Page 3 of The Game
Until I get over this, I will continue torturing myself around her. I keep telling myself she won’t meet my eyes because she feels something too, and the moment she does, she’ll give in and kiss me.
What the fuck is wrong with me? I’m acting like a character in one of Mom’s sappy Christmas romances that she watches year-round with Madison. I might have accidentally sat down and watched a few of them too. But it’s not that simple. That shit isn’t real. She isn’t a city girl from New York while I’m some small-town country boy that she doesn’t even know she needed in her life. She was here before…she has an entire past that will give her the happily ever after. And I’m going to be the side character, time and time again.
I pull up on Emerson’s street. It’s packed with cars, but I find us a spot and quickly park. This party has been going for hours already, and a lot of partygoers are out on the street.
It’s a different type of neighborhood than I’m used to visiting. Though it’s similar to James and Mila’s street, the lawns aren’t mowed, and the houses are lacking basic care. It’s amazing how the scenery changes in just a few blocks. But people have lives here. No need to be an asshole about their houses.
I’m dressed in a skeleton outfit. Madison did an amazing job painting my face. I don’t look like me; I could be anyone. Well, at least, I feel like I won’t be recognized at this party. I’ll blend in. That’s what I love about Halloween.
Grabbing my black baseball cap, I push it down over my hair. Walker just stares at me and rolls his eyes. I shove his shoulder, then I get out and close my door before stretching and looking around. Yeah, this might not be the best area to park my BMW. Not judging…okay, I’m being an asshole.
“They’ll know it’s you as soon as we go in. You’re here with me.” Walker points to himself.
He’s right. They will know if I go with him. Walker isn’t one to blend with the crowd. He was born to stand out. “Go in without me. I want to be invisible.”
Walker gives me a pitying look, then flicks his eyepatch back over his right eye and raises his plastic sword in the air with a stupid grin and fake pirate voice. “Argh, my boney friend. I shall take all the sexy wenches for my own while you pine over one.”
I can’t help but smile. Walker’s always good at lightening up the mood. He knows I hate when he flirts nonstop with Mila, but he’s a good friend most the time.
“I only need one, pirate. Have fun, and don’t get scurvy or any other diseases.”
Walker shuffles his feet backward and spins, then does some fancy footwork and stabs me in the stomach with his stupid sword. He chuckles then runs off to the house, stabbing everyone he passes. They know who he is as soon as they see him. He loves all the attention, good and bad.
I slink around the side of the house, avoiding as many people as I can, which is easy. They’re drunk or making out back here. I make my way into the backyard and look for her…and she isn’t hard to find.
TWO
MILA
To say I’m not nervous would be a lie.
We came to Emerson’s Halloween party tonight in the hopes we could be normal. Normal teens going to a costume party with friends. But no one, apart from the three of us, knows the truth. Roman is fighting for the Amato family. Hunter goes to all his fights to help keep him safe, and I hide at Kate’s place while they’re both gone so they don’t have to worry about me. Jace has no idea that’s why Roman’s still fighting.
Jace has no idea what’s really happening.
He doesn’t know what happened with my “accident,” and he doesn’t know who really killed Damon. He doesn’t know we’re keeping this colossal lie that has the three of us all twisted up inside and always looking over our shoulders. We have to tell him. He needs to know, in case he gets caught up in all of it. Our web of lies grows and only puts others in danger.
But how? How do you tell someone that your slowly trusting again, that you didn’t kill someone? That you took the fall to keep your best friend safe? How can you trust he won’t use that against you or tell the wrong person when he’s angry and mad? Jace is a wild card right now and one I won’t show my entire hand to.Not yet.
If Roman doesn’t fight and lose or win for the Amato family, they will come for me. Hurt me again. Hunter’s so involved now, he fumbled the ball in last night’s game, causing the Rebels to lose so Coach won’t pull Roman from first string.
I tug the hem of my red dress again, and Roman grabs my wrist to stop me. I know what he’s thinking. The old me wouldn’t be fidgeting and looking over my shoulder every few minutes. Always watching my surroundings and what’s lurking in the dark. But I keep on doing just that. Without realizing it, I’m giving away little tells that something isn’t right, and Roman picks up on them. Hell, even Jace mentioned that I’ve changed. I’m different.
We’ve all changed. He thinks it’s because of what happened in the trailer, with Damon’s death. We don’t correct him. I have changed, but it’s not because of that or what he thinks I did.
I lace my fingers into Roman’s hand, and I can feel all eyes on me. They watch and wait. So many people from school want to know what’s happening between the three of us. I love to watch their faces light up with excitement and then fall in disappointment when all we do is hold hands. It’s a fun little game for me, and right now, I could use all the fun I can get.
I’m saving my kisses for Roman until we’re behind closed doors. Not that I’m hiding him like he’s a secret, but he doesn’t like to let his guard down. Kissing me out here in public would mean he’s not watching for danger. Hunter would have to take over in that department, and well, Hunter gets distracted easily…and drunk like he is now. But he needed a night off. Roman does too, but he won’t, even for a night, and I hate that. You would think that, after the death of his father, things would have improved, but they have only gotten more complicated.
“Devil girl, light a fire in my pants and spank me.” I hear a deep chuckle and turn to the voice I know so very well.
Walker Murphy is standing there with a cocky grin on his face and dressed as a pirate. He waves his plastic sword in the air, and I try to hide the smile forming on my face. He looks good. And he knows it.
“That’s a big sword, Walker. Trying to compensate for something?” I tease and cock my hip. He just winks and grabs his crotch.
“Two swords are better than one. You, of all people, should know that.” He winks then points his plastic sword to Hunter, who’s playing beer pong with Jace and Emerson, then points it to where I’m holding Roman’s hand. He looks at me and winks again before chuckling.
I tilt my head and raise my eyebrows, challenging him to say something. I’m not giving Walker anything. He’s asked a few times what’s between the three of us, but I won’t give him a straight answer and it’s driving him crazy. He knows, but he wants me to say it. We stare at each other, neither of us backing down.
