.

“Here.”

I whip my head back to see Jackson tapping his phone on the POS system.

“What are you—”

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