Summer [Completed]

Chapter Twenty-Four

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Lets Play a Game
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tease

verb

1. make fun of or attempt to provoke (a person or animal) in a playful way.

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"Ethan I'm bored." I pout as I push off of his chest and look at him. His eyes are closed, but his eyelids flutter, letting me know he's awake.

"Imani it's late, just go to sleep," he mumbles, wrapping his arm tighter around my waist.

I sigh, shrugging out of his hold and turning on the lamp on his nightstand.

"No." I say as I climb out of bed. "Let's do something fun...ooh I know, let's play a game!" I suggest excitedly and Ethan yawns, sitting up fully in his bed and rubbing his eyes.

"Imani come lay with me,” he pouts, extending his arms to me and groping at the air like a child.

I laugh and shake my head.

Ethan sighs. “What kind of game can we play at-” he checks the clock on his nightstand,“-two in the morning anyway?" His voice is raspy from sleep as he runs his hands through his messy hair.

"I don't know." I frown, slowly beginning to pace the room. "How about this thing?" I ask, pulling gently on the net of a plastic basketball goal that hangs on the door. "You got a ball?"

Ethan looks at me in incredulity, "You really want to play basketball? I haven't used that thing in years."

“Sounds like you're afraid I'll beat you," I tease wiggling my eyebrows.

Ethan scoffs. “No I'll definitely win, but I don't see the fun in crushing your dreams and taking your ankles tonight.”

“Oh you got jokes,” I laugh, thinking to myself. “I guess I gotta make this worth your while then huh?” I ask in a seductive tone.

"What do you have in mind?" Ethan asks raising an eyebrow with intrigue.

"Two words: strip basketball."

His eyes widen at my words as he smiles in disbelief, "Quit playing, that's not a thing."

"We can make it a thing."

I look around the room and find a small ball collecting dust on the dresser. I pick it up and toss it up in the air.

"I'll go first," I smile at him before taking a shot and making it.

I look over at Ethan who appears to be frozen in his spot. I smile, "Take off your shirt."

“Are you sure you want to go start thi-"

"-Take. It. Off." I reiterate slowly, tilling my head. I toss the ball at him and he looks at me in shock as it hits him in the center of his chest.

He catches it and drops it onto the bed as a mischievous grin forms on his face.

Shrugging off his shirt with lighting speed, he leaps out of the bed and grabs the ball. "Oh Imani," he shakes his head and smiles," you have no idea what you've just started."

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"Ah, ah, ah!" Ethan wags his finger back and forth. "You know the rules Mani. No cheating—take it off." He smiles in triumph as glare at him.