The Cuddling Game

Strings and Sarcasm

I grab my bag and sling it over my shoulder before following Bella across the grounds to the café.
“I could really go for a hazelnut cappuccino and a blueberry doughnut.”
“Then get one.”
The back route to the café is beautiful. Flowers line the path. The early May breeze rustles the new leaves on each of the trees.
We round the corner from the main hall and I stop dead in my tracks.
Chase Parker is pressing some girl against the side of the campus store. Their lips are locked. It feels like someone lit a match inside of my body and my blood is gasoline.
Bella doesn’t try and stop me as I storm towards Chase, pulling him away from the girl. He’s shocked and she’s embarrassed.
“Abby! Let me explain.”
“No. Don’t bother. I just wanted to tell your little friend that you enjoy using girls for your own needs and tossing them out.”
The girl responds for him. It definitely bothers me that he can’t answer for himself.
“That’s the definition of ‘no-strings-attached’.”
Ouch. That hits me right in the gut. I turn my attention to Chase.
“Could have at least warned me that was all it was going to be.”
“It’s actually more complicated than that.”
I’m seriously not in the mood for any more crap right now. I want my doughnut and I want to forget about Chase Parker.
“Please enlighten me. I’m so interested.”
I hope he understands my sarcasm.
“It was a party game of truth or dare. I was dared to hook up with you.”
“So you created this elaborate scheme to get me into your bed to win a stupid game?”
“In simple terms. Three hundred dollars cash to the winner of the game.”
He used me for a few hundred bucks? Now I’m just a pawn.
“I’m sorry about the lack of introductions. Abby, this is my girlfriend, Fiona Mavis. Fiona, this is Abigail Michaels.”
His girlfriend. He has a girlfriend? He slept with me while he had a girlfriend?! Has.
“Wow. Screw you, Chase.”
I start to storm away and he yells after me.
“Abby! Wait!”
I flip him off in response, joining Bella at the café entrance.
“Wow. He’s a real jerk.”
“You can say that again. I just want to forget about him. Let’s go get out breakfast.”
She holds open the door and we enter the café. We order and bring our coffees and doughnuts back to the table.
“Want to go out tonight for girl’s night? It’d be a great way to forget about him.”
“Actually, I think I have plans tonight.”
“With who?”
I pull out my phone, dialing a number I never thought I’d dial again. It rings several times before that familiar voice answers.
“Hey. Are we still on for dinner tonight, Jonathan?"