The Game That Breaks Us Read Online Free PDF Page A

since I’ve never seen you.”
    Since Ryland seems nice enough, I ask, “Which way to the outside?”
    He steps away from the counter. “Follow me.”
    He pushes his way through the people crowding the kitchen—it seems to be the most packed room in the house, probably has something to do with the beer—and finally, we come to a door. He opens it, and cold air rushes inside. I run outside gratefully, plopping my butt on the last cement step. It’s cracked with one lone dandelion growing up through it. Ryland sits down beside me, dangling his beer bottle between his fingers. 
    “Thanks for getting me out here,” I tell him. “It was stifling in there.”
    “I know what you mean. One of my roommates is the one throwing the party. I wish he would’ve asked us first, but that’s Trevor. He always does what he wants.” Ryland shrugs and takes a swig of beer. 
    “My roommate is the one that dragged me here,” I grumble.
    “Ah.” He nods. “Roommates are the worst.”
    “Tell me about it.” I sigh. “It hasn’t even been a whole day and she already hates my guts.”
    He laughs and stretches his legs out. The soles of his boots dig into the loose dirt. “I’m sorry.”
    I shrug. “That’s life. I think that whole compatibility form they made me fill out when I requested my dorm is total bullshit. We’re total opposites.”
    He drinks his beer. “I promise college isn’t all bad.”
    “No, it’s not,” I agree, thinking of Bennett. “So, are you a senior?”
    “Junior.” He shrugs, leaning back with his elbows on the stair behind him. 
    “So you can give me all the details, right?” I joke. “Where to eat, what professors are a nightmare, who has the best coffee?”
    His laughter echoes in the night. “Yeah, definitely. Maybe I could show you around campus tomorrow? This place is huge. I got lost like fifteen times my first day—went into the wrong class too, and sat through half the lecture before I realized I didn’t belong in there, by that point, I was too scared to get up and leave.”
    “What?” I gasp. “No.”
    He nods. “Oh, yeah. It was so embarrassing. Luckily, I’m the only one who knew about it … until now.” He tips his beer at me. The action seems to make him realize I don’t have one. “Do you want me to grab you a beer?” He starts to get up before I even answer him. 
    I shake my head. “No, thanks.”
    “Are you sure?” He starts to sit back down.
    “Positive.” I tuck my hair behind my ear. “And I’d be so grateful if you could show me around. I already got lost today and there’s hardly anyone on campus. I don’t know what I’m going to do on Monday if I don’t know my way.”
    “I’ll take care of you,” he says with another one of those easy smiles. 
    Something about Ryland puts me at ease. I feel like I can trust him. 
    “What do you study?” I ask him.
    “Sports medicine.”
    My eyes widen. “Impressive.”
    He grins. “What about you?”
    “I want to be a stylist,” I say. “So I’m studying business and marketing and taking a few fashion design courses.”
    He nods. “Can’t say I’ve ever met anyone who wants to be a stylist.”
    “I like to be different.” I stand and dust off my jeans— Elle’s jeans. “I’m heading back in,” I say. 
    Ryland follows me, and we push our way through the bodies again. The amount of people here is a bit ridiculous.
    “Follow me,” Ryland yells to be heard above the music. We end up in an empty room that’s most likely meant to be the dining room. “You wanna dance?”
    I don’t, not really, but I find myself nodding yes anyway. He’s nice, and frankly, I don’t want to be left on my own. 
    Some super-fast electronic song plays, and I move my hips to the beat as best I can. Most people just sway or jump up and down, but that’s not my style. Ryland dances with me, mimicking my moves. Soon people are staring at us as we dance and I find myself smiling. This isn’t actually half