Forbidden Urge

Dinner for the Winner

Despite putting all his efforts to think like a proper adult and friend, and forget about the attractive blonde, Philipp invited Ana and Arnold for dinner barely five days after they had last met. They accepted, and he was again excited not because he was going to have another fun night with friends, but because of something those friends would never forgive him. He ordered from the best restaurant in town, not eager to risk cooking and ruining something for them, for her.

However, this time he barely managed not to look disappointed when only Ana and Arnold showed up at his doorstep. He looked behind them, searching for her.

"Heidi is sorry but she wasn't able to make it," Arnold said. "She has already promised her friends they'd go for drinks tonight after she finished work."

"Oh, that's alright," he said, although inside all his hopes and excitement sank. He had to try hard not to show his friends something was wrong. He would be in colossal problems if they suspected anything.

"This is good food, but, to be honest, I was hoping for your delicious steaks," Ana said later.

"Oh, if I'd known... Next time then."

"Let's make a deal," Arnold said. "If you win this weekend, you invite us on Sunday evening for steaks. If you lose, we'll take you somewhere for couple of beers."

"Sounds like a plan!"

The remaining two days till the match he covered all possible actions and tactics he could think of. The boys were panting hard at the end of each training, and Philipp saw them exchange glances, especially Luka Zimmermann and Gerard Lange. In order to make himself clear, and knowing he could always count on them, before the match he included one more sentence in his speech.

"I want you to know that it is especially important for me that you guys win today. Any way."

At first they stared at him confused, when Gerard decided to clarify: "Any way you mean any way?"

"Yes. In other words - you can't lose tonight. I can't lose."

They didn't ask anything else, for which he was thankful. He needed to see that blonde again, but definitely didn't want that to be in a number of weeks. If his team lost, only Arnold would go for beers with him. Ana never joined them in bars, which at the same time meant that Heidi would not come either, so his team needed to win. Otherwise he'd lose any more excuses to keep inviting the Bauers to his place. Even this tempo was more frequent than they normally saw each other.

Fortunately, the boys didn't disappoint and shook the opponent's net four times, letting only one ball in their goal. Philipp was singing on the way to the changing room which drew more suspicious looks from the guys, and again on the way home. While still in the car, he received a call from Arnold. "So the steak it is," he said.

"Seems like it. So, six o'clock?"

"Great, we'll come."

Philipp took a deep but he made sure silent breath before asking: "How does Heidi like her steak?"

"She said medium, but she's willing to try your best one."

Philipp exhaled in relief - she's coming. "No problem. See you tomorrow."

He spent the whole afternoon practicing roasting a perfect steak.

The Sunday morning and afternoon passed too quickly. Philipp was trying hard to make his apartment look impeccable. It always did, since he was highly disciplined and clean, and had a maid come once a week. When the Bauers arrived, everything was in perfect order. Including his grey trousers and white shirt. They all three looked elegant, as always, but Heidi was from another world. Although she only wore black leather pants and a matching jacket that touched her hips. Under it there was a white blouse with cleavage that showed enough to make sure one had to try hard not to look at it. In spite of his prayers she didn't remove the jacket for the whole evening. He had been preparing for this encounter. He knew she'd be stunning, so he didn't want to let himself be stunned again. However, Arnold pulled him in the typical bear hug, Ana into a gentle one and placed a light kiss on his cheek, and he definitely didn't expect Heidi to do anything similar. Which she actually did - she reached over to place a proper kiss on his cheek, with the whole surface of her lips, and in doing so placed her chest on his. She definitely took him by surprise. He lost again. But he didn't mind.