Hooked on the Game

by C. M. Owens

  Tears glisten her eyes, and it's all I can do not to let them blur my vision as well.

  "I know it doesn't mean much, but I adore him, too."

  She laughs and sniffles at the same time when a couple of her tears fall. "It means more than you realize, Raya. Much more. Now, get dressed and go meet him. He'll come looking for you if you take too long."

  I doubt that, but I'll let her have whatever she needs. It's obvious she's confused about Kade. I've seen him with people, and he's always the life of the party. Maybe he just hides that from his family.

  When she leaves, I struggle out of my wet clothes and put on dry, warm clothes. The problem is... I don't think it's possible to warm my coldest spots any time soon. I wore those wet clothes for so long that they made my skin damp.

  When I walk out, Margaret is missing, but I hear light giggles and soft laughter coming from her bedroom. A louder laugh tells me Mr. Colton is in there with her. He must have just come in. It's amazing how in love they are after all these years.

  "So Raya's fitting in nicely then?" he asks, making me stop for a second.

  "Yes. You were right and I was wrong. She's good for him. I won't question your judgment again."

  I swallow hard. They're talking about me like I'm part of this family now, and Kade hasn't given me any sign that I'm ever going to be more than a friend.

  "I knew it the second I saw her. He was so worried at the hospital when he called me. Kade never gets that worked up. Then at the courtroom, he was pissed, probably worried he'd finally crack and show some emotion. Do you know he called her doctor so much that the man threatened a harassment charge? He was furious that there wasn't going to be a follow-up visit for her bruises."

  I smile like a fool, and then creep out before listening in on any more. It's a little too cool to be wearing leggings, but they look so good with this long shirt that shows off the best parts of my curves. I'm not a stick, and I don't want to be. I'm bringing curves back.

  My black boots ride over the leggings, and the small heel and precious chain make them look girly chic. The deep blue shirt fits the ensemble perfectly, and the warm, black leather jacket adds some style.

  I might be colder than the others out here, but I'll look better, damn it.

  When I walk into the lodge, Tag is the first face I see. He walks over with his lazy smile and wandering eyes.

  "Damn. Someone's on a mission," he murmurs as he continues to rake his eyes over me. "Are you not cold?"

  Freezing.

  "I think I'm too numb. My ass might never thaw," I joke, lightening the mood.

  I start looking around for Kade when I feel two large, warm hands pressed against my ass, and I chuckle when I realize it's Tag who has moved behind me.

  "Shit. You're right. It needs intense therapy." I can't help but laugh a little harder.

  "Get your fucking hands off her," Kade growls as he walks up from out of nowhere and shoves Tag away.

  Tag snickers and gives me a mischievous wink before heading over to a section of sofas where Wren, Erica, and Melanie - Wren's mother - are sitting.

  "You have to be freezing in that," Kade says, pulling his lower lip between his teeth as he takes me in.

  Damn. Why did he have to do that?

  "Um, not too much. I didn't want to look like a marshmallow."

  He lets a laugh free, and the small spell is broken. He leads me to the others, just as Tag gets called away by a group of girls who've apparently been admiring him. I hope they don't call Kade away.

  "He won't be back until after Christmas," Mel says, just as we sit down.

  "Who won't be back?" Kade asks as he pulls me closer to his side and wraps his arm around me.

  The leather couch hasn't been touched by the heat of the fire, and damn it's cold. My ass really isn't ever going to thaw.

  "Billy. He's with his friend Ash for the holidays. I think he likes them a little better than us sometimes," she says with a sad smile.

  "Ash?" Kade asks.

  I've heard her mentioned before, hasn't he? Does he just tune them out when they talk?

  "Yeah, Bity's bestie," Wren jokes. "I need a drink."

  Kade frowns as Wren gets up, and he offers a cold glance to Erica for a second before giving his attention back to Melanie.

  "She's really a sweet girl. I love her like a daughter. Billy's lucky to have that sort of friend," Melanie says.

  Kade's arm tightens around my shoulder and he looks into my eyes as he says, "I can't blame him for needing a good friend."

