Page 15 of Play the Game

Asshole Pasco finally pumped his fist in the air and shouted, “Yeah.”

Without looking up, I knew his name was listed in the top spot. What I didn’t expect was Gil Sutton to mimic Pasco’s celebration just seconds later. I typed in my last two functions and came in third, but Bee’s name flashed in fourth place a split second later. The player in fifth place was dropped, and there were four of us left. Given our performance, Pasco and I were each guaranteed to be finalists unless we did something unimaginable, like not completing the third challenge. Still, I wasn’t happy. I’d come in second in a few competitions over the years, but never third, and I’d never been within sniffing distance of fourth. I hated the feeling.

But I fucking reveled in the genuine smile I earned from Tam.

“That makes it all worth it,” I told her.

Pasco cleared his throat. I made the mistake of looking in his direction. He wiggled his eyebrows at Tam, then winked at her. The asshole thought his stupid gestures and one lousy win, which I’d allowed him, would lure my girlfriend away from me. My rational brain knew many things. For instance, that it didn’t matter what stupid shit he was doing because Tam would never be interested in him, that I could hack and break code and intrude on systems in circles around him all day long, that Tam was my best friend and not my girlfriend, and that even if we were together, she would kick my ass for going all caveman over her.

But my lizard brain wasn’t about to let my rational mind call the shots. The gloves were off, and no more punches would be pulled. I needed to put Pasco in his place and go out on top in this competition.

“Jason, I cannot believe I’m saying this again.” Tam grabbed my thigh in a death grip. “For the lastfuckingtime, third place.”

I scowled and didn’t answer her. Even nodding agreement would be like lying, and I refused to lie to her. For the record, I didn’t consider omitting the truth in instances like Friday night to be a lie, but she did, so I planned to do better. Thus, I kept my mouth closed and my eyes straight ahead, staring at my screen, waiting for the next challenge.

Tam touched my chin again, gently this time. “Jason, look at me,” she said softly.

I turned to her, surprised to see how close she was to me. Her mouth was an inch from mine. And then the unimaginable happened. The best kind of surprise. The kind that only happened in my dreams and fantasies. She pressed her lips to mine.

Somewhere in the far distance, my rational mind was jumping up and down, shouting that she was trying to distract me so I wouldn’t reveal the depth of my abilities and attract the wrong attention from the Carbonados. But my much closer and louder lizard brain was whispering thoughts like her lips were so soft, and her scent was so sweet, and if I slipped my tongue into her mouth, I might draw a little moan from her like the one I was sure had risen from my own throat.

Then fingers clacked against keys. The sound shoved my frontal lobe to the forefront. I broke the kiss and turned to my computer, catching the name of the system I needed to breach right before the screen faded to black. Beside me, Tam sucked in her breath, probably realizing how close I’d come to missing it, which would have meant not completing the third challenge. Still, that kiss had left me in a haze that made it tough to think clearly or type smoothly. I made a couple of mistakes I never would have made under normal circumstances. The other names went up on the board, one right after the other: Pasco, Bee, Sutton. Mine came in several seconds later and dead last. But I wasn’t disqualified for not finishing.

Despite my poor showing in the last round, my earlier first-place win allowed me earn the third spot, but with the most humiliating showing imaginable. Instead of kicking Pasco’s ass, I’d handed him bragging rights for life. And I didn’t care. I was fixated on that kiss. I’d fantasized so many times about kissing and doing so much more with Tam, but my imagination couldn’t compare to the reality of her mouth on mine. When she’d kissed me, she’d meant it. I’d wanted my best friend to become my lover for months now. Hell, probably longer than that. And now I knew she wanted that, too.

CHAPTER 6

Jason

With my placein third secured, I was ready to get the hell out of the warehouse, away from the Carbonados goons, and especially out of the spotlight of my former life. But there was a protocol for this kind of event, which included being a good sport and congratulating the other winners, staying long enough to be recognized for my “win,” and participating in the buffet dinner. The only way I survived the humiliation of seeing my reputation ripped to shreds by fucking Jack Pasco was by thinking about Tam’s kiss.

When we finally left the building hours later, we held hands as we crossed the parking lot to my car. I opened her door and helped her in, then leaned in for a peck on the lips. It was preplanned and for show, in case anyone was watching us closely, but I enjoyed every second of it. Finally alone with her, I was ready to discuss what had happened.

Apparently, Tam wasn’t. By the time I climbed into the driver’s seat, she already had the team on speakerphone.

“We’re on our way to the hotel,” she said. The hotel where we would share a room, which was also part of our cover as a couple. “We should be there and ready for a debrief telecom in twenty minutes.”

She was anxious to get the call over with. So was I. We both wanted to complete our work obligations and settle in alone together.

“No need for that,” TJ said. “The team has enough information to start deep background checks on everyone who was there, and I think everyone’s tired and will want to make it an early night.”

I grinned in the darkness. “Sounds good to me, boss. It’s been a long day.”

Tam frowned. “Are you sure?”

Her tone caught my attention. She didn’t seem as anxious as me or TJ to skip the late-night debrief. Then she chewed her lip, and I nearly ran us off the road because I was busy staring at her mouth.

“Jesus, Jason,” she muttered. “I guess you really are tired. Do I need to drive?”

By then, I’d fully recovered, grateful we were on deserted back roads. “I’m fine, really.” But I wasn’t sure she was.

A few minutes later, she ended the call, then stared off into the dark. She seemed deep in thought, and I worried I’d be intruding if I spoke to her, so I didn’t. Ten minutes later, we arrived at the hotel, where we had checked in and stowed our bags hours earlier, and a few minutes after that, we were in our hotel room. I closed and locked the door, then turned around and leaned against it. Ever since she’d kissed me, which, yes, had been for show but had also felt so real, I’d been imagining this moment when we’d finally be alone together. Tam rummaged through her overnight bag, still frowning. That had not been part of my fantasy.

She was my best friend, and we were usually in sync with each other’s moods, but I couldn’t read hers now. “Hey, Tam, should we talk?”

She glanced at me, then nodded. “I guess we should. But I’d like to shower first.” She disappeared into the bathroom and closed the door behind her.

While I waited, I rummaged through my own bag. I pulled out my toiletries case, as well as the T-shirt and sweatpants I would wear to bed. Normally, I slept naked, but I’d packed for a night with my best friend. For a while there, I’d thought maybe pajamas wouldn’t be necessary after all, but now, all signs pointed to this being a fully clothed night.

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