Page 67 of Deceptive Games

“I’m not into guys, it’s fucked up, Skeet. What the hell makes you think I want to fuck him?” I asked sharply, a little surprised when he glared at me.

“Stay in the fucking closet and be miserable then, but your best friend obviously likes you. Keep your homophobic shit to yourself if you give a fuck about him. Anyone with eyes can see the way you two look at each other.”

“I thought the crews hated that stuff?” I muttered, making him scoff as he stepped back to start packing up.

“Old school shit was thrown out when Slash and I took over. When you grow some balls and stop being a people pleaser, maybe you’ll be happy. Until then, wallow and learn, I guess.”

“I can pay you for fixing this. How much?” I asked to change the subject, and he gave me the side-eye before zipping up the bag.

“I don’t want your fucking money. Put it towards some therapy before you do something you can’t take back. I don’t want to be left dealing with the broken pieces you leave behind when Rory gets the call that you’re gone.”

I watched him leave, hearing him talking to Rory on his way out about needing to deal with the crime scene in Caden’s car, then she appeared with a glass of water and some pills.

My heart was lodged in my throat at the thought of her getting that call, and it took me a second to speak.

“I can’t believe you punched him and he didn’t punch you back,” I mumbled as I took the pills and water from her and swallowed them, earning a shrug.

“He’s a kitty cat under all that asshole.”

“He could’ve hurt you.”

“He pointed a fucking gun at you. Of course I was going to punch him,” she scowled as she took the glass back and placed it on the counter beside me, taking my wrist so she could inspect Skeeter’s work. “I’m staying tonight.”

“Mom—”

“I can either stay here or you can come and stay at my house. It’s up to you,” she said firmly, not giving me another option. I went to argue again and she cupped my cheek, her eyes softening. “Luke, let me look after you.”

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” I said, my voice cracking, and I leaned into her as she wrapped her arms around me.

“I’ve got you,” she promised, and I wasn’t sure how long we stayed like that until she stepped back. “Let’s get some clean clothes on. We should probably shower too. Step in and keep your arm out of the water. I’ll wash you.”

I hated that I loved seeing this side of her, a flicker of the sweet girl that had been my best friend before her father had destroyed her innocence.

Rory

Once I had Lukas comfortable in his bed, I curled up beside him and cuddled him as if I could put all the broken pieces back together myself. I’d seen him take his pain out on himself before, but not like this.

Walking in to see all that blood wasn’t at all what I’d expected, and I was so glad he’d let me call Skeeter because I had no idea what to fucking do.

“I killed Tristan,” I said absently, his entire body going rigid.

“What?”

“Slash locked me in a room with Tristan to scare me. Tristan thought I was some kind of rape gift or something and tried to hurt me. So I killed him,” I replied, peering back at him as he stared at me. “I didn’t mean to. I just started stabbing him to make him get off me.”

“He didn’t hurt you?”

“I’m okay. Caden and Skeet seemed to work together to help me. It was weird,” I chuckled lightly, and he raised an eyebrow.

“Is that a weird kind of sex code?”

“No. Well, they did that too, but that’s not what I’m referring to.”

“I bet Skeet left Caden crying,” he joked, and I shook my head.

“They have some kind of agreement, I think. It was nice to not have them fighting.”

“I never thought I’d see the day,” he scoffed, burying his face in my neck to give me a soft kiss. “I should’ve been there looking after you too.”