Page 107 of Game on, Love

She released a breath, a soft laugh slipping along with it. “Remember the Christmas shoot?”

I nodded.

“I had to build player profiles for everyone as part of my research, and then I did a little digging around, but then your Mum told me it wasn’t always the case… so I thought I’d find the best of both worlds.”

I blinked, trying to catch on her words. “When did you speak to Mum about this?”

“She and I have been talking since the dinner, and she asked if we had any plans for tomorrow and if we’d have time for brunch.” She replied softly. “But then you said you wanted to sleep in and do nothing, which confused her considering how crazy you used to get before we both guessed the reason and well…”

I stepped closer, my hands sliding onto her waist. “You’re cute when you’re nervous.”

She sighed before clearing her throat. “It doesn’t happen often, so take a picture.”

I chuckled as I pulled her closer. “You didn’t have to do this.”

“I know I didn’t have to. I wanted to.”

Warmth filled my chest as I leaned down. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”

Her face lit up, her nervousness melting away, and I closed the gap, capturing her smile as I placed my lips on hers.

Pulling back, I asked. “What is planned for tonight?”

“You have to open the present to find out.”

I pecked her lips. “Okay, what time is it for?”

“7 PM.”

I glanced at the clock on my dresser to check the time before lifting her up. A surprised gasp left her lips which quickly turned into a laugh as her hands gripped onto my shoulders, and as I carried her to my bed and placed my lips on hers, and like it always did, the rest of the world seemed to fade away.

Raina

SOMETHING WAS WRONG. THOUGHI couldn’t exactly tell exactly what it was.

It was nearly 11 PM, and I was sitting on one of their patio chairs, my gaze fixed on the sky. That weird feeling in my gut had landed on me an hour after Oliver had left for dinner with his parents. And even though he had tried to bring me along with him, I knew it was the first time in years that his dad had agreed to go out on a dinner, and I wanted them to be together as they celebrated him and his dad’s remission. They got the results back this evening and it felt like it fit together.

But now that I felt like there was a hand wrapped tightly around my throat that made breathing painful, I was even more glad I hadn’t gone.

As my eyes focused back on the moon, I couldn’t help but feel confused.

Usually, I was able to spot the signs or even feel them creeping up the cracks before it made me feel like my entire world was about to be tilted on its axis… but today, it had been a happy day. I don’t think I had smiled this much in a long time,and having that feeling settle in my bones only made me terrified of what was about to happen.

I had tried to fix it, tried to soothe it but as I felt my ears burn up, the chill of the air making it more evident, I knew I had failed.

“Hey,” A voice called out, making me jump.

Turning my head, I spotted Oliver standing in the doorway with a frown. Though, the way his happiness was radiating off of him, I could tell it was at my expense and not his night.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I tried my best to make sure my mood didn’t reflect in my voice as I replied. “Hey.”

“Why are you sitting out in the cold?”

I took a deep breath. “I needed some air.”

He stared at me for a beat, before he nodded and turned around.

A minute later, he returned with the throw blanket I got for their couch when I first moved in and walked over to where I was.