Slow Play (The Rules 3)

Why would I be jealous of you playing video games with dudes?

There’s someone else here who you might want to see.

I lift my head, my gaze meeting Gabe’s. He frowns at me. “What?”

Shaking my head, I realize I can’t fucking speak. It’s like a giant ball is lodged in my throat and I can’t swallow past it. I know who’s there with Kelli. I can’t hardly believe it but it must be true.

Who is it?

Her name begins with A.

And ends with A.

Alexandria.

My phone dings.

She’s here with her boy.

Who’s her boy?

Steven.

Fucking shit. If I could hit something I would. Right now.

Forget this text crap. I hit dial and impatiently wait for Kelli to answer.

“Took you long enough. I figured you’d call me seven texts ago,” she says in greeting. There’s a lot of noise going on in the background, including the sound of male voices and excessive gunfire.

“Where exactly are you at?”

“Hold on,” she says irritably before she pulls the phone away from her ear. “I’ll be right back,” she tells whoever she’s with. I hear protests, most of them male and she laughs, letting them know she won’t be gone long.

Her groupies. How sweet.

“Okay,” she says a few seconds later, sounding out of breath. It’s quieter in the background, no more gunfire and hers is the only voice I hear. “Um, I’m at a house.”

I want to growl in frustration but keep it in check. “Whose house?”

“Here’s the funny thing. I’m at Alex’s house. Can you believe it? She lives with these two guys and they’re so hilarious, like I can’t stop laughing whenever they talk. And they talk a lot. We were playing Mario Kart earlier and they totally kicked my ass. I mean like, they decimated me, and Alex too. Now they’re all playing Call of Duty and I’m kind of getting bored.” She pauses. “You should come over.”

My heart is racing. So hard it feels like it could pound right out of my chest and land on the floor. “Alex is playing Call of Duty?” I find that unbelievable.

“No, of course not,” Kelli immediately says.

“Then where is she?”

“Sitting on the couch looking ready to pass out. She had a rough day.”

I start to pace. I don’t like hearing Alexandria had a bad day. What does that mean? Is she all right? Did something bad happen? Or is she just tired?

“There’s no way she wants me there. I’m not coming over.”

“You need to be here. You showing up will blow her freaking mind. Trust me. Plus, that Steven guy is trying his best to show he can be the sweet, charming potential boyfriend she wants and I think it’s starting to work.” She whispers that last part.

“Bullshit,” I mutter. No way. I saw how those two interacted together last night. They had about as much chemistry as two pieces of dry toast.

“No, I’m dead serious, Tristan. Things are getting sketchy over here. You need to stake your claim before he steals her away.”

“Like he can,” I scoff. Like he has anything to steal from me. Alexandria’s not mine.

I can’t put any claim on her.

“He’s super into her. Girls love that sort of thing.” Kelli pauses, her voice lowering even more. “I think she really likes him. He’s so nice. That’s what she told me.”

“That’s all he’s got? He’s nice?” I laugh, but it’s forced. Worry gnaws at my gut. Not that I’d ever admit it. “You can’t fuck nice, Kel. You can’t have a good time with nice,” I stress.

Kelli sighs. “Yeah you can, Tristan. Some girls want nice. Nice is safe.” She pauses. “A girl can count on nice, and we like that. We like that a lot.”

“If she wants a nice guy, then she definitely doesn’t want me.” I’m the farthest thing from safe and nice and we both know it. “If she’s into Steven, she can have him.” It about kills me to say that. Why, I don’t know.

Honestly? I don’t want to analyze it too closely. I might not like what I find out.

“Giving up so easily, huh?”

My blood flashes hot, the anger rising and threatening to choke me. I love a challenge and everyone knows it, including Kelli. I still have that stupid bet with Shep, though I should just pay him and be done with it. “How is it giving up when I didn’t really try in the first place?”

“Go ahead and keep telling yourself that,” Kelli taunts. “Want me to text the address to you?”

Is she really daring me to go over there? Because I so will and worse? Kelli knows it. “I already have Alexandria’s address.”

“Wait, what? How did you get it?” Another pause before her voice blasts in my ear. “You fucking stalker. Have you been following her around?”

I end the call. Chick was giving me a headache and besides, we’re just wasting time.

“Gotta go,” I say when I turn to find Gabe and Lucy blatantly watching me.

Gabe takes a step forward, his face an intimidating mask. Doesn’t work on me, though. I know all of his weaknesses and his worst one? He has a terrible poker face. Guy can’t trick a bet for shit. “Are you really going to hook up with Kelli right now?”

“Hell, no.” I move toward the front door, snagging my jacket off the coat rack before I head out. “Not that you believe me.”

“Where are you going then?”

“I’m gonna go play video games,” I tell them as I open the door.

And disappear into the dark night before they can utter another word.

I’m so tired I can barely keep my eyes open, which is some sort of miracle because the TV is turned up at top volume and the game the boys are playing is so freaking loud I can hardly hear myself think, let alone try and fall asleep.

But try and fall asleep I did because I grabbed one of the throw pillows, leaned my head on the arm of the couch, closed my eyes and within minutes I was out. For how long I’m not sure because the next thing I know, someone is shaking me awake, chanting sleepy head again and again.

It’s super annoying.

I crack open my eyes to stop the noise and find Kelli’s face in mine, a little smile curling her lips. “Hey,” she says, like she’s surprised I woke up. “Welcome back to the real world. You fell asleep.”

“I know.” I rub my eyes, feeling cranky, like a little kid. “Wish you wouldn’t have woke me.”

“You have company,” she sing songs and I close my eyes, struggling to block the horrible noise that comes out of her mouth.

The girl flat out can’t sing.

“They’re all Conrad’s friends,” I tell her.

“Not all of them.” She smirks. “Like Steven?”

I wave a dismissive, lazy hand. “He came to see Conrad.”

Kelli coughs into her hand. “Bullshit,” it sounds like.

“Whatever. I’m going to bed.” I should lock myself away in my room and be done with it. Kelli’s acting strange. And I’m tired of hearing dudes yell, “Fuck yeah,” and “Get that asshole!” anyway.

“I’m sure your guest will be thrilled to hear that,” Kelli murmurs gleefully.