She's Got Game Page 21

  She’d find her own place after his cast came off. For now, she needed a private space. She’d started working at the store and could pay rent—which would also help. I could crash on the couch when I dropped by. Win-win. I rested easier knowing Dad had someone to keep an eye on him. Between Shannon and Holly, Dad would consume some vegetables now and then. Okay, that was probably a stretch, but a girl could dream.

  Speaking of dreams, despite my best efforts, I couldn’t stop my mind from wandering to Cody. I worried all the way to the airport, all through the security line, and waiting in the gate area. He was still on my mind while I boarded the plane and took my upgraded first class aisle seat. No one sat by the window yet. With luck, maybe a talker would sit next to me. Someone who wanted to chatter for four hours and keep me from thinking about that dirty, cheating bastard.

  The logistics of the conference made it impossible to avoid him completely. I broke my own rule and booked a room in the conference hotel. His detergent allergy should mean I wouldn’t run into him in the halls, and there weren’t many condo rentals available near the strip at a reasonable price. I didn’t want to spend every second wondering if he slept within walking distance. I shouldn’t think about him sleeping at all, or how handsome he looked, or the sound of his breathing, or the scent of him lying next to me, or the feel of him or any of that.

  With a groan of frustration, I shook my head. This was what I got for getting involved with the competition. For letting him in instead of forcing it to be a one-time thing. For allowing myself to care.

  But I needed to focus. I’d made it to the Explorers of Islay Championship Finals. In a few hours, my plane landed in Las Vegas, the hookup capital of the world. Instead of thinking about some stupid guy, I should be thinking about how I’d finally achieved something I’d wanted for years and how exciting it was. Thinking about the look on Dad’s face when I gave him a check. About all the new places I could travel with an influx of cash. I’d love to expand my blog to cover more of Canada and maybe Mexico. Someday Europe, then the rest of the world. Cody shouldn’t be on my radar at all.

  I hadn’t talked to him, of course. I didn’t need him in my life. So I forced myself to put the cheater out of my mind.

  An excellent plan, in theory. In reality, the guy walking down the plane’s small aisle trailing a roller bag behind him looked suspiciously like the person I’d been trying to put out of my mind for the past month. I must be hallucinating. Except we both lived in the area, and we both had the same destination. Uh-oh.

  Sinking down in my seat, I pulled my hoodie toward my face, lowered my eyes to the floor, and prayed he wouldn’t notice me. I needn’t have bothered. A second later, a low, sexy voice spoke near my ear.

  “Is that seat taken?”

  * * * *

  The only thing in the world I wanted less than to see Cody in Las Vegas at the finals was to spend the next few hours sitting next to him on a plane. He stood in the aisle, gazing at me with those intense eyes.

  “Hey.”

  Instead of answering, I pressed the call button above my head. While I waited for the flight attendant to reply, I picked up the in-flight catalogue full of overpriced junk no one needed and embarked on a quest to find the most ridiculous item offered. Let him stand in the aisle all day, for all I cared. As soon as the flight attendant appeared, I’d get another seat. On another plane if necessary.

  “I was happy to hear you made it to the Finals, after all,” he said. “Finding out Don got eliminated must’ve made it extra sweet for you.”

  I didn’t respond. This catalog contained multitudes of fascinating information. For example, apparently, I could spend fifty dollars on a device that sliced grilled cheese sandwiches. In case I didn’t understand knives.

  “So that’s how it is? You got what you wanted, and now I don’t exist?”

  Forgetting my resolve not to speak to him, I snapped the magazine shut. “None of this is what I wanted. All I wanted was to play games.”

  “Well, you certainly did that. Flirting with me, then pushing me away. Refusing to admit you liked me. And then, when I finally thought we were making progress, you snuck out in the middle of the night like none of it meant anything.”

