Page 28 of Our Final Game

What the fuck am I thinking about right now?

It’s bad enough we’re cuddled together under a tree in the middle of nowhere under the night sky, like something out of a romance storybook. I try to laugh to myself as quietly as I can so I don’t wake him, but this has been the most ridiculous couple of days of my life.

I listen to Tyson’s breathing until I fall back asleep.

* * *

I jolt awake to me alone still underneath the tree and covered in Tyson’s cape. Where did he go? The fire is out, and the morning sun hangs in the sky above me; its small rays of light peek through the tree. I stand up, draping his cloak over my shoulders. I walk from under the branches and scan the area. It’s really beautiful and must be one of the safety zones in the game because there are no monsters. I keep walking down the hill and gasp when I see Tyson shirtless, actually, I think he’s completely naked, in a still body of water at the foot of the hill.

The muscles in his back flex as he sloshes water over his head, rinsing his hair. He runs it over the rest of his bare chest in quick flicks, and my lips part. I stand there stunned, heat washing over my entire body. He has a tattoo on his back. A huge dragon. He’s so fucking typical, but it’s still so…

My breath hitches. I quickly turn around and walk back to the tree right when he turns and definitely sees me. But at least I don’t want him to know I was standing there ogling his body while he was washing up like a creep.

“Hey! Rohan!” Tyson yells from the water.

“What?” I say, turning back toward him.

“You wanna wash up?”

“N-no. I’m okay. I can wait till we get back,” I reply, my face burning.

“You sure? It’s calm. It’s a smaller river,” he reassures me.

“No, I’m okay, really,” I stammer back, walking away from his shrugging form. My heart is racing when I make it back to our little spot, and I wrap myself in his cape tighter, pulling my knees to my chin.

I hope we get out of here soon.

* * *

Tyson finally gets back from his bath, I guess, and stands over me. I look up at him, and his head is tilted.

“You feeling okay?” he asks.

“Yeah,” I breathe out.

“Don’t do that shit again, alright? You should’ve told me you can’t swim,” he says, and I don’t even try to fight. He’s right. That could’ve ended so badly. Shit, what if he could save me from the water but didn’t know how to perform CPR?

I’d be dead right now.

“Yeah. Sorry,” I mumble.

Tyson looks down at me, stunned. I’ve shocked myself, to be honest. Never in a million years did I think I’d be saying sorry to Tyson Moon. But I really do feel bad. We could’ve both been in trouble. We don’t even know how the game is functioning fully. He really could die if I die. And I would never forgive myself. Not because it’s Tyson, but I would never want anyone to be hurt because of me, let alone lose their life.

“Can we go back?” I mutter, my brows pinched.

“Yeah. Of course,” he says, helping me up from the ground. “You sure you’re okay?” He eyes me warily.

“Yes, Ty! I’m fine. Jeez,” I snap.

“Ah, there we go,” Tyson laughs. “That’s my Rohan.”

“Shut up.” I stalk off toward town, biting back a smile.

Chapter 14

Tyson

When we make it back to town, it’s still around midday, the sun greeting us just as we step through the town gates. The usual NPCs of Halia are already settled into their daily routine.