Page 158 of The Games We Play
My apartment.
That night had been an accidental kind of magic—music playing from the speaker on my counter, our impromptu dancein the living room, and, yes, the breadsticks that ended up charred because we were too wrapped up in each other to notice the timer.
I quickened my pace, passing the darkened windows of Petal Pusher, still closed. The stairwell to my apartment seemed steeper than usual, anticipation bubbling with each step.
I slipped inside, eyes scanning every surface for a flash of red.
Nothing in the entryway. Nothing on the coffee table or counters.
I placed the container in the fridge and continued my search, heart racing now.
Down the hallway, I wandered into my bedroom, and that’s when I saw it lying across my bed.
A dress lay draped across the blanket, soft fabric rippling. A rose rested on top, as delicate and perfect as the others.
The dress was beautiful—long and flowing, with a thigh-high slit and cap sleeves. The soft pink floral pattern looked like it belonged in a garden of daydreams. My fingers skimmed the fabric, and something inside me fluttered.
I picked up the rose, then the note tucked beneath it, ready for the next clue.
Penelope,
Put on the dress with your favorite pair of boots and then head to the heart of Faircloud. After you find the next note, there will be a car waiting to take you to the next stop.
—Mac
The heart of Faircloud. That had to mean the Community Park—right in the center of town, the place where everything happened.
I slipped out of my clothes and stepped into the dress. The fabric hugged my hips as I pulled it up, fitting like it had been made just for me.
I walked over to the standing mirror and took myself in.
Every dip. Every curve.
The way the material clung to my skin made me feel like I wasn’t just wearing a dress—I was wearing a memory. Mac knew my body better than anyone. He’d memorized it with his hands, with his eyes, with every glance that lingered too long and every touch that left me breathless.
Dropping to my hands and knees, I crawled into the back of my closet, fumbling for my favorite pair of boots—the exact ones Mac always said made me look like trouble in the best possible way.
My heart pounded. Excitement bubbled hot in my chest. I didn’t know what he had waiting at the end of this hunt, but every step closer made me feel like I was walking toward something that would change everything.
If I had the lungs for it, I’d have sprinted to the park. But I also knew my own stamina and, frankly, it wasn’t going to get me far in this heat.
So, I walked. Briskly.
Down the stairs, back into the golden dusk of the Texas evening. I didn’t bother with the crosswalk—just darted across the street and into the park, my boots clicking against the pavement.
Who was I looking for?
What was I even supposed to be looking for?
The winding sidewalk stretched out ahead of me, curving gently through the trees and flower beds. I let instinct lead, trying to think like Mac.
If I were Mac, where would I leave a clue in the heart of Faircloud?
Maybe… the heart of the park, too.
The pavilion.
The tall, white structure came into view just beyond a bend in the path. I felt my pulse kick. Someone was already standing beneath it.
