Page 86 of Level Up for Love

Chapter

Twenty-Four

“I think Wesley might actually be evil,” Colin muses. “Vadrien must have rubbed off on him.”

“For ending us on that brutal cliff-hanger last week?” I guess.

“That, and forcing us to sit outside until this game’s over. It feels like we’re in fucking Moros.” Colin squints up at the darkening sky above his apartment, shivering where he stands in his backyard.

He’s right; it’s not even 5 p.m., and the sun has completely disappeared. I love living in New England, but every year, the daylight savings shift is like a punch to the gut, a foreboding omen for the long season to come. I never get used to it—it always makes me feel like I need to brace for something.

Mona and Shay look equally grumpy where they sit on the deck, but Wesley just rolls his eyes. When he catches my gaze, he smiles and shakes his head.

Unofficial Sunday game night is starting to feel fairly official. But instead of us winding down the weekend by logging in to an online game, Colin and Wesley graciously invited us to their apartment to play live. Their first-floor unit comes with full use of a small but charming outdoor space, and we spent most of the late afternoon enjoying the fading rays of warm sunlight under a tree with that mid-fall bedraggled half-naked look. Arthur had been invited, as always, but he’d preferred to spend the afternoon with Hana at a local orchard before all the trees were picked bare.

By now everyone’s cold and tired of the obscure poker variation Wesley insisted on playing. We’re all ready to head inside for a couch co-op game, but Wesley sits utterly still and considers his cards.

Shay casts an irritated look at our captor. She and I are the only two left who haven’t folded. “Wes—”

He holds up one hand and fans out his cards with the other. “After this last one, we can go in.” For the next ninety seconds, he makes a show of deeply considering his next move before the corner of his mouth ticks up in a small smirk.

He sets his cards face up—four grinning Kings; fitting—and in doing so, he wins the hand.

Shay huffs. “Okay, rude.”

“You let that drag out on purpose.” Colin doesn’t even make it sound accusing—if anything, he sounds impressed.

“I did. It’ll make you lot grow some thicker skin in more ways than one, eh?” Wesley barks out a gruff laugh. “It’s hardly winter.”

We file back into their apartment and settle in front of the TV. Colin claims more than half of the sectional, immediately stretching out his long legs, and Mona and Shay snuggle into the cushions that are left, leaving the secondary love seat for me and Wesley.

When I fold into the couch, Wesley reaches to curl his fingers over my thigh on instinct. For a reason I can’t name, I feel my lungs seize, and I bolt back to standing.

“I forgot to grab a drink,” I say quickly. “Do you—do you want anything?”

Wesley pauses, then casually folds his hands in his lap. His expression is unreadable. “I’m good, thanks.”

I blink rapidly as I make my way into the kitchen and open the fridge. I almost jump out of my skin when I feel a hand on my shoulder, but when I turn, I see that it’s Shay.

“Hey.” Her expression is less guarded than usual; she’s smiling a little. “I finished playing Afterwards.”

“Wait, really?”

Wesley and Mona—separately—had been encouraging me to share the game with the other members of our crew. After all, everyone’s played Blood Pact, and Mona loved it so much that she got sheepish when I asked her which she liked better. I acquiesced, but only a little—I shared it solely with Shay for now.

“Really.” Shay nods. “It’s beautiful, Reagan.”

I don’t know why I’m suddenly uncomfortable—probably because Shay’s eyes have gone soft and gentle and just a little bit pitying. “Ramona told me the backstory behind it,” she goes on. “And I think it’s lovely how you turned the story around.”

I feel the sour burn of betrayal for a moment, that Mona shared something personal to me with Shay. But then I remember just how personal and hurtful the whole experience was for Mona, too—it’s not mine alone. They were our friends.

“I…” I spin the beer can I retrieved from the fridge between my palms. “Thank you, Shay. Thank you for playing it.”

“Of course.” She leans close enough to whisper, “I liked it better than Blood Pact.” She straightens and laughs. “But I also love puzzle games.”

“I, too, like puzzle games!” Colin calls over his shoulder. “You know. Whenever you feel like sharing.”

Wesley laughs. “Is she still holding out on you?”