Page 7 of Siren's Game

I nod. Fuck, just like that, I suddenly feel disgusting, like I need to take a shower and wash this experience off.

But when I look at Millie from the corner of my eyes to check if she’s alright, all I see is that dreamy look on her face again.

We reach the exit, and she stops to turn around and stare at the group. I know who her eyes are on, because even a blind person would have realized what just happened on that field. I’ve just chosen to ignore it until now.

The way her whole face softened when her eyes landed on him, hell, the tension between the two when their eyes met was downright suffocating. It was so electric, if I'd put my hand in front of her eyes, I probably would have gotten an electric shock.

I never believed in love at first sight. I deemed it a fairy tale, too good to be true, a hope for dreamers that keeps them optimistic.

But it's something entirely different to see it happen firsthand.

Asher

I'llbedamned.Theygot the Sirens for this fucking game. Wouldn't that be just my goddamn luck?

Sighing, I gather my shoulder-length hair to twist it into a messy bun before I walk out of the locker room, clasping shoulders and handing out fist bumps to my teammates as I wait for Luca in the hallway. That asshat takes way too long to change.

I shouldn't have listened to Van when he convinced me that Luca and I could share my car.

It's obvious that Luca thinks we didn’t get him his own car to fuck with him, but having to wait for him and drive him around? I’m starting to fear that I'm the one fucked with.

And I’m feeling even more fucked, now that I know they got the dangSirensfor the halftime show. Of all the pop stars and starlets, all the bands or singer-songwriters, rappers, and whatever there is in the whole wide world, they really had to pick those two?

Not that I dislike their music. No, I listen to it with complete indifference when I'm at the gym and forgot my headphones, which happens more often than I'd like to admit. It’s nice enough, but on none of my carefully curated playlists.

I have to admit, though, I enjoyed watching them grow in the entertainment industry and make it further than so many others, always wondering if our paths in the industry would cross at some point.

And then, when they almost did a few years back, I pretty much put my foot in my mouth. It was definitely not my proudest moment.

I had just finished shooting a movie with a co-star who must have gotten the part via her parents’ connections instead of an actual casting.

Actually, I'm pretty sure that's exactly what happened, since her daddy dearest was a C-suite member of the company producing the movie.

And as another son of a C-suite member, although from a different, yet no less influential company, I still went through the casting. I’m sure there have been enough opportunities where my name was enough to give me an advantage, but I make damn sure to earn my part as well.

Her lack of talent and motivation at having to—gasp—workdoubled the time it took to shoot our scenes. The last thing I wanted was a repeat of that torture and disruption to my schedule so shortly after.

Could I have gone about it more tactfully? Sure. Did I have the nerve to? Hell no.

I was exhausted, on the edge of a damned burnout, and I couldn't give less of a fuck if whichever singer they were casting's feelings were hurt by what I said. I didn’t even know they already had Kayla in mind, I was way too exhausted by simply being awake.

The whole experience almost made me fall out of love with acting and I just had to protect my passion for it. I’ve loved acting since I was a damn child, and suddenly, I found myself dreading the thought of standing in front of a camera. It took me a while until I fell in love with it again, but I sure did. Harder, faster, and even more passionate than before.

Did I beat up myself just the tiniest bit when I finally learned that Kayla was, in fact, the woman they wanted to cast for that movie? Maybe a tiny bit.

What those two have achieved over the last few years is nothing short of incredible. Yet I stand by what I said. They're incredible at what they do, and I'm incredible at what I do. That doesn't mean those two things would mix well. Maybe in a music video or a musical. Not that I would ever voluntarily do one.

What a funny twist of fate, that now Luca is simping for that woman's best friend. Well, 'simping' is such a negative word, but he's definitely a goner. The whole training he’s been giddy, his hands twitching for his phone to find out more about her, his eyes searching our surroundings for her. All that from one single look.

I don't believe in love at first sight. There is just no way anyone could ever look at another person and decide from half a kilometer away that they've found their soul mate. I love Luca like a brother, but . . . just no. I don't buy it. I wouldn’t be surprised if that little crush dissipates as soon as he actually gets to know her.

He seems to buy the whole ‘love at first sight’ crap though, in a 'here you go, take all of my money' shopping spree, judging by the far-away look in his eyes when he comes out of the dressing room, his empty eyes pointed right at my face as he walks straight past me, showing no sign of having noticed me standing there.

"Damn, you're down bad," I tease him, catching up easily. After all, I’m a good bit taller and my legs a good bit longer than his.

"Huh?" He looks up at me like he's just woken up from a deep slumber or daydream.

"Nothing," I say with a chuckle and shake my head amusedly.

---