Games Of Hearts

23. Answer to the 9pm

I woke up at 4 a.m. to the sound of my alarm blaring in my ear. I reach over to turn it off and sit up in bed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

As I swing my legs over the side of the bed, my feet dangle in the air, feeling for my slippers. I find them and slide my feet in, feeling the softness of the fleece lining.

I stand up and stretch, arching my back and extending my arms over my head. My phone buzzes on my nightstand, and I walk over to check it.

That's when I see the notification from Eva:

Eva:
I want you to make love to me, only once.

My heart races as I read the message, my mind is filled with questions. Why did she send this? Is she drunk?

I hesitate for a moment, wondering if I should open the message or ignore it. But before I can make a decision, the message disappears, deleted by Eva within a minute.

I'm left standing there, feeling a mix of surprise, intrigue, and a hint of excitement. Why did she send such a bold message, and why did she delete it so quickly? She must be dreaming of me at this point.

When I met her in the alley, I wanted those sassy words coming out of her words. And I even gave her a chance to confirm her answer. This was a do or die for her now, I won't force a woman to go beyond if she doesn't want.

I still remember the resort pool party where I first met Chris. I dodged him as much as possible, but he just wouldn't take the hint. I thought he was going to be another annoying guy trying to hit on my girl. Surprisingly, he wasn't as bothersome as Olivia was.

Olivia was like a whirlwind, flitting from person to person, causing chaos and laughter wherever she went. I tried to avoid her, but she seemed to have a radar for finding me. She'd bound up to me, chattering excitedly, and I'd try to politely extricate myself. But she just wouldn't take no for an answer.

At one point, she even threw her arms around me in a tight hug. "I'm so glad we're friends!" she exclaimed, squeezing me tightly. I didn't react to her but I felt uncomfortable at that point.

Finally, I managed to escape and made my way to the other side of the pool. "Too much," I muttered under my breath, shaking my head. I couldn't believe how exhausting Olivia was.

As I settled into a lounge chair, I noticed Chris watching me from across the pool.

As the match began, the tension between us reignited. Chris had the ball, and I was determined to get it from him. I dodged and weaved, trying to snatch the ball from his grasp, but he was quick and agile. He darted around me, a sly grin spreading across his face.

Finally, after a particularly intense play, Chris landed on the ground, the ball still clutched in his hand. I stood over him, my chest heaving with exertion. "What's the matter, dude?" Chris taunted, looking up at me with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Why are you so angry at me?"

I glared down at him, my hands on my hips. "This is just a game, Chris. Can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen!" I shot back, trying to snatch the ball from his hand.

But Chris held firm, his grip on the ball unyielding. "Oh, I can take the heat," he said, his eyes flashing with determination. "I just want to see how far you'll go to win."

I scowled at him, my competitive streak flaring up. "Fine," I growled. "Let's see who comes out on top." And with that, the battle for the ball intensified, our rivalry fueling the game.

He threw the ball to another teammate, and it landed safely in their hands. But his attention quickly turned back to me, his eyes blazing with intensity. He pushed me away, his hands shoving against my chest. "What's your problem, man? You've had a grudge against me since the moment we met!" The crowd around us fell silent, sensing the tension between us.