  An outraged squeak escaped me, so loud the woman ahead of me turned around. I glared at her until she moved her eyes back to her own seat. “It did mean something, and I told you I’d explain later. You never gave me a chance. But, this isn’t about me. You’re the one who showed up everywhere I went. The one who was so nice, so charming. Who overcame my every objection.” I sighed. “It doesn’t matter. Forget it.”

  His brow wrinkled. “What do you mean, you said you’d explain later?”

  “I left you a note by the coffee maker.”

  He shook his head, thinking. “I didn’t make coffee in the morning, because I got so distracted worrying about why you left. I never got a note.”

  Something that felt like hope started to unfurl in my belly. “You never saw it?”

  “Woke up, texted you, then went to the airport. Didn’t stop to look in the kitchen.”

  “So you assumed I’d ditched you?”

  “Well, you didn’t reply to my texts. The available evidence supported that theory.”

  “Maybe you should have waited for me to text you back before turning into a dick. If the texts hadn’t gotten so accusatory, I would have replied.”

  “You’re right. I’m sorry. I was hurt, and I lashed out. I should’ve given you a chance to explain.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” I said. If he hadn’t sent those texts, I might not have followed him home from the store, I might not have seen Tessa, and I might not know what a lying liarface he was. Really, by being a jerk, he’d done me a favor.

  “Please, can I take my seat? We’re boarding. I’m creating a backup for the other hundred people on this plane.”

  “Show me your boarding pass.”

  He seemed to think I was kidding, but I met his eyes with steely resolve until he turned his phone around and showed it to me. Well, darn. He really had bought the seat next to mine. I’d been hoping it was yet another lie.

  With a heavy sigh, I stood, leaning back to let him pass. I refused to inconvenience myself by stepping into the aisle. He leaned past me and turned off the call button before stepping into the row.

  Not moving turned out to be a very big mistake. First class might have more room than coach, but on a small plane, it still wasn’t a comfortable fit for two adults. As he squeezed past me, his scent touched my nose, a clean smell that reminded me of our night on the roof. His chest brushed against mine, making my nipples harden. And our lower bodies…an involuntary groan escaped me. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t block the memories of our nights together. I hated him, hated what happened, but couldn’t stop myself from wanting him. And hated myself for it.

  Not that I’d ever act on our attraction again. While my “No Gamers” rule apparently appeared to be flexible, I absolutely, positively, didn’t have any interest in liars or cheaters. It wasn’t sexy. Cody had a girlfriend, he concealed her from me. We were done, forever.

  As soon as he sat, I opened the magazine again. He tapped away on his phone. Apparently, being so near Cody caused a disconnect between my mouth and my brain, because I snapped at him before I could stop myself.

  “Sending a message to Tessa?”

  “What does…? How do you…?”

  “Oh, Don told me all about your girlfriend.”

  His eyes widened. “So that’s what your blog meant.”

  “Don’t change the subject. Actually, do. Whatever. I don’t want to talk to you.” With a snap, I opened the magazine again, this time holding it over my face very pointedly.

  He put one hand on the magazine, taking it gently out of my hands. I reached for the Airline Safety Card in the back seat pocket, determined to avoi
d this conversation. The stream of passengers moving into the rear of the plane started to slow; soon enough, I could get a new seat. Even if the flight were full, surely someone in coach wanted to sit in first class. Preferably someone with body odor or a crying baby.

  “What do you think you know about Tessa?”

  “Well, obviously, not as much as you,” I snapped.

  “I don’t even know what that means. You think Tessa and I are a couple?”

  “There’s no point in denying it.” With a deep breath, I said, “I followed you home from Game On! a couple of weeks ago. I wanted to apologize for leaving you in Chicago and explain what happened. But then I saw you two on the street.”

  He stilled for a minute, as if trying to piece together how much I’d seen.

  “She went into labor, you put her in a cab, and then you shared the most tender moment where you declared your love for each other. She even said she hopes the baby looks like you—the father.”

