The Headturner

Turning Tables

Chapter Sixteen - Turning Tables

"It's not serious." Neil told Adam. "Dude, someone's gotta tell her."

"Tell her what?" Adam snapped. "That I'm a conceited jerk who pretended to be her friend and tried to seduce her just to win a bet? Yeah, she already knows that buddy." He smiled sarcastically.

"That was literally ages ago. You've got to let it go. Tell her how you have not even looked at any girl since she left, how much you are hung up on her."

"You know I can't do that. I broke her heart into a million pieces and still she forgave me for that, considers me her friend and trusts me enough to share her secrets with me."

"That's exactly my point. She doesn't even know this guy that well."

Adam held his hand up to stop him. "I can't force this upon her. It's her choice."

He took a deep breath. "But we gotta make sure this Tyler doesn't hurt her." And Neil gave him an understanding nod.

"Let's head back now, before they send out a search party. Tanya must have set up the snacks already and you know her patience level." Neil smiled and pushed Adam inside.

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They started munching on the snacks with an awkward silence. Even Tanya was awfully silent.

"Well, I, for one, am bored." Neil spoke up.

"What do you wanna do?" Anne asked.

"Poker?" Adam suggested.

"Strip poker?" Neil snickered.

The girls rolled their eyes at that idea.

"I know. Shot poker." Tanya squealed, back to her usual self.

"Have you forgotten about the hangover you had, not even a week ago?" Anne smacked her arm.

"Ow, that hurt. Your punching bag is over there." She said gesturing towards Adam and flashing her smile.

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Tanya was so bad at poker. Her face was a reflection of her feelings. When her cards were not good, she automatically pouted and ended up having most of the shots.

Adam, on the other hand, just did not have the luck and was the second in line. Only Anne and Neil prevailed.

"I'm sorry about butting in, earlier." Neil said suddenly to Anne as he knew Adam and Tanya would not hear them.

"It's okay. I know you were just looking out for me. Sorry I snapped at you but.... it's nice to have a father figure, you know? Considering I don't have one." Anne smiled sweetly at him.

"I just wish you would open your eyes though."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I can't say."

"You know I can't decode your cryptic messages, right?"

Neil shot a glance at Adam, who was sleeping now. He took a deep breath before speaking again.

"Adam would kill me if he knew I told you this. But, there is someone in your life, who came way before all the other guys, and who is way bigger than all the other things. You don't hesitate opening yourself up around him. You tell him things you don't even tell Tanya." Anne stayed silent as Neil went on. "And get this. He is a good guy. He won't ask for your hand, but once you hold his hand, he will never let it go."