Page 108 of Deceptive Games

“Would you marry him now?”

“I don’t believe in marriage being a happy ending. Tell me one person who got married and was happy,” she answered, peering back at me. “You can’t, can you?”

“Anyone I know married for business or obligations of some kind. I don’t know anyone that actually married for love,” I sighed, something pinching in my chest.

I didn’t dare tell her if I was to marry anyone, it would probably be her. That even sounded crazy to me, we barely knew each other, but it just felt right.

Maybe one day she’d change her mind?

If not, I’d be okay with that. It wasn’t like Mom was going to push me into a marriage for business purposes, and my trust fund rule was that I had to pass college. After that, she didn’t care what I did.

“How about when we’re old and gray, we meet up every Sunday to drink beer and talk shit about other old people? And complain about rotten kids walking on our lawn?” I asked when she remained silent, a snort leaving her.

“Deal. But you’re bringing the beer if you expect me to take my false teeth out and blow you.”

I laughed hard, water splashing onto the floor as I sat up a little. “I’ll hold you to that.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

TYLER

Whispers went around the school all afternoon about Tristan Holloway’s murder. I was kind of glad that Caden wasn’t there, or he would’ve lost his shit.

I’d been paranoid all day that each new article that was posted online would announce that Rory had been arrested, but some guy was instead.

Whatever Skeeter had done to cover it up, it was obviously working.

“Hey, you heading to Holloway’s?” Jensen asked as he dropped an arm around my shoulders on the way to the parking lot, and I did well not to show my emotions on my face.

“No. He texted me to ask if I can give him the day with Rory.”

I was more than happy to give them some time alone, but realization hit that whenever this happened, I didn’t just lose Rory for the day, I lost Caden too. It had always just been me and him, so what the fuck did I do when they were together?

“C’mon, we’re going to hang out at mine,” Jensen grinned, patting my shoulder.

“Your dad gone?”

“Yep. Woke up to a note saying he’d see me later.”

“How sweet of him,” I deadpanned, glancing at Lukas, who was trailing behind us. “Karen still bothering you?”

He grunted, his mouth twisting into a scowl. “She’slividI didn’t come home for dinner last night. She had another person she wanted me to meet.”

“Just call it what it is, man. An arranged marriage,” Jensen muttered, unlocking his car and moving towards the driver’s side. “Just ignore her. I think you should pack your bags and live at mine full-time. You’re always there anyway.”

Lukas’ shoulders hunched and I gave him a nudge. “Think about it. You can crash with me or Caden sometimes, and Rory would probably love for you to crash with her too.”

“I’m handling it,” he grumbled, hating this conversation as always as he yanked open the car door, motioning for me to get in the back.

Jensen blew out a breath and slid behind the wheel, and I jumped in so Lukas could too.

My high from earlier had worn off, and I forced myself to deal with it. I couldn’t be high all the damn time, but it sure did help me relax.

Jensen cranked his music as he drove towards his house, my eyes flicking to his hand as he rested it on Lukas’ knee for comfort. Whatever was going on between them had nothing to do with me, but I couldn’t say I wasn’t curious by it. Jensen had been my friend since we were practically babies, and Lukas had been since we were thirteen.

Were they together and too afraid to tell us?

From the way Lukas jerked his leg away, my guess was that they weren’t, but Jensen surprisingly seemed interested.