Page 49 of The Game
Fuck.
I look at Hunter and he shakes his head with a small smile.
“We need to talk about this. It's all good, babe.”
Asher smiles as he presses some tissues around his nose. He holds his hand over his heart and nods to me. My phone rings and I look down to see my dad’s name on the caller id.Fuck… how could I forget? He’s gonna be my stepbrother.
Why do I suddenly feel like I just made everything more complicated than it needed to be? Why does he have to be my stepbrother?
How am I gonna tell my dad? How do I tell Kate? Why do I get myself into these messes?
But I look over at Asher, and I realize he's worth the mess.
“I'm going to be grounded forever.” I mutter.
Asher smiles.
“Me too, but at least we'll be grounded together.”
TWENTY
JACE
“I’m so glad you boys could make it today.” Mom hugs Hunter and walks around the table to Roman. He’s never hugged mom before, but he stands and wraps his arms around my mother. She’s dwarfed by his size.
“Oh, Roman. I have cake for you.” She sniffles and I know she’s getting emotional. I can’t do this right now. We have plans and they involve a knife and Asher. I don’t want to do cake. It won’t be the same without Mila here. And well… Asher.
“Okay, mom. We gotta go do thanksgiving at Hunter’s now. So, we will see you tomorrow.”
She’s not happy that I’m bailing out on thanksgiving so early, but I explained to her that Hunter’s mom wasn’t well so we would do lunch with mom, dad, and Grady. Plus, the boys. Then go to Hunter’s later. I haven’t seen his mom in weeks… but then I’ve been a little preoccupied trying to get Mila to kiss me. So, I hope she’s not there to witness tonight.
But tonight’s gonna be the night Mila kisses me. I’m gonna make her want to kiss me. That’s what happened with Asher. She said so herself. That it built and built until it spilled over into a kiss at the laser tag. “Epic kiss.” Were her exact words and I want to top that.
Well, okay, I’m gonna work on my kiss after Roman’s had his special birthday gift from Mila. He’s made it clear we are not to go near her room. For at least half the night. I don't know how Hunter’s not jealous because I sure am. But I gotta hold that in. If I want her, I have to share her. Just going to take some time to get used to all of it.
“Take leftovers, and the cake.” Mom packs everything up into Tupperware containers while we wait for her in the kitchen. I message Asher letting him know to meet us at Hunter's place in ten.
“You say hi to your parents from us, Hunter. Haven’t seen them in so long. You father’s always working so hard.”
Yeah… you could say that. Working so hard, he’s never around. But Hunter just smiles and tells dad he will pass on the message. I know he won't. not because he doesn't want to. But because he won't see his dad for so long, he will have forgotten it by then. I really don't like his dad.
Grady gives the guys a small hug and leaves the room. Probably to go call his boyfriend. Well… he hasn’t told me if it's official, but he’s been seeing Makai. At least openly around our house. Not so openly at school, but he doesn’t have to. Until yesterday, Roman didn't kiss Mila in public. But now everyone knows. So, I can understand Grady wanting privacy. Because that shit was crazy.
We all jump into Hunter’s car. I can't wipe the smile from my face. This is going to hurt like hell. But Asher wants to do it. That’s the only way that Roman and Hunter will give their blessing for him to date Mila.
“So, you've got the knife?” I ask Roman, who's sitting in the back seat with his bag. He pats it.
“Yeah, the same one. If he's going to be one of us, this is the only way.” I nod.
Asher was told he needs to be a blood brother. It's the only way. Or he will always be the outsider.
I'm glad that with age, the sight of blood doesn't affect me anymore, but there's no way that I could make that cut on Asher without vomiting. Roman offered to do it soon as it was mentioned. Said it had to be him. After all, he was the one who came up with the original idea.
When we pull into Hunter's property. Asher’s standing there waiting for us. He's wearing all black. That's a smart choice. Roman chuckles deeply. It's a little evil sounding. But I like it. I feel the same way.
We pile out of the car and wave over to Asher to follow me. It’s dark now and the full moon's out. But we use the flashlights on our phones to guide us into the yard where it all began.
“Do you think we should have invited Mila?” I whisper to Hunter. I only just realized now that it's not exactly the same without her there.
