Fake Game (The System #3)

Chapter Fifty-Two

FIFTY-TWO

JACKSON

“ A nd the award for Hottest Streamer of the Year, as voted by you, the fans, goes to…”

We all lean forward on the table, watching as Andy—also known as the top streamer CeleryGod—opens a slim black envelope.

“NightBlade32!”

“Fuck yes.” Aleks fists pumps before turning to give Parker his middle finger. “In your face, bitch boy.”

“Fuck!” Parker barks.

Stevie plants a kiss on the side of his mask before he stands up and jogs to the stage, enthusiasm flowing from him in waves. He’s never been this excited to win an award in the entire time he’s been streaming—not even when he was given the Golden Vizor last year.

He takes the award from the award girl and gives Andy a clap on the back before taking his post at the microphone. His red mask tilts as he looks over the audience and says, “Let me give you all a look at the face you voted for,” before tugging it off.

A series of whoops and cheers ring out, including a wolf whistle from the brunette at our table.

Aleks give zero fucks as he smirks, hyping everyone up. “I would just like to say thank you to everyone for voting for me as the hottest streamer. You see, a certain British fuck—” Sydney grimaces across the table “—has spent the last eight months since our face reveal insisting that he would win this award, even going so far as to bet his beautiful Aprilia if he lost.”

He pauses, and the cameras switch to one that zooms in on Parker as he tears off his own mask and reaches forward to drain his champagne flute with one hand and flip Aleks the bird with the other.

“Today, I can claim not only the title of the most attractive member of The System, but also that stunning motorcycle. So, thank you and good night.” He gives a dramatic bow and a wink before being led off stage.

“He’s going to be insufferable for the rest of the night,” Lee whines as Aleks comes running back to our table with a shit-eating grin on his face.

I reach up and remove my own mask—no sense keeping it on when the others are done for the night. The annual Streamzies award ceremony will be ending soon, and we’ve won more awards this year than any other year.

“Get ready to pay up.” Aleks slaps Parker on the back before taking his seat between Stevie and Lee.

“How about another bet?”

“No,” we all shout at Parker.

“Just accept the loss, hon.” Syd places her hand on his thigh. “You don’t even use it.”

“Yeah, because you won’t ride with me on any of my bikes,” he pouts.

“And I never will.”

“Whatever.” He turns away from her, still sulking.

“Hey, you guys coming to Electric Tyger for the after?” Wylder bounces over to our table, resting his hand on the back of Aleks’ chair.

Parker immediately perks back up. “You got a table?”

“Castle got a bunch.”

“Ooh,” Lee croons. “We’re down.”

I slide my hand under the table and grip Deer’s hand with a small squeeze. “What do you want to do?”

“Hm?” She blinks those unnaturally ice blue eyes up at me.

Even though this is the first event she’s gone to since everything went down with the doxing, she’s been quieter than usual tonight.

“Wylder invited us to the Electric Tyger after-party that Castle is having. Do you want to go?”

“Oh.”

“We don’t have to.”

She smiles and shakes her head, the sparkly glitter on her cheekbones shining in the light. “No, I want to.”

“You sure?”

“Mhm. You’ll be with me.”

“You’re fucking right I will be.”

***

Everyone is sloshed.

“I am not that drunk,” slurs Parker as he pushes out of the elevator and almost trips.

Syd, the only completely sober person, shoots out to grab her runaway boyfriend. “Sure, you’re not.”

“You are so beautiful.” Parker reaches down and cups her face between his hands as she laughs at him. “How’d I get so lucky?”

“Because I love you.”

The rest of us file out of the elevator behind them. Deer stays tucked close to my side, her fingers rubbing circles on my bicep where she’s holding onto me.

“Night, guys,” Stevie calls out as she and Aleks disappear into his room.

“What about you, babe?” I peer down at my girl.

“I kind of want some air. The club was stuffy.”

“Okay, come on.” I tug her toward the outdoor patio.

We step outside and the breeze immediately picks up, slicking its cool air over us. Deer reaches up to curl her arms around herself.

“Cold?”

“A little.”

“Give me a sec.”

I run back inside to my room and grab the package that’s been hidden in my closet for the last week, ripping it open. When I come back outside, I find her pressed up against the glass railing as she peers out at the city.

I slip the jacket over her shoulders.

“Thanks.” She starts to thread her arms through the sleeves but pauses with a frown. She takes it off and holds it in front of her, jaw going slack. “Oh my Gods.” Her head swivels from the varsity jacket to me and back, again and again. “What?”

“You like it?”

“Are you kidding? I love it.” She hugs the jacket to her chest. “How did you even get this?”

“I sent a message to the owner after the convention.”

Despite everything that had gone wrong that day, I hadn’t forgotten how much Deer had wanted to go see the booth that sold the custom Passion School varsity jackets.

She throws her arms around me and snatches a quick kiss. “Thank you.”

“Come on,” I chuckle. I take the jacket from her hands and hold it open so she can slip her arms into the sleeves. Once she’s all bundled up, I spin her and wrap my arms around her chest as she leans her head back against my pecs.

“I went to see Rick today.”

Her sudden words freeze the world around me.

“What?”

“Rick. I went to the prison to see him.”

She only had two drinks tonight, both canned seltzers that no one could’ve tampered with, and yet the words she is saying make no sense. I twist her around to face me, her back pressing against the glass.

“You went to go to see Rick Adley at the prison, alone?”

“Yep.”

“Did something happen? Are you okay?” Panic ricochets through my veins. My hands move on their own, touching all over her arms as I search for an invisible wound.

“Nothing happened, I just needed to see him—to face him.” Her hands come up to rest on mine, keeping them grounded to her shoulders.

“Why didn’t you tell me? I would’ve come with you.”

“I know you would’ve. You’re my protective grumpy bear, and I love you for that.” She tilts her head, so her cheek rests on our joined hands. “But I had to do this myself.”

“Why?”

“Because—” she taps my right temple “—I had to conquer it up here, remember?”

Absolute pride and adoration fill my chest.

“You’re the strongest person I know, Sparkles. You know that?”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

She smiles. “I love you, Jackson. Thank you for never giving up on me.”

“I wouldn’t ever dream of it. Mou baan faat jung ci jyu lei jing jung ngo deoi nei ge oi .”

Words cannot describe my love for you.

I pull her into a kiss, tasting that brown sugar sweetness on her lips. For as long as I live, I will be the lighthouse that guides her home and keeps her safe even when the world goes dark.

She is my sparkle, and I’ll always help her shine.

THE END