“The Scavengers Initiative really happened.” He dropped into a crouch, and Nicole almost lost it. Francis looked like he was proposing—holding her hand, looking up at her with the most earnest expression she’d ever seen him wear. He continued, “I played that game, and I swore I would never let Jewel do something like that to me again. But—I don’t hate her. We really are friends.”

Nicole suspected as much from the very beginning. She knew an antagonistic love-based relationship when she saw one. “Okay? And?” she asked. The way he revealed the truth felt like it had been a big deal for him. Needing him to focus, she decided to let that part go.

“When she asked me to play The Cruelest Jewel, I said no. Because no. And then a few days later, she told me she planned to invite you, and I said maybe.” The longer he spoke, the quieter his voice got. “I swear I’m not some obsessed stalker. I just wanted to meet you.”

Nicole’s shock temporarily overpowered her plan to disarm him. “Me?”

“That’s why I didn’t get here at the same time as everyone else. I didn’t believe her until she sent me a video of you in the house.”

She tried to figure out what to say because even though his admission had taken her by surprise, there wasn’t really anything to feel violated or betrayed about. Or angry.

Technically, he hadn’t done anything wrong. Jewel, his friend, had invited him to her house.

If anything, Nicole needed to have a long talk with Jewel. There was no doubt in her mind that Jewel knew Francis had a crush on Nicole and used that to her advantage. She’d set them up on a date neither of them knew they were on. She continued to stare at him even though he’d long since stopped looking at her. His skin had a reddish tint—he was embarrassed, oh God. She almost laughed. How could she be mad at him? He was so cute when he wasn’t trying to be a stoic player.

“Jewel could’ve put you in another coffin of spiders or worse.” She held him lightly by the chin, lifting his face to make sure she had his undivided attention.

“You were here.” He shrugged. “I tried to be as up front as possible. That’s why I told you I’d seen your videos. I wanted you to know that I knew you. Anytime you asked me something, I always told you the truth.”

“And you implied that I’m more important than five hundred thousand dollars to you,” she teased.

He closed his eyes, groaning and rubbing his hands over his face. “I’m sorry. This is all going so wrong.”