  Realization dawned on his face, finally. To my surprise, he didn’t look the slightest bit contrite. Getting caught didn’t bother him. Then he chuckled in a way that made me want to get up and walk away, probably would have but for his next words. “Geez, I’m an asshole.”

  “Yes.”

  He turned in his seat. “I really wish you’d heard my response to that.”

  “I’m sure it was very touching.”

  “You don’t understand,” he said. “I told her that a baby who looked like me would be far preferable to one who looked like the father. The actual father, who is absolutely not me.”

  An announcement from the captain interrupted, letting us know the door was closed and we needed to shut off portable electronic devices. I glanced at the call button again, but knew from experience I wasn’t likely to be reseated before takeoff. Meanwhile, Cody’s words started to sink in, but I wasn’t a hundred percent ready to let him off the hook.

  “Are you telling me she’s not your girlfriend?” I asked. “You looked pretty cozy. I wanted to work things out after our fight. I went to find you, but you were with her.”

  He looked like he’d seen a ghost. Then he burst out laughing, so loudly the woman in the seat in front of me turned around a second time. The flight attendant glared at us, but continued her demonstration. I mouthed an apology at both of them before turning back to my seat mate.

  “Stop it,” I hissed. “You’re making a scene. None of this is funny.”

  “Oh, man, I’m sorry.” He wiped his eyes and took a couple of deep breaths, then leaned down to grab his phone.

  “All portable electronic devices must be off or in airplane mode,” I said automatically as he powered the device back on. “If you’re planning to show me photos of your new baby, you’ll have to wait.”

  He shot me a withering look. “You’re exasperating, Carrots.”

  The use of my nickname sent another icicle into my heart. How much longer before takeoff? We’d taxied a bit, but then stopped. I prayed there weren’t too many other planes in front of us. At the very least, once we were in the air, I could hide in the restroom.

  “Don’t call me that.”

  “I thought you liked it.”

  “That was when I liked you.”

  He tapped around on his phone for a second, then turned it to face me. A picture filled the screen. On the left, Cody sat with a huge smile on his face. One arm was slung around a pretty brunette who I recognized instantly. What was wrong with this guy? He was showing me pictures with his girlfriend? I reached for my barf bag.

  “Gwen, that’s Tessa.”

  “Yes, I see that. Why are you showing me this?”

  “Look at the picture. Really look.”

  Cody wore his hair in the tousled, careless way made popular by Justin Bieber and that dude on Gossip Girl. Tessa had scraped her hair into a side ponytail. She wore a t-shirt with “The O.C.” imprinted on the front. They both looked young.

  “So she’s your childhood sweetheart? That makes it worse, not better.”

  He exhaled loudly. “You’re so stubborn. What about the rest of the picture?”

  A “Happy Birthday” banner stretched across the top of the background. Cody and Tessa sat on either side of a giant cake with “Sweet 16” on one side and “Happy 14th” on the other. And the longer I looked at the picture, the more eerily similar their smiles looked. Oh, no.

  “You’re related?” It somehow felt both like I was clutching at straws and missing something incredibly obvious.

  “She’s my little sister,” he said. “Born on my second birthday. So, when she gets into a jam, she calls or texts me, sometimes multiple times in one night. All those times you thought I was texting other girls, looking for hookups, I was dealing with Tessa’s myriad problems. And I didn’t tell you for two reasons. First, I didn’t want to look like an asshole for ignoring about half her messages, but she got way too dependent for a while, and I needed her to take care of herself when she could.”

  I nodded. “And the second?”

  “The gaming community is pretty close knit. People talk, they know things that are better kept private. The jerk who got her pregnant? It’s Don.”

  “Don…Asshole Don?” I couldn’t think of any other descriptor, but he knew who I meant.

  “Yeah. I don’t know what he told you, but he was trying to stir up trouble between us.”

