Page 40 of Playing Games

“Yeah. I’m trying to expand my horizons a little. My brother seems to think I’m going to spend all my time in the lab until rigor mortis sets in. I told him I do other things, but he didn’t seem to believe me.”

Julia laughs, and I can read the unspoken words about Double C as they cross her face as though they’re a flashing neon sign.If he only knew. “Hey, I’ll take it. I always love a chance to hang out with you, expected or not.”

Evie doesn’t say anything, focused instead on the menu in front of her, her eyes glazed with distant thoughts. It’s weird, given how effervescent she normally is, so while my mom and Georgia gab and catch up with each other, I lean toward Julia and raise an eyebrow. “What’s with your sister? Is she in mourning or something? She’s never this quiet.”

Julia laughs. “She has her earbuds in, listening to a romantasy audiobook Cassie gave her at dinner last week. I think it’s a retelling of Hades and Persephone or something with a parallel universe and monsters. She’s transfixed.”

Evie Brooks isn’t the first daughter in our group to be folded into the romance genre by Cassie Kelly herself without their mother’s knowledge. In fact, as the eldest of the group, I was first.

When I was ten and a half, Cassie gave me my first young adult romance to get me addicted. For the past few years, I’ve beenpreoccupied with other things, but once upon a time, Cassie and I had quite the interesting dealer/junkie relationship with romance novels.

Truth be told, she’s a womanfullof interesting secrets.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, startling me slightly, so I lean back into my seat and pull it out as surreptitiously as possible. I already had one text exchange with Ginger when I first got here with my mom, asking if I could help her work out some kinks on her project in the lab tonight, and put simply, I’m not normally this popular of a person.

Blake Boden: I’ve been thinking about last night all morning. What about you?

An uncharacteristic blush steals across my cheeks as I remember how it felt to finish with his fingers inside me. It was jarring. Imprinting. Impactful. It was unlike anything I’ve ever had with another person before, and yet somehow, the two of us went back to conversing and having dinner together without prejudice or discomfort. Somehow, even knowing what we’d just done, I was at ease.

“Who is it?” Julia asks, obviously noticing how weird I’m acting.

“Just Connor,” I lie, knowing the familiar name will at least buy me one or two casual dismissals before I’ll have to explain further.

She nods. “Oh, okay.”

I type out a quick message I’m hoping will keep him occupied long enough to delay needing to answer again until after this lunch is done.

Me: Yes, of course. It’s hard not to. I’m curious what you’ve got in mind to happen next, but don’t tell me now. I want you to really think about it.

I tuck my phone away, only for it to buzz again immediately.

Blake Boden: Oh, I’ve thought about it already. In great detail. Where do you think the thoughts about last night led this morning?

Obviously, I’m far too unpracticed with social games to be playing them. Desperate now that my mom, Georgia, Evie, and Julia are all engaged and paying attention to one another, I resort back to blunt truth.

Me: That all sounds nice, but I need to not talk to you right now. I’m at lunch with people, and I don’t have the experience I’d need to hear about your plans and keep a poker face.

Blake Boden: Okay, no worries. Keeping it a surprise is better anyway.

His message urges a smile to my lips that I can’t control. It takes me a good five seconds to swipe the damn thing off my face.

Me: I’ll be in the lab later if you want to come find me.

Blake Boden: I wouldn’t miss the chance. Later, Lex.

Me: Bye, Blake.

Satisfied that I’ve curbed the explosion for now, I set my phone on the table facedown and work myself back into engaging in the lunchtime conversation.

I’m an outsider, as usual, but for the first time in a long time, I lean into the feeling of being present anyway.

Something inside me is shifting—but the jury’s still out on whether it’s for the good.

Blake

Freshly showered, with damp curls clinging to my ears in the warm summer evening air, I stroll through the pedestrian court, a bag of food swinging from my finger and a ridiculous spring in my step.

After being officially invited to join Lexi tonight in the lab, I can’t help but relish the difference just a week of a little push and pull has made. When Lexi tugs, I come running, but when it starts to feel like she’s pulling away, I extend my rope a little and give her space.

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