The Game That Breaks Us (Us 3)

I was a dick to her in the arena because of the first kiss—because of what I felt—and then like the fucking idiot I am, I kissed her again and screwed it up even more.

I ruin everything. I have to figure out a way to move past this and I think I have.

It involves adding another item to “Bennett’s Guide to Being Bad”.

An item I don’t like at all.

I hold the door open to the bar and let Grace go in front of me.

I chose a bar away from campus with a crowd that might not recognize us. I keep my baseball cap low over my face to reduce the chances of someone noticing me. Grace chooses a table in the back and I take the seat across from her. A waitress appears at our table for our drink order. I ask for a beer and Grace sticks with her standard water.

“Mind telling me why we’re here?” she asks, looking around. Her nose wrinkles in distaste. I don’t blame her. This place isn’t exactly the nicest. Thankfully, there are a few college-aged guys around which plays perfectly into my plan.

“I thought we could add something to the guide.” I shrug.

She narrows her eyes. “Here? What are you up to?” I give her an innocent look, which she obviously doesn’t buy. “I’d have rather taken you shopping.”

“You can buy me whatever you want, Princess, but I’m not going with you. I don’t shop.”

“I can tell.” She narrows her eyes on my thin long-sleeve shirt.

I shrug. “It’s just not important to me.”

“Again, I can tell.” She laughs and takes her water when the waitress sets it down.

“Can I get you guys anything to eat?”

“Um, I’ll have the cheeseburger,” Grace says.

“Same here.” I haven’t even looked at the menu, but a cheeseburger sounds fantastic.

“That’ll be ready soon.” The waitress smiles and heads off.

“So—” Grace leans forward, the gesture giving me a small glimpse of cleavage when her shirt falls “—tell me why we’re here, Bennett? Don’t beat around the bush.” I calmly lift my beer bottle to my lips and swig it down. “Bennett,” she warns, raising one elegant brow.

“Third on ‘Bennett’s Guide to Being Bad’.” I hold up three fingers. “Kiss a stranger.”

Her mouth parts, and she glares at me like she wishes she could kill me with her gaze alone. Then, her eyes glitter with amusement and she shakes her head while laughing softly. She stares at me head on. “I can do that.”

My fists clench beneath the table. It’s what I want. To see her kiss someone else so I’ll be reminded she’s not mine, but I’m not happy about it, and from her calculating gaze, I guess she’s figured that out.

“You’re a real piece of work, Bennett.” She shakes her head, her hair swishing around her shoulders. “Did you think because you kissed me that I’d fallen head over heels in love with you? You’re more conceited than I thought.”

No, that’s not what I thought, but I did think that my feelings were stronger than they should be. I had to find a way to squash them and I figured seeing her kiss someone else would be the best bet.

Grace stands and picks up her purse. “Game on, asshole.”

I turn around just in time to see her tap a guy at the bar on the shoulder. He turns around and looks at her questioningly. Before he can say anything, she takes his face in her hands and kisses him—and I mean she kisses him. It’s not a fucking peck on the lips like I expected and I’m pretty damn sure there’s tongue involved. I shouldn’t be pissed, I’m not allowed to be, but I am. I really fucking am.

And then Grace lets the guy go and goes down the line to the other three guys sitting at the bar, kissing them all. I hear the sound of glass shattering and realize I’ve knocked my beer off the table.

Grace kisses the last guy, turns to see me watching, and fucking bows with this look on her face like I’ve got you, and then leaves.

I sit for a few more seconds before I finally get moving. I pull my wallet out of my back pocket and throw some bills on the table before running out of the bar after her.

I stop when I see she’s not waiting by the car.

I look to my right down the lit-up street, and she’s not there, but when I look to the left I see her heading that way talking on her phone.