  “What a dick,” I said as realization slowly dawned. “He was so careful, too. ‘Cody’s got a girl in Boston. She takes up all his time. Ask him about Tessa.’ He let me fill in the blanks.”

  “He’s a master manipulator. I’m a little hurt you believed him.”

  “I didn’t, at first. But the way she looked at you, the way she spoke to you…And then when she made that comment about the baby looking like you. I’m sorry. It seemed like a reasonable conclusion at the time.”

  “I’m sorry. I should have told you about her sooner. I know I mentioned having a sister at some point, but you deserved the details.”

  I wracked my brain. “You said you had a kid sister. I thought she was, like, eight.”

  “How old do you think I am?”

  “Well, Holly’s dad remarried when she was a teenager. Her little sister’s ten now. I figured it was a similar situation.”

  “No. She may act eight sometimes, and she can be exasperating, but she’s twenty-six. And still expecting me to clean up her messes.”

  “That must be rough for you.” I leaned back and shook my head. “But Don? Really? How?”

  “She met him at a gamer convention when we lived in Florida and moved to the northeast to be with him. He moved to Chicago the moment the stick turned blue.”

  “What a winner.”

  “Yeah,” he said. “It’s stupid, but I didn’t want word to get back to him that she was having such a rough time. Especially when the whole thing is my fault. So I never mention her to other gamers who don’t already know her.”

  My response came automatically. “It’s not your fault she fell for the wrong guy.”

  “No, but I could’ve gotten to know him better before introducing them. Asked around. It doesn’t matter now. She’s got this adorable baby, and she’s finally getting back on her feet. That’s what you saw. Her thanking me for being there for her, for bailing her out—again.”

  With every word he spoke, my heart felt lighter. He wasn’t the creep Don tricked me into thinking he was. “Is that why you changed your job to travel less?”

  “It is. I liked being on the road, same as you. But it’s time for me to put down roots, at least for now. Tess needs my help. And I didn’t explain, because I’m stupid. I know gamers tend to seize any advantage at the table, and I didn’t want anyone to have ammunition. Not even you. The same reasons you pushed me away.”

  Relief flooded through me. “I’m such an idiot. When
I saw her, I thought my initial instincts were right, that you’d been using me to gain an advantage.”

  “I’m the four-time returning champion. You think I slept with all the pretty girls?”

  When he said it like that, it sounded ridiculous. I shook my head, face burning.

  He reached across the center console, taking my hand in his. Unconsciously, I rubbed my thumb along his. Electricity shot up my arm. This type of chemistry didn’t come along every day. I turned to him.

  “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions. I let my insecurities rage out of control.”

  “I understand why you got mad. What I said about your blog was ignorant and hurtful. I didn’t mean it. But I still don’t understand why you ditched me.”

  “My dad had an accident,” I said. “He’s fine now, but I needed to get to the hospital ASAP. I knew if I woke you, I’d break down, and I couldn’t afford to do that. I swear, I meant to text as soon as possible.”

  “Why didn’t you?”

  “Because I got your messages first.” I didn’t say more. If he didn’t understand why they would drive me not to respond, we had more issues than I thought.

  He winced. “Where I was a total ass? I’m sorry. I freaked. Started to think you were using me. Since you knew how much I liked you, it hurt.”

  “We’re quite a pair, aren’t we?”

  “That we are.” He leaned over and kissed me, a slow, lingering kiss. Shivers cascaded down my spine.

  With regret, I pulled away from him, ending the kiss. Before he could say anything, I took a deep breath. “But this doesn’t resolve everything. I thought you didn’t want a relationship with someone who travels all the time.”

  “So did I,” he admitted. “But these past weeks have been miserable. I can’t stop thinking about you. Then I look at Tessa, or see Holly at the store, and I realize—relationships can fail for a dozen reasons if people aren’t committed to making it work.”

  “That’s an interesting sales pitch you have there.” I smiled wryly at him, secretly thrilled he’d reached the same conclusion I had after talking to Carla.