Page 115 of Play Fake
I press a trembling hand to my chest, forcing in a shaky breath. Everything inside me feels scrambled, fear still buzzing under my skin, adrenaline flooding every nerve. My vision tunnels a little, the world narrowed down to Beck standing between me and Zach like he’d always been there.
Logan shoots Zach a glare that could level a building. “You should leave before this gets worse. Beck won’t be the only one beating your ass.”
Zach glares at Beck one last time but backs down, muttering something under his breath as he disappears down the stairs, drunkenly swaying but sadly not falling down them.
The second he’s gone, the hallway seems to breathe again. I lean back against the wall, legs shaky. Beck turns toward me immediately, the fury on his face melting into concern.
“You okay?” he asks, voice softer now.
I nod, though my throat is tight. “Yeah,” I manage, but it’s barely a whisper.
Logan huffs, still tense. “That guy’s a fucking creep. Want me to get security or?—?”
I shake my head quickly. “No. I just…I just want to get out of here for a minute.”
Beck steps closer, his hand brushing mine. “Then that’s what we’ll do.”
Logan lingers for a moment, scanning the hallway like he’s ready to chase Zach down again. Then he looks at Beck and me, reading the situation fast.
“I’ll make sure he actually leaves,” Logan says, jaw tight. “And I’ll let the guys at the door know not to let him back in.”
“Thanks,” Beck says, voice low.
Logan gives me a nod—equal partsyou okay?andI’ve got this—then jogs down the stairs, disappearing into the noise below.
The moment he’s gone, the hallway feels quiet in a different way. My hands are still trembling, and I cross my arms over my chest, like maybe that will keep the adrenaline from leaking out. Beck steps closer, careful not to crowd me, but close enough that I can feel his presence steadying me.
“You sure you’re okay?” he asks softly.
I swallow hard, nodding once. “Yeah. I just—” My voice cracks. I suck in a shaky breath, blinking fast so my mascara doesn’t betray me. “I didn’t see him. I should’ve?—”
“Hey.” His voice is firmer now, cutting through my spiral. “This isn’t on you. You hear me? Not one bit of it.”
I nod again, but my throat tightens. Beck reaches out slowly, giving me the chance to move away if I want. I don’t. His fingers find mine, a quiet, grounding touch.
He hesitates for a beat. “Soph…I think it might be time to talk to your parents about him. About how he really was toward you and the things he did.”
I flinch a little, looking away. The thought alone makes my stomach knot. “It wouldn’t matter. They love him. And it’s not like they’d believe he’d?—”
“They’d believe you,” he says, gently but firmly. “Or theyshould. And if they don’t? That’s on them. Not you.”
I let out a shaky breath. “I’ll…think about it,” I say quietly.
Beck nods. He doesn’t push. He just squeezes my hand once.
I blink up at him, trying desperately to keep it together, but my eyes sting anyway. “I can’t cry. My makeup?—”
He smiles softly, lifting his hand to brush a thumb just under my eye. “You’re still beautiful, even if it gets a little smudged.”
Something inside me unclenches. He says it so easily, like it’s the most obvious truth in the world.
“Come on,” he says. “Let’s find Ava.”
38
SOPHIE
The crowd downstairs is just as loud as before, oblivious to what happened upstairs. I spot Ava near the kitchen with Coleson, laughing about something. When she sees my face, her smile drops instantly.