  A good friend. That's what I am. I knew it was foolish to expect more, but now I know it's the Mount Everest I'll never climb.

  I lean up just slightly as the waitresses on the far side stay too busy to notice us.

  "I need something warm to drink," I mutter while standing up, planning to use my fake ID for the first time ever.

  "I'll order it, Raya," he says, standing with me. "I was just waiting on them to come to us."

  "It's fine. I'd like to go check out the bar anyhow while I'm up there."

  "I thought you wanted cocoa," he says, bemused.

  "I think I need something stronger," I grumble before walking away, feeling like an idiot.

  Tag sidles up beside me when I reach the bar, seeming amused for some reason. "Hitting the hard stuff early?" he asks, prodding.

  "It's almost dark."

  "There're still two hours of daylight, Raya. I'm not judging; just curious."

  "About?"

  His eyes lift to go to Kade, and I follow them. My heart slaps my throat when I see him hugging some random girl I've never seen before. I can't hear them, but I see the animated conversation going on with the whole group as Kade releases her from the embrace to shake the hand of a guy.

  Is she with the guy? Please, God, let her be with that guy.

  "Ah, so Courtney and Lyle are here," Tag says, an enigmatic grin on his face.

  "Courtney and Lyle?" I'm praying I sound nonchalant and casual, but even I can't dismiss the bitter hint of my words.

  "Yes. Courtney and Kade dated a couple of years ago, before he went off to college. Lyle is her brother."

  Damn it! This is worse than I thought. I should have stayed home. What was I thinking?

  "Oh."

  "He broke up with her; not the other way around," Tag says, as if that's supposed to comfort me.

  "It's no big deal, Tag. It's not like we're a couple. Just friends." I wave at the bartender who finally makes his way over to me. "Martini - extra dirty."

  Tag chuckles when I place that order, and I turn to face him. "Just friends? Keep telling yourself that, Raya. I need to go say hello."

  "Don't make me walk by myself," I whisper, hating the neediness in my tone.

  He lets a devilish grin free and nods before leaning over the bar to take my drink from the bartender. "Put it on my tab," he says.

  "I was going to pay," I mumble.

  "Come on. You've got bigger things to worry about than paying for a drink. If I know Courtney, she's already scheming. And I do know Courtney."

  Kade smiles when he sees me, but I barely muster a half-ass attempt to smile back. I worry it looks more like a snarl. Given his facial expression, I think I snarled.

  Tag lets his arm drift across my shoulders, and I let him, trying to see if any jealous emotions stir within Kade the way they have me. He cuts his eyes toward an amused Tag, but that's all. Nothing else. Unbelievable.

  "You have to come with us. It'll be so much fun, and it's perfect out there right now. Hurry before we lose daylight," Courtney - the devil in red - says.

  Her pristine auburn hair flows like ribbons. You can tell she's prim and proper. Years of etiquette and grace are dripping from her with effortless ease. No wonder he dated her. She's perfect for him. His life. His dreams.

  I sag under Tag's touch, and from the corner of my eyes, I see him frown when he studies me.

  "Um... actually... Raya isn't too great on the slopes yet," Kade says
, giving me an ounce of hope. "Maybe some other time."

  Oh. No hope. Just good manners. I'm his guest, so it'd be rude to run off and leave me.

  "No. It's fine, Kade. I'm ready to crash for a while anyhow. I'm a little more out of shape than I realized."

  "Your shape looks just fine to me," Tag dares, but his eyes stay on Kade.

  Kade scowls at him, but then turns back to me.

  "I can head back with you, Raya. We can grab some food from here and hang out."

  Now I just look pathetic, as evident by all the looks everyone is giving me.

  "I swear I'm fine. Just go ski and have some fun."

  He breathes out heavily, looking torn. "Come on, Kade," Courtney urges, wrapping her hand around his forearm and tugging.

  Her perfectly manicured nails press into him just barely, and I cringe. She's the kind of girl he dated. I'm not that girl. I was stupid to think there was anything he'd find special about me.

  "You want me to hang back and chill with you?" Tag asks, keeping his voice low.

