Page 59 of Heartsmashed
I let out an inward sigh of relief at that, because I did have a pretty epic coffee station. It made sense, not that he actually knew that.
I reached under the table and gave his thigh a squeeze like he’d done mine, a quick thank you. But as I drew my hand back, he covered mine with his, holding me there.
I swallowed at the small move that meant more than I could say in that moment. He was quick to forgive and move on, and for that I was grateful.
“He does love his coffee,” Mom said in agreement.
“And what about—” Mama started, but I waved her off.
“I love you both, really, but the caffeine hasn’t even hit yet.”
“And really,” Beckett said, squeezing my fingers, “if we tell you everything you want to know, that doesn’t bode well for the rest of you tonight.”
Mom narrowed her eyes, but she was biting back a smile. Mama, on the other hand, was clapping, giddy about Beckett’s agreeing to game night.
“Oh no,” I said, sighing dramatically. “You’ve done it now.”
That was what I said, but inside, I couldn’t help feeling happy and relieved that Beckett had the approval of my parents, even if this wasn’t a real relationship.
Although…Beckett’s hand holding mine made that spark of hope flicker alive in my chest again, so really, anything was possible.
18
BECKETT
“THIS,” ROME ANNOUNCED, stepping into the center of the resort’s private rec room like he was about to host a live broadcast, “is not just a game.”
I leaned back against the arm of the couch, drink in hand, already bracing myself as Sawyer dropped down beside me and bumped his knee against mine.
“This,” Rome continued, grabbing a stack of cards and fanning them dramatically, “is an epic couples showdown to see which of you belong together forever…and which of you could stand to pay more attention to your partner before they leave you…for good.”
“This sounds like a trap,” Sawyer said under his breath.
“Thank you, Rome. I wouldn’t go quite that far, but it is the first game for tonight,” Catherine Montgomery said from where she sat beside Lily, wine glass in hand. “And you’re all participating.”
“I’ve been waiting for this all day,” Lily added, grinning broadly as she tucked her legs beneath her on the couch.
Around the room were several other couples, including Hudson and Drew across from us, on the edge of their seats,game faces clearly on. Peter lounged nearby beside Alec, and I chanced a look at Sawyer to see if he was bothered.
He’d angled his body away from them, and while there wasn’t clear distress written on his face, I couldn’t imagine he was all that comfortable with the situation.
“Welcome,” Rome said, spreading his hands, “toMatch, Reveal…or Regret.”
“I regret it already,” Sawyer said.
“You’ll love it,” Rome shot back. “Rules are simple. Answer the question, match your partner, and you’re safe. Don’t match”—he paused for dramatic effect—“and you suffer the consequences.”
“Define consequences,” Drew said.
A mischievous smile curled Rome’s mouth. “Let’s hope you don’t have to find out. Or do. That’s up to you.”
I leaned in toward Sawyer, keeping my voice low so only he could hear me. “How in depth do you think these’ll get?”
“Let’s just say we might be in trouble.” His tone was light, but his fingers lingered against mine a second longer than necessary, like he was testing whether I’d pull away.
I didn’t.
It was wild the way just that small contact made me all too aware of him. No one else here knew what had happened last night, which meant I—we—still had a part to play. It was far too easy to do that with Sawyer, to throw my arm over the back of the couch behind him and act like a real couple.
