Page 64 of Let Me Win You

The bundle held a slim vial of burgundy-colored liquid, and the duck had a leather strap wound twice around its neck like a bejeweled collar. It was set with metal gears and pale blue stones.

“Here is the ice.” Gul stomped back into the living room, holding a bag of ice wrapped in a kitchen towel. “Why are you not laying down like I told you?”

Grabbing the duck from the floor, I backed away from him to the open patio doors. As it turned out, I didn’t need to cross the field to be free. I just needed a few seconds to drink the potion.

“Nicole?” He noticed the vial in my hand. “What is it?”

I pulled the cork out with my teeth while backing further away.

Understanding spread on his face.

“No, please, dumpling, don’t leave…”

“Sorry.” Gripping the duck under my arm, I brought the open vial to my lips with the other hand. “I’m so sorry, Gul, but you can’t hold me. I need to go.”

Seeing his crestfallen expression, I forgave him instantly for everything he ever did to me. We could never be lovers. But maybe under different circumstances, we could’ve been good friends.

“I can’t stay.” I emptied the vial with the potion in one gulp.

19

Nicole

The buzzing sound of the alarm pierced my sleep. I had been dreaming, hadn’t I? It was an interesting dream. Fun, sweet, but also a little scary…

With my eyes still closed, I searched with my hand on the nightstand for my phone, then shut the annoying alarm off.

I had an hour to get ready and make it to the studio for the final round of the cake decorating challenge.

And then, I remembered…

I sat up in bed, blankly staring at the wall in my hotel room.

Gul, his house, and Purgatory were all gone.

The duck with the fancy collar was gone too.

And so was Invi.

I was back in my world, just like I had wanted. Despite losing the race, Invi had still found a way to fulfill his promise to me. I returned early enough to make it to the challenge on time. I didn’t let Jess down. Nothing was ruined. We still had our chance.

Yet I got out of bed with a heavy heart.

I got dressed and made my way through the gray, late-autumn morning to the TV studio, then walked backstage where Jess already waited for me.

“Have you seen Geoff?” she asked in lieu of greeting.

“No. Why? He isn’t here?”

“No,” she groaned in distress. “I can’t find him, and I can’t get hold of him. He isn’t answering his phone.”

“Maybe he’s just running late?”

“Without even a call to warn us?” She threw her hands up in the air. “Ughh, I knew I shouldn’t have hired him. He’s way overqualified for this job. But he was so funny and charming. We clicked so well, and I thought…” She just stood there, dropping her shoulders in disappointment. “I thought it’d be a joy to work with someone like him.”

“I’m sure there is an explanation. Maybe he just slept in, forgot his phone, and is on the way here already?” I made up excuses for Geoff at lightning speed for no reason other than to comfort Jess.

“But we have no time to wait for him.” She sighed. “And the team needs to have three people or we’ll be disqualified.”

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