Page 230 of Better When Shared
Makai’s eyes widened. “I don’t know, that sounds pretty damn cool. If you don’t want to go, I’ll go for you.”
I shook my head. “It’s not cool. It’s excessive. It’s—it’s—” I struggled to find the right word. “It’s Kiaan. I used to think he was bragging, but now I wonder if that’s just how he is. At least since he became a millionaire.”
“And the other one? The firefighter?” Makai asked, clearly enjoying my discomfort.
“Ryker won’t stop fixing things. First the porch rail, then last night, he fixed some plumbing leak. This morning, he was in the shop sawing something. Who knows, he’s probably building me a guest bedroom as we speak.”
Hui sipped her jasmine tea, steam curling around her immaculate silver bob. “Both sound like very thoughtful gestures.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “Speaking of which, how did you convince them both to come here without telling me?”
“I have my ways,” Hui said, supremely unconcerned.
“Nainai,” I pressed.
She sighed, setting down her teacup with deliberate precision. “You left the chat open on your laptop when you came for dinner last week. I had a nice conversation with Kiaan, then later with both boys.”
My stomach dropped through the floor. “You went through my private messages?”
“I didn’t scroll back and read your business,” she clarified, adjusting her red-framed glasses. “I just saw the new ones pop up. They were both very polite.”
Heat crawled up my neck as I thought about some of the not-so-polite exchanges I’d had with both of them. I desperately hoped that Hui hadn’t seen even an inkling of that.
“Oh my god,” I slumped back against my chair. “Nainai, you can’t just—that’s an invasion of privacy!”
Makai choked on his coffee, trying to suppress a laugh. I kicked him under the table. “Not helpful.”
“Sorry, Sky,” he said. “But you’ve got to admit, it’s kind of amazing that your grandma managed to get both your online boyfriends here in person.”
“They’re not my boyfriends,” I insisted, stabbing at my pancakes with renewed vigor. “They’re just fellow gamers with good banter.” And occasional very raunchy flirting.
“Seems like they want to be boyfriends,” Hui said.
“The tall one looks at you like you hung the moon,” Makai said. “And the rich one looks like he’d buy you the moon if you asked. How rich is he?”
I refused to acknowledge the flutter in my chest at his words.
“He told me he sold his company for a lot,” I said, gesturing with my fork so violently that syrup flicked onto the table. “You know how gamer guys lie about their lives.”
“What did Ryker lie about?” Makai asked.
“I mean… A crazy buff firefighter with an eight-pack? That’s like, every gamer guy’s fantasy persona. I figured it was all made up.”
“He kinda looked like a crazy buff firefighter with an eight-pack,” Makai said.
“Is there a ten-pack? I think he might have more than eight,” my grandmother added, nodding. “I did my research. Ryker is a firefighter, with many accommodations for his age. And Kiaan Malhotra is all over Google. He has a net worth of $521 million.”
“Fuck me,” Makai said, eyes widening.
I took a deep breath, trying to slow the words tumbling out of me. “So, they’re exactly who they said they were. What the heck? Who does that? Who’s honest online? Wait until they find out just how dishonest I’ve been with them.”
Hui dabbed at the syrup spot with her napkin. “What do you mean? When I talked to both men, they had such wonderful things to say about you.”
“About me?” The question came out smaller than I intended.
“Of course about you.” Her eyes softened. “They both care very much. I could hear it in their voices.”
Makai nodded. “You’ve been gaming with them for what, six years?”
