Page 5 of A Fool's Game

Ainsley spins as well and folds his arms as he considers. “Well, they’re siblings, obviously.”

My head turns to him sharply as my mouth falls open. “Siblings?” I exclaim in horror. “What on earth makes you say that?”

“The sweaters. His green one has some kind of white leaf pattern on the front, and it looks brand new. Her purple one has the same leaf on the sleeve—also clearly brand new. They each got a package from their mother this morning to find yet another disappointing sweater. So, they put them on and came down here to share a beer and talk about how glad they are that they live thousands of miles away from their parents and will never have to wear the ugly things again.”

I’m laughing and shaking my head. “That was so bad. This has to be your first time playing this game.”

He shrugs, not one bit deterred by my criticism. “Think you can do better?”

I turn back to the couple in question, who are now leaning toward each other over the narrow, laminate table, whispering conspiratorially.

“They killed someone.”

Ainsley laughs in surprise. “What?”

I nod. “Yup. Last night at the office holiday party. It was an accident. They only meant to teach the guy a lesson about taking credit for other people’s work, but they weren’t strong enough to keep hold of his legs as they dangled him over the roof of the parking garage. They thought they could manage it together, but they failed to take his struggling into account.”

Ainsley is glowing and rosy cheeked from laughing. It's all I can do to keep my focus on the game and not stare at him.

“Okay, so what’s their plan now? Where’d they hide the body?”

“It’s still in the trunk of his car. They’re trying to decide whether to drive out to the peninsula and dump it or dump the whole car in the bay.”

He scoffs. “That’s ridiculous. Police would find the car right away and track it back to them.”

I shrug. “Driving hundreds of miles with a body in yourtrunk isn’t a great option either. And then they have to get it out without anyone seeing them.”

“No one’s going to see them, though. It’s Christmas.”

I laugh. “Christmas really is the perfect day to dispose of a dead body.”

Ainsley turns his stool so that he’s leaning sideways on the bar, facing me. I try not to hold my breath as the full force of his magnetism hits me all at once. He’s like a prince in disguise amongst the paupers, his ripped jeans and faded zip-up hoodie unable to hide the glow of his true identity.

Unfortunately, his words are predictable. “Do you want to get out of here?”

I roll my eyes. “And go back to your fancy apartment for an unsatisfying one-night stand that we’ll both have to pretend not to remember if we ever see each other on campus? Pass.”

The blush in his cheeks rises as I fluster him with my answer.

“That’s not what I meant.” He shakes his head and turns back to the bar. “Do you live nearby?”

“I promise the one-night stand will be just as unsatisfying at my house.”

Another soft laugh, and now he can’t look at me.

I turn back around and rest my head on one hand, elbow on the bar, giving in momentarily to the need to stare at the guy. “I’m just giving you a hard time. Let’s totally get out of here.”

He turns just his head, gaze meeting mine as his eyes narrow. “I don’t know. The last thing I need is more awkward encounters from terrible one-night stands getting in the way of my academic career.”

I smirk at him. “Not for that.” I slide off my stool and take one last gulp of beer before gesturing toward the door with my head. “Come on.”

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

Chapter 3

Ainsley

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