Page 20 of Save Me

The guys are rowdy as we step into the living room, the air still thick with smoke and broken bottles now littering the floor. Rhett steps carefully over the glass and I follow suit, unable to bring him to a halt no matter how much I resist.

He sits on the couch and pulls me down with him, positioning me on his lap. I look around and notice most of the guys are looking at me, feral grins on their faces as they continue to drink deeply from their cups, some even swigging straight from the bottle. I meet Bryce’s eyes from across the table. His mouth is set in a hard line and his arms are crossed as he glances between me, Rhett, and the others.

Rhett’s voice sounds loudly over the group. “I thought you’d like to play a game with us, babe.” He laughs, and the others follow suit.

I avoid looking at them, specifically Tanner, knowing the look I’ll find in his eyes. I stare at the cards and poker chips on the table.

“Tanner, deal her in.”

“I don’t know how to play,” I say quietly as my stomach rolls with unease.

“Don’t worry, I’ll help you.” He presses his mouth to the side of my neck, inhaling deeply, and I’m caught off guard. Disgust floods through me as I try to squirm away from him, but his arms hold me firmly in place.

The game resumes and I struggle to keep up, trying to learn as I go but unable to grasp the rules. The alcohol is flowing freely but I decline every time Rhett passes a bottle to me. As much as I want to dull the anxiety in my chest, I don’t want to feel any more vulnerable than I already am. It’s uncomfortable on Rhett’s lap as I try to keep myself positioned as far away from him as possible, flinching every time he moves or repositions himself, only to be met with his laughter when I do.

I don’t know how long we play for—not long enough for me to understand the game, but long enough for me to know that I don’t have a winning hand. Nowhere close. As each minute ticks by, a mixture of dread and anxiety builds within me, and I start to feel physically sick as I realize I won’t win.

“I think we need to make this game more interesting,” a guy with brown hair and matching eyes says from across the table.

“What exactly do you have in mind, Arch?” Rhett slurs between sips of liquor.

The guy—Arch—inclines his head to me. “Her,” he says, and the room goes quiet, all ears listening to the conversation at hand.

“Her?” Rhett responds with a smile.

“Winner gets her.”

I wait for the punchline, wait for him to laugh and say he’s joking, but only silence meets my ears.

Rhett turns his head towards me, meeting my eyes, and a shiver runs across my skin.

I shake my head no, my eyes pleading with him.

“Don’t be ridiculous Rhett—” I say, disgust thick in my voice.

“I mean, it would make the night interesting,” he drawls as he looks at Arch, as laughter sounds from the guys.

“Rhett, you can’t …”

He snaps his head back to me. “What exactlycan’tI do?” His voice is quiet, but I don’t miss the challenge in it.

“Nothing,” I mumble quietly as my heart pounds loudly in my ears. I stare at the poker chips again, unsure of where to look, trying to remain composed despite the hurricane of fear starting to build within me.

“Maybe I don’t need Jax’s money after all, maybe this could be part of your payment,” he slurs.

“Well if we’re playing for her, consider me in,” Tanner says as his lips form an unsettling smile.

Rhett laughs before looking back at Arch, tilting his head as if actually considering his suggestion.

“You’re a dog, Archibald, but let’s do it,” Rhett says with another laugh.

The game resumes, and I try to keep up, but I realize I don’t know enough to even pretend there’s a chance I’ll win. My eyes skirt to Bryce, deep in concentration, and for a minute, I wonder if he has a winning hand.

“What would my sister say about you playing for this particular prize, Rhett?” Bryce says casually from across the table. I look up at Bryce but he doesn’t meet my stare.

“What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.” He shrugs, and I see disgust and anger flare in Bryce’s eyes.

“Oh, settle down, Bryce, I’m only kidding,” Rhett drawls. “I’m not playing to win. I just want to see how this pans out.” He laughs and the other guys around us do the same.

---