Page 9 of Play the Game

“And you believe them? You’re mighty brave for being in a bathroom alone with me if you truly believe what the media is saying.”

I know the rumors aren’t true. It took all of two seconds of looking into his eyes to know they’re fabricated truths, if not lies altogether.

“I…” I finally bring myself to look him in the face again, and the disgust painted across his features sends me reeling. “I’m sorry…” I shake my head. “I don't know what I’m doing.”

I meet his eyes once more before taking off in a full sprint out of the bathroom. My name echoes from behind, but I keep going because what the hell was I thinking?

Four

EMORY

“Nice digs, man.”

I flip the camera around and flop onto the couch. My sister and Ford share the camera, and I can tell that she’s lying on top of him, which still makes my skin itch, partly because I know my best friend is fucking my sister, and partly because I think the majority of relationships are disillusioned and fake.

Don’t get me wrong, if anyone deserves true love, it’s them. I just think it’s very few and far between these days.

“It needs a woman’s touch.” Taytum drags her gaze from the open space behind me to my face. “Mom didn’t do nearly enough when she was there.”

“What? It’s fine.” I look around my new home, thankful I finally found one after months of searching. I act unbothered by the fact that it’s nearly empty, but if my mom asked me one more time what I thought about the color sage, I was going to put a for sale sign in the front yard.

“Maybe get some family photos or something. Hang them on the wall? It’s kind of…cold.” Taytum’s mouth forms a straight line, as if she’s trying not to hurt my feelings.

That was something that started after the shit show last season.

I may have been a bit testy,and it caused everyone to walk on eggshells with me. Truthfully, I prefer her asshole remarks over her trying to spare my feelings, though.

“Cold?” I repeat, glancing at the bare walls. I shrug and bring my attention back to my sister. “I like the cold.”

She snorts with a roll of her eyes and climbs off Ford. He watches her walk away in the frame, and I choose to ignore it because if I say something, then it’ll just result in him calling me bitter.

“How is her new monitor?” I ask.

I can’t question my sister about her diabetes because she gets frustrated, so I ask him instead.

He rubs his hand along his face. “It’s good. Takes some getting used to.”

I chuckle. “Good thing she has you there to remind her to check her levels, though. Right?”

Taytum shouts from another room. “I don’t need reminding!”

Ford and I share a half smile, and he glances up from the screen and winks at my sister. In the midst of the phone call, I start to gather my gear for practice. Ford rambles on about their schedule and pokes some questions here and there about my new teammates.

I give him a roundabout answer, but he can tell something is eating away at me.

“Spill,” he says.

“What?”

“What’s bothering you? Is it because I’m not on your team?” He sighs dramatically. “Don’t worry,Emory Bemory. I miss you too.”

I snarl. “You’re in a completely different state, and you’re still on my nerves.”

He laughs, and I rest my elbows on the kitchen counter after leaning my phone against the half-opened cereal box.

“Did something else happen?” he asks, becoming serious. “You in the media again?”

“Not yet,” I mumble.

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