Page 64 of The Game We Played

And fake it will remain. I don’t care how much my heart bled for him when he told me about his family. He’s a friend. I care for him as a friend. Nothing more. More spells trouble. The loss of freedom and independence. I don’t need another man who doesn’t think I can stand on my own.

Besides, Tanner doesn’t want a relationship anyway. He’s hardly going to break his ‘no relationships’ rule for little old me.

“From the outside looking in, it doesn’t appear fake.”

“Because I’m an excellent actress.”

“Tanner is a goofball on the outside, but his feelings run deep.”

I bristle. “I’m aware. I know there’s more to Tanner than the goofball player he shows the world.”

“You’re defending him. Did you forget you’re pretending to date him?”

Trust me. I didn’t forget. I wish I could forget. Especially when he touches me. I never should have let him kiss me on Sunday. What was I thinking?

I wasn’t thinking. Obviously. Tanner was hurting and I wanted to make him feel better.

Drowning pirates in the sea. I’m more worried about Tanner and how he feels than protecting my heart. Which can only mean one thing.

I’m falling for him.

This is not good. Tanner may want to expand our relationship from fake dating to friends with benefits, but it’s still not real. It’s a game to him. He doesn’t do relationships. After finding out about his family, I understand why.

“Alaia, you okay?” Nolan asks and I remember I’m sitting in a conference room at the fancy resort on the island.

Interviewing Nolan is supposed to be my big break. A chance to save theGazette.Not a revelation about my feelings for Tanner.

I clear my throat. “Let’s get to the interview. Is football your first choice of a career? Did you always want to be a football player?”

“Actually, no. I wanted to be an actor.”

I lean closer. “An actor?”

“I used to participate in all the plays and musicals back in junior high. Then, in my freshman year of high school, I landed the role of Biff Lowman inDeath of a Salesman.He’s a—”

“Former high school football hero whose life has stalled.”

Nolan’s eyes widen in surprise.

“English major.”

“Anyway, I thought I’d go all method and learn how to play football. I tried out for the high school football team, and before I knew it, I was the quarterback on the varsity team.”

“I didn’t know this, and I’ve researched the backgrounds of the entire team.”

His cheeks darken. “I don’t usually blurt out how I used to be a theater geek.”

“Nothing wrong with a theater geek. I may have been in a few plays myself.” I clear my throat. This is a golden opportunity. Nolan is giving me information no one else has. “Do you miss it?”

“I miss the challenge of it. Don’t get me wrong. Being the quarterback on a team determined to win the Super Bowl is a challenge. But I miss the challenge of learning my lines. Ofresearching the background of a character and slipping into their life.”

“Wow. You were pretty serious about this.”

I continue to pepper Nolan with questions for the next hour. I’m fascinated by his history. A history no one knew. This is too good for theSmuggler’s Gazette.I could pitch it to magazines. This might even be better than Coach Knox’s story.

Someone knocks on the door before it opens up. I glance over my shoulder and Tanner peeks into the room.

At the sight of him, all the thoughts and worries about falling for him come whooshing back with a fury. This is the man I’m falling for. But shouldn’t. The man who comes with entirely too many red flags.