Page 41 of The Game

He snorts.

“So you skipped a few steps. Time to circle back and try something new.”

My veins become alight with fire at the thought. Last time I tried drugs, they were illegal, and I was in deep shit afterwards. At least this is legal and regulated and natural, but it still makes me slightly nervous.

“But I’m drunk?”

He pauses his strides and looks down at me, eyes softly tracing my face.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to, Alice. I’d just like more than four hours of sleep tonight.”

Suddenly feeling guilty, my face flushes.

“I’ll sleep on the couch.”

He rolls his eyes and ushers me forward to the store front, not bothering to go inside; it’s clearly closed. But mounted to the side of the door is a lock box, and he keys a code before the top pops open with a mechanical whir, reaching his hand into the abyss and pulling out a small brown bag before closing the lid.

“You’re not sleeping on the couch.”

“Why are you so—” I pause to yawn before continuing. “Chivalrous?”

A heavy sigh leaves his nose as he wraps me up and tucks me back into his side.

“I think it’s time I get fucking stoned and tell you.”

* * *

When we make it back to his apartment, he forces me to shower, eat, and drink a liquid IV packet on top of a bunch of water. I’ve sobered up, and though I am exhausted as he showers, my mind replays tonight on a loop. After adding everything up, there is one thing I cannot deny anymore, least of all to myself; I am falling for Teddy, and hard.

Of course, I never intended for that to happen. I used to hate his guts for months, and our interactions were all me being ruthless to him and him giving it right back. But everything has changed, and although my heart belongs to two already, it’s expanding to include him as well.

I know that, given the chance, I will run back to my twins and beg their forgiveness, but right now? Right now I just want Teddy, for he’s the only one who will understand me on this new level, because he’s lived it so much longer than I have. And the prospect of finding out his past? It’s unexpected and makes a thrill chase through my veins.

I’m laying on his bed, staring at the ceiling, when the bathroom door opens and steam billows out. He grins lopsidedly down at me, inky hair wet and slicked back, gray sweats hanging low on his waist. My eyes trace his moistened muscles and the sight makes my mouth run dry and my hands tremble. What would his skin feel like? Smooth? Soft and velvety?

He interrupts my thoughts as he jerks his head toward the bathroom.

“Wanna try?”

Brows furrowing, I am about to ask what he means when he simply chuckles and strides into his room, reaching across the bed for my ankle and yanking me to the edge as I yelp, my shirt shifting upward and exposing my legs and panties. Before I can stop him, he crashes onto me, encircling his arms around my waist as he hoists me up and kidnaps me amidst my kicking and protests, taking me straight to the bathroom where the window is cracked and the counter is lined with all manner of marijuana paraphernalia.

Settling me back onto my feet, he nods to the toilet before closing the door. Shivering, I perch myself on the lid and watch with intense concentration as he grinds the bud, that skunk-ish scent blossoming with each twist of his wrist.

“If you decide you want to try, I think you’ll like it.”

“What…” I say, chewing my lip nervously as I watch him work, tendrils of hair falling into his eyes. He glances at me, smiling coyly as he waits for me to continue. “What does it make you feel like?”

He shrugs, turning back to the process.

“I bought indica. So you’ll probably feel pretty fucking happy and then you’ll sleep like a rock.”

“And you smoke it?”

He snorts with a shake of his head.

“Yes, Alice.” I cross my arms, feeling made fun of, but he gives me a silencing look. Pausing, he rests the heels of his palms on the edge of the counter. “Your body will feel heavy but warm. Everything will become so interesting. And you’re probably going to eat the entire cupboard full of snacks I bought.”

I flash him a grin.

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