Page 58 of The Game We Played

My cheeks darken.

“Which I did.”

I choke on my coffee. “Warn a girl next time.”

“Nah. I enjoy it when you’re off kilter.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Be nice. I know a fisherman who would happily throw a few crabs into your hotel suite on the island.”

“And here I thought you were the good girl.”

“I am, but I was raised with two evil twins who carry around a notebook with revenge ideas.”

“Beth and Anne are hilarious.”

“Hilarious when you don’t have to live with them.” I rub a finger over my eyebrows. “I thought my eyebrows would never grow back.”

“How did they manage to pluck out all your eyebrows anyway?”

“We had a moonshine drinking competition first. I should have realized something was going on when they kept leaving the room and coming back. I was completely smashed. They were sober. And there went my eyebrows.”

“What did you do?”

I clutch my chest. “Why do you assume I did anything?”

He merely raises an eyebrow.

“Fine. I told the history teacher about their twin switcheroo act.”

“Tell the truth. You must be a little jealous you don’t have a twin.”

“Nope. Not even a bit.”

The doorbell rings, and he checks the time on his phone. “Our car is here. Time to return to reality.”

The reality where Tanner and I aren’t a couple. It’s merely fake. My stomach drops but I ignore it.

I do not want a real relationship with Tanner Long. He can be manipulative and overpowering. It’s dangerous to my independence. In conclusion, he’s a bad bet.

Chapter 18

BREAKING: TANNER LONG SPOTTED AT FAMILY DINNER Sources report unexpected feelings developing

Tanner

I whistle as I walk up the driveway to Alaia’s house. Her parents invited me over for Sunday dinner. And there’s no way I’m missing an opportunity to spend time with her.

“What are you doing here?” Alaia asks when she opens the door.

I ignore how those words burn through me. She’s not pulling away or ignoring me. She’s merely surprised.

I kiss her cheek. “Don’t you want to see me?”

“Seriously, Tanner, what’s going on? Is there a problem?”

I grasp her hand. “No problem. Your parents invited me to Sunday dinner.”

She scowls. “They did, did they? My parents are meddlers.” She opens the door. “I guess you'd better come inside.”