The Game You Play (Rixon Raiders 2)

They said heavy was the head that wore the crown. Well my crown was coiled in guilt and shame, and it weighed a fucking ton.

Felicity

My eyes flicked to the wall clock for the tenth time in less than ten minutes.

“Felicity, sweetheart, is something wrong with your food?”

“No, Mom, it’s great.” I forced a smile, pushing the noodles around my plate. “I… umm… it’s just, well, there’s something I want to talk to you about. Two things actually.” I’d hoped to sit down with her and Dad, but he got held up at the office again, and I figured it might be a blessing in disguise. If I broke the news to her first, then she could help break the news to my dad.

“I’m listening.” She placed her silverware down and leaned in attentively. “Whatever it is, baby, I’m sure it doesn’t warrant all this worry.” Her eyes softened.

“So funny story, I—” The doorbell startled me, making me choke on the words yet to come.

“Are you expecting someone?”

I was… but he was fifteen minutes early.

Damn him.

“I’ll get that, Mom.” I was up and out of my chair before she could stop me, all but running down the hall. Yanking the front door open, I hissed, “You’re early.”

“Hailee said you might need some moral support.” Jase’s brow went up. “And I brought back up.”

“Back up?”

He pulled his arm from behind his back, revealing a bouquet of hand tied roses. “They’re beautiful.” I went to take them from him, but Jason snatched them out of reach.

“Actually, they’re for your mom. Hailee said they were her favorite.”

“Are you sure you haven’t done this before?” Stepping to the side, I let him enter. But Jason paused, turning to meet my dreamy gaze.

“Only for you. Only ever for you. You owe me, Giles.” He grinned, leaning in to steal a kiss.

“Felicity, sweetheart,” Mom’s voice filtered down the hall, “is everything okay?”

“Fine, Mom. I’m coming.”

“Already?” Jason whispered, tracing his mouth down my neck. “I haven’t even touched you yet.”

“Behave.” My hands pressed into his chest. “This has to go well.” Because if it didn’t… well, it didn’t bear thinking about. I went to go, but he grabbed my wrist, pulling me back to him.

“Hey, it’s going to be okay, Felicity. Whatever happens, we’ll deal with it, okay? Together.”

Any apprehension I felt melted away. Jason might have been new to the whole relationship thing, but so far, he was doing a pretty amazing job.

“Ready?” I asked him, feeling myself fall into his dark intense eyes. Our mouths fused together again, like magnets unable to fight the attraction.

“Felicity?” Mom’s voice was closer now.

Crap.

Lips still attached to Jason’s, I slid my eyes to the hall to find her standing there, watching us with a mix of mild curiosity and panic. “Hmm, hey, Mom.” I finally detached myself from my boyfriend’s mouth. “Surprise.”

“Surprise? I’m not sure I follow…” her eyes narrowed, moving from me to Jason and back again. “Is that who I think it is?”

“Hi, Mrs. Giles. I’m Jason. Jason Ford.” He stepped forward, thrusting the bouquet of flowers at her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“These are for me?” She was giving him a serious case of the mom-stares.