Page 181 of Wanna Play A Game?
The voices are harsh. My stuff? My boy! I crack my eyes open. Lights pass by overhead as Miles carries me down the hotel steps.
He says, “We’ll get Weiner, don’t worry.”
I’m slowly waking up, but I’m not fully awake until Miles slides me into a van and sits next to me. I sit up straighter, looking around the strange car. “Where are we going?”
“Home.” Miles leans over to strap me in.
Home. I don’t even know what home is anymore. What does that mean? His home or mine? And was mine really home anyway? There’s nothing tying me to that apartment anymore.
The other two come down shortly with a cat carrier I’ve never seen with Halloweiner inside. They put it all in the backseat.
Sawyer slides in next to me. “Ready for round two, bunny?” He looks haggard and tired.
My voice comes out rough, “Round two?”
Ryder pulls away from the curb.
Sawyer looks straight ahead, avoiding eye contact with me. “Oh, you thought the game was over?”
“Is that why I’m back? The game?”
A muscle tightens in his jaw.
I swallow. The tension is thick. I’ve had so many things I wanted to say to him all week, including some angry cussing, but it all gets bottled up in me, and I don’t know what to say.
Sawyer won’t even look at me. Won’t yell, won’t beg for forgiveness, nothing. My chest clenches.
Ryder looks expressionless. I swallow, and some of the orgasm high fades away.
Maybe I didn’t mean as much to them as I thought I did. Every fake conversation I’ve had with myself this week circled back to one thing: they were complete without me. I’m not part of this family, so why am I back? Sawyer couldn’t stand to lose?
Anger fills me, but mostly at myself. Of course I overestimated my role in this game. They’re the hunters, and I’m the prey. Nothing more.
Sawyer confirms that by not looking at me.
Miles puts his hand on my thigh, rubbing his thumb back and forth. He clears his throat. “Cali…”
“Let’s not talk.” Looking out the windows on either side would require me to look at them, so instead, I look straight out the windshield.
Miles stiffens but does as I ask. The ride is silent. I’m not sure where we’re going, and honestly, I’m not sure I care. Fuck, I’m an idiot.
When we pull up to an airport, I try to choke back the tears and that makes me angrier. I can’t even lose with dignity, I have to embarrass myself by crying?
Miles shifts to face me. “Hey, hey. Are you okay?”
He sounds genuinely concerned, and I can’t help but let loose a strangled sob. Here comes the embarrassment.
Sawyer gives me a dark look.
I try to shove both of them away and climb out of the car so they don’t see me break, but Miles blocks me with his huge body. “Cali! What’s wrong, baby?”
I sob harder.
“Is she hurt?”
Suddenly, I feel hands on me, turning my face to Sawyer. I cover my eyes with my hands.
“Sub drop?”