  "No. I think you've got some admirers to tend to," I murmur with a forced smile, motioning toward the two girls he was talking to earlier. They're watching me with a scrutinizing eye. I'm tired of making enemies, so I step out of Tag's hold.

  "Fine. I'll see you when I get back," Kade says, seeming a little annoyed. Great. I'm being Debbie Downer. I'm messing up no matter what I do.

  "Actually, stay out, have fun. I don't need a babysitter. You don't owe me anything. Last I checked, we're roommates. No big deal," I say with a smile, but bile rises to my throat.

  His eyes flare with a touch of anger, but I turn away. I realize I might have been a bitch for referring to us as roommates instead of friends, but fuck. I'm human. This sucks.

  I head back to the bar after inhaling my martini. I'm paying for my next damn drink.

  Kade walks over to the door and grabs his discarded ski stuff that is hanging up on the hooks. He glances over his shoulder at me, but I could care less about seeing the pity in his eyes. I'm no one's charity case. I never should have been.

  "So, are you two... friends or enemies?" a smooth voice asks from my side.

  I turn to see Courtney's brother grinning at me. He's sexy but not really wetting my appetite. He's not a substitute for Kade by any means.

  "Me and Kade?" I ask, playing coy.

  He smirks and nods as he looks over toward his sister and my... roommate.

  "Yes. You and Kade."

  "Just friends. He thinks I'm helpless, but I'm not. I can manage a night by myself. You guys have a good time. I think I'm going to chill here instead of going back to the house."

  "Here?" he asks, seeming all the more amused. "Why not just come with us? I could help you."

  I chuckle and shake my head. "Had you seen me earlier, you'd rescind that offer. I truly am the worst skier ever. I think skiing needs to stay a rich sport, and girls like me need to stay away."

  His eyebrow cocks up as a deeper grin forms.

  "Not from money? I could have sworn you were the richest girl here. After all, you risked freezing just to stay fashionably dressed."

  He appraises me, shamelessly running his eyes over me.

  "I'm inside a lodge, not outside in a cave. It's not like I was risking frostbite. Right now, I just want to get a few drinks, maybe enjoy a game of pool, and then I'll head back. It was nice meeting you, Lyle."

  His grin never falters. "Ah. I'm being dismissed. I see. Well, Raya, it was lovely meeting you. I plan to see you again... real soon."

  Kade doesn't say anything as he ducks out of the lodge. I ignore that. It hurts, but I knew this day would come. I kept expecting to find some random girl in the house, or see him walking out to head off on a date, but it never happened. I should have known this rich setting would take him back to his roots. He's been slumming it for too long.

  Lyle turns around and offers me a warm smile before leaving with the rest of them. Tag seems preoccupied with the blonds at the table, and Wren and Erica seem excited to get back out on the slopes. I felt like I fit in when we got here. Now I couldn't feel more like an outsider.

  Mr. and Mrs. Colton left shortly after I got back. I didn't bother telling Margaret how wrong she had been about Kade and me. Instead, I settled onto the couch and made it my bitch for a solo movie night.

  Just as the sun starts to set, there's a knock at the door. Crap. Someone is here to visit the Colton family, and I'm the only one in the house.

  The windows are stretched across the front, offering nothing but ridiculously perfect views, so when I round the corner, I see the mystery guest.

  Lyle.

  He's smiling and leaning against the railing of the porch as I near the door. When I open it, I offer him my best, cordial grin.

  "Lyle. Are you here to see Margaret and Paul?"

  "Nope. I'm here to take you out. Come on. There's a bar just down the road that I think you'll like better than the stuffy lodge. It has the best nightlife."

  I tilt my head. "You want to take me to a bar?" I ask incredulously.

  "I'd love to take you to the bar. Now grab your coat and boots."

  I sigh, but I'd rather go out than sit here looking like a pathetic loser when Kade gets back with Courtney. Maybe he'll stay at her place instead of making me endure whatever they decide to do for the night.

  "Okay," I murmur while slipping back into my boots and jacket. I shiver against the cold when I walk out, but I refuse to look like a marshmallow. Especially now that I've seen how incredible Courtney looks despite the fluffy layers.

