Page 113 of Deceptive Games

“So? Just go find bright ones in a big bunch. It’s not hard, dude.”

“Don’tdudeme,” I gritted out, and he flipped me off.

“Besties forever, dude. Drink, and we’ll make a plan together. Did this girl like you before you traumatized her?”

I downed some of the whiskey, the burn warming my chest. It was way better than the stuff we sold at the Shed. Hell, a bottle of this probably cost more than my house for all I knew.

“Honestly? I don’t know. We fight a lot, but I think she likes it because she always starts it.”

“You have a habit of fighting with girls.”

I shut my mouth, realizing he could easily figure it out if he thought about it hard enough, but I was pretty sure he’d drank too much to think more deeply.

He pulled his phone out, searching local flower shops. “Maybe don’t get her roses, but something simple. You’re trying to apologize, not get her in bed.”

“Why are you helping me? Are you that fucking lonely?” I demanded.

He didn’t look up, his answer blunt. “Yes.”

“Jesus, you sad little fucker,” I scoffed, but I moved closer to look down at his phone.

He pointed out some random flowers that looked the same as the shit you’d find in anyone’s yard, and by the end of the bottle, we were both stumbling around like idiots.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d just kicked back like this. It was freeing.

“Pick any room you want,” Tyler said with a yawn just after two in the morning, waving a hand at the stairs as he stumbled towards them. “Help yourself to the kitchen in the morning too if I’m not awake.”

“Thanks,” I answered, watching as he managed to get upstairs without falling back down, his door closing a little hard as he must have fallen against it.

I took the opportunity to wander around the house, not used to being here without a party raging. It was huge, and I wondered if this was how Rory felt when she was forced into Caden’s house.

It felt empty, the extra space just making you feel lonely, and I hated the thought of her feeling like that. Was Caden still with her, or was she lying awake on her own?

I didn’t want her to be alone. What if my actions had caused her to have nightmares?

Decision made, I headed in the direction of the door, managing to get outside and into my car without falling on my ass. It took me three attempts to get my seat belt on, then I crept out of the driveway, squinting to see better.

Why was the fucking road moving so much?

Should I rob a flower shop? I was supposed to take her flowers, right?

I made it to Caden’s house and kept the engine running as I climbed out of the car, tripping over my feet on the way to the door. I’d barely lifted my knuckles to knock when the door swung open and Rory came into view in sweats and a hoodie, fury in her eyes.

She looked so fucking hot when she was mad.

“What are you doing here?” she whisper-yelled, taking a step back when I dropped to my knees in front of her, grabbing her feet.

“I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”

“Get the fuck up and leave before you wake Caden and Josie,” she bit out, but I just shook my head.

“No! I didn’t mean to touch you like that. I?—”

“Shut up. It’s the middle of the night, asshole. Are you fucking drunk?”

“I swear I won’t touch you again. Please, I?—”

“Jesus fucking Christ,” she growled, nudging me back and stepping outside, closing the door behind her and bending down to grab my arm as if to haul me to my feet. I was a million times bigger than her, there was no way she could. “Get up. I’ll take you home.”