Page 6 of Carnal Games

In the end, I was only attaching myself to a fantasy that’ll never come true. My path and Mr. Severe’s will never cross in this lifetime. The fact it did now, albeit from afar, was a stroke of luck. If there’s one thing I know with certainty, it is that luck doesn’t last forever.

“That person must’ve meant a lot to you if you’re so torn.” Looking at me sideways, he curiously asks, “Who was it? Someone special? A boyfriend?”

Our turn comes, saving me from answering immediately. We both dump my collection of snacks that could feed a small army on the counter, and the cashier, who gives me a small smile since he’s known me for years due to being a regular customer, does his job. I choose the reprieve to contemplate whether to confess the whole crazy truth to my companion.

Don’t they say strangers make the best unbiased advisors?

Hmm, I think it’s the opposite.

However, given the choice to make a fool out of myself in front of someone I know or a complete stranger, the latter is obviously a safer one.

“What? No lemon-flavored Lays today?” asks Sahil, the cashier, teasingly.

“I grew bored,” I reply. Sahil shakes his head with a low laugh, now familiar with my alternating tastes. Before he can finish ringing me up, I turn to my silent helper, and offer, “Did you want anything? You can add it to my tab.”

“It’s okay. I already bought it.”

Nodding, I pay for my stuff with the online payment app after scanning the QR code. Long gone are the days of cash payment. I can’t even recall the last time I held cash in my hands.

“Well, there you go,” says Sahil, handing me the two bags filled to the brim.

My pretty stranger grabs one from my hand and when I try to protest, he says, “I got it.”

Just as we step outside of the shop, neither of us go our separate ways. Instead, we walk on the sidewalk and smoothly fall back into our earlier conversation.

“So, who was it?” he asks, peering down at me.

I take a deep breath and bite the bullet. “Do you want the full uncensored version?”

“Absolutely.”

“And promise not to send me to an asylum?”

His lips twitch and he lays his hand on his chest, right over his heart. “You have my word.”

I take a deep breath before rapidly blurting out, “I’ve become obsessed with a guy ever since the first time I saw him and since then, I’ve been following and watching him for the past week.”

I expect him to go whoa… Instead, he looks at me over a pregnant pause, and goes, “Hmmm.”

“Hmm?” I scoff. “That’s your reaction?”

He laughs and replies, “Trust me, that’s not the craziest thing I’ve heard.”

“Oh yeah?” I challenge. “What could be crazier than this?”

“My best friend’s fiancée set his car on fire while he was only two feet away.”

I gasp, horrified. “You’re kidding.”

“I saw it happen in front of my own eyes,” he swears.

“Is your best friend okay?”

“He’s fine, just a few scratches,” he reassures before shrugging. “Honestly, he had it coming.”

“Why?” I frown in bewilderment, instantly feeling bad for the guy. “What could he have possibly done to deserve it?”

“She loves to read and he burned her favorite book.”

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