  After I lock up, Lyle puts his hand on the small of my back as he leads me down the stairs. We make idle conversation about the different aspects of Aspen. He does well to not mention Kade or Courtney to me. Smart guy.

  He holds the door open for me to climb into his Audi SUV. It takes him a few seconds before he joins me.

  "So, Kade said some guys at his party bulldozed your house, and then you came to live with him?" he asks while backing into the turn-around spot.

  Not so smart after all.

  "Um... yeah. It's a little weird, but I'll actually be moving out sooner than I thought."

  Now that I know my father's money is clean, I'll use it to rent a place until he gets out. Then I'll go live with him. Kade will soon be a memory or a friend he keeps at arm's length, just like his mother said.

  "He seems to think you'll be staying for a while. Have you talked to him about moving out, or is this a spontaneous thing?"

  Lyle is apparently a chatty and nosy little thing.

  "Um... I think Kade will be fine with it. To be honest, he'll probably enjoy not having a poor girl around to cramp his style," I joke, forcing a small laugh.

  "That's twice you've mentioned not being from money. We spent an hour on the slopes before I left, and never once did Wren, Erica, or Kade mention your financial circumstances. Does it bother you? Being around people with money?"

  So much for lightening the conversation.

  "Not really," I lie, shrugging. At least I'm a brilliant liar. He seems to accept that as we turn into a lively bar.

  Thank goodness.

  I regret coming already.

  "They have darts, pool tables, plenty of beer, and dancing," he says with a grin.

  I smile as I join him and he leads me into the bar which isn't quite as rowdy as I had hoped. I don't feel as out of place in here as I did at the lodge though.

  "You want a beer?"

  A beer. Hell yes. I can drink one in here without anyone thinking any less of me. Girls at the lodge all seem to walk around with any drink but a beer.

  "I'll get my own."

  "Not a chance. I invited you out, so I have to buy you a drink."

  I huff. Rich people and their money. He thinks because I'm poor I need a handout. I'm sick of needing handouts. As soon as I get back to Sterling Shore, I'm getting a job. I don't care where.

  "No. I'll get my own. I'd prefer not to take anything els
e from anyone ever again."

  He frowns but reluctantly agrees with barely a nod. "Fine. I tell you what. I'll buy this round, and if you can beat me in a game of pool, I'll let you buy the next round. Sound like a deal?"

  I smirk. He has no clue what he just proposed. "I don't gamble over pool because I can't lose. I mean that very sincerely."

  His smile spreads, and it's impossible not to find it amusing. He's so wrong about whatever he's thinking right now. I'm sure I look harmless, but I'm the daughter of a man who taught me all the best hustles. Not because he wanted to lead me into a life of crime, but because it was the only way he knew how to bond. That should have tipped me and my mother off, but you don't see the bad when you love the good.

  "I'm serious," I say with a grin when he stares at me with an expression that promises he doesn't believe me.

  "You're either excellent at bluffing, or you really think you're that good. I warn you, Raya, I happen to be pretty damn good myself. I hold the title amongst my frat."

  Shooting pool with a bunch of drunks is a little different than playing against the pros my father hustled on a regular basis just for fun. I was trained by the best, and have it down to an exact science. It's math on a table. The perfect tap changes the game.

  "Fine. I'll tell you what. We'll play. Just remember I warned you and this is not a hustle."

  He laughs as he follows me, handing me a mug of chilled beer as we make our way over to the first empty table available.

  "You realize you'll be playing to buy drinks, not get them bought. How would that be a hustle regardless?"

  "I just want to make it clear. I don't hustle. I'm good, I'll win, and you'll pout. I'm trying to be completely upfront about my abilities."

  He tilts his head as a gleam of curiosity comes over his eyes.

  "I don't pout when I lose. I am, however, a little distressed that I don't get to enjoy the pleasure of teaching you to shoot."

  I just smile as I grab the first cue that doesn't look too worn. These aren't the best choices, but they'll do. I've certainly used worse.