Page 28 of Trust Me

Chapter 9

Oliver

“You play this game too much,” I said, tossing the controller to the side.

Remi laughed. “You literally beat me.”

“Yeah, but barely. That’s how I know you play too much because I play too much. You’re a business owner, for God’s sake.”

“You’re a student with a full-time job. You shouldn’t have time to get this good.”

With a smile, I dumped the last of a bag of chips into my mouth. “School’s easy. Most teachers are just impressed to read a paper that sounds like it was written by a person, not ChatGPT.”

“Fair. Too bad I graduated before it became a big thing. I would’ve totally cheated.”

“Yeah, you’re a bad person. Nothing new there.”

“The future is bleak; the past was fucked. What’s the point in effort?”

“Personal fulfillment,” I offered. “Adding value to the world.”

He gestured vaguely. “I’m fulfilled and consistently adding value to our trash ass economy.”

With a sigh, I pulled out my phone. “You’re so negative.”

My mood lifted when I saw a text.

Broku: So, do you have a fav color or something?

Me: Yellow. Why? You getting me flowers?

Broku: You said there’d be questions. Thought I’d take the first swing.

“I should go,” I said.

“It’s only nine.”

I looked at Remi. His dejected expression made me frown. Leaning closer, I tapped his nose, which made his lips quirk slightly.

“We played three games,” I pointed out. “I can get on tomorrow when I’m done with work.”

“Today’s the only day I keep the bar closed.”

“Late nights have never stopped me.”

He grunted, pulling his legs up onto the couch. “You wanna check on him, huh?”

“He did just move in. I feel bad leaving him alone.”

“Why’d you really decide to get a roommate?”

Keeping a soft smile in place, I studied him. With his legs beneath him and his hands tucked between his thighs, he seemed smaller.

I put a hand on his forearm. “It’s like I said. The room was going to waste and he needed a place.”

“How well do you know him?”

“You don’t have to protect me, Rem. Not anymore.”