Page 32 of Our Final Game

“Looks pretty good. Better than the inn food,” I mutter.

“Yeah, should be good,” Tyson says, taking a sip of the ale. He eyes me from the rim of his jug, his brows shooting up.

He’s waiting for me to drink.

Asshole.

I grab the jug and take a large gulp, trying not to sputter as it goes down. I haven’t drunk in so long. The last time I did was at a college party my senior year, and I ended up sleeping with my ex. Who broke up with me, by the way, so that was fucking humiliating. I vowed never to drink again. I like my control very much, thank you. But we’re trapped in a game. There’s no exes for me to sleep with here.

“Why don’t you slow down? You’re definitely a lightweight,” Tyson says, the corner of his mouth tilting up just a tick.

“Stop telling me what to do. This was your idea anyway.” I stab my fork into the bread, dipping it into the soup before taking a bite.

“And since when do you listen to my ideas?” He chuckles.

He’s right. But I don’t want to think about that right now.

I huff and focus on eating my food. We’re quiet for a little. The sound of drunk cheering and conversation is the only audio to our dinner. I’ve drunk down the first of the two ales Tyson ordered, and I’m definitely looser.

“I have a question,” he says, my eyes snapping toward him.

“What?”

“Why do you hate me so much?” Tyson stares at me, waiting.

“Well, for one, you took my title from me.”

“Is that all?”

“I mean…That’s a lot. To me.”

“Is it now?”

My face balls up instantly at this question because what does he mean by that? “Of course it is!” I counter.

“Why’s that? It’s just a game, Rohan.”

“Just a game. Right, of course it is to you.”

“So explain it to me.”

I stare at him, frozen, and it has to be the ale in my system because instead of telling him off, I open my mouth and mumble, “Seeker means everything to me. I only went to uni for my parents, you know they came to America for my sisters, and I. Just wanted them to be happy, to have that one thing. But gaming … But gaming was always for me. And I was so close to living my dream, with my dream career. I worked so hard … Then you came.”

Tyson’s expression is once again unreadable as I basically pour my heart out to him. I’m definitely going to regret this in the morning, so I take another huge, sloshing gulp of the second ale. Cause why the fuck not, we’re already embarrassing ourselves in front of our rivals, let’s jump all the way off the cliffside.

“Ah, I see.” He hums, crossing his arms.

My head—no, my entire body feels much, much more relaxed. I blink my eyes a few times. Tyson looks kind of blurry from here now. I’m definitely getting wasted. I sigh. “Yeah, you came and fucked everything up. I needed those sponsors, you know, but then they wanted to work with you instead. Cause you’re number one and all now…”

“Now I have to work these stupid jobs I hate…” I huff.

And it’s true. Originally, I was headed to make some serious money, life-changing money. But Seeker isn’t big enough for the both of us to make that kind of money, though I’m not even that far behind this guy. I guess him having the whole look probably helped even more. Ugh, I hate it all really. He snatched my life right from under me when I was so close.

“What do you do for work right now?” I think I hear Tyson, but my eyes feel really heavy. It would be nice to close them, so I do. The cold wood feels really soothing against my cheek as I ease into slumber.

Chapter 16

Tyson