Page 56 of Game On
Time fucking drags.
I check my phone every few minutes, but no new messages pop up. My food plan, which seemed clever an hour or so ago, now feels more like a setup for a letdown. I’m halfway through another episode, laughing mechanically at a punchline I didn’t catch, when there’s finally a knock.
I bolt upright, heart hammering. I mute the TV and hurry to the door, swinging it open.
And there she is. Ella, standing in the hallway, hands on her hips, dressed in pajamas—a pair of loose cotton pants and a matching shirt that looks sexy in an effortless sort of way. Her dark hair is pulled back with a loose clip, a few strands framing her face in the soft hallway light. It’s a nice change from her usual put-together self.
My grin slowly spreads as I take her in. But then I remember my grand plan—the food delivery, the conversation starter. I look down the empty hallway behind her, then back at her.
“Wait, where’s my food?” I blurt out, my tone a mix of mock accusation and genuine confusion.
Her brows shoot up, and then she bursts into laughter. “Yourfood? Oh, you mean the feast you sent to my room?” She steps inside, pushing past me lightly. “Let’s just say it was well received. Sammy and Gabi send their thanks. They were starving, and it seems you ordered enough to feed an entire squad.”
I close the door and lean against it, chuckling. “So, you came down here just to thank me?”
She crosses the room and sits at the edge of the bed. “Partly. And partly to find out why you’d send a small banquet to my room without even a text heads-up.”
I join her. “Honestly? I thought it might … I don’t know, coax you out. Give us a chance to talk. Just the two of us.”
Her gaze fixes on me. “So, it was all just a bribe?”
“I mean, I thought you might bring me some,” I say with a sheepish grin. “At the very least.”
“Hudson.”
I sigh. “Fine, I’ll come right out with it. Take a page out of your book for once.”
She waves a hand, urging me on.
“Look, I know I said that we should be friends.”
Her expression hardens. “Right. A truce of sorts.”
“Well, I’ve reassessed,” I tell her. “Maybe a truce isn’t enough.”
“No?”
I inch closer, my voice lowering just enough. “I can’t stop thinking about you, Ella. About that night. The way you felt, the way you looked … I haven’t been able to shake it. I’ve tried, but it’s impossible. I’m drawn to you in a way I can’t explain.”
“Drawn to me?” she says, visibly flustered, her cheeks flushing despite her attempt to stay composed.
“We both know a real relationship between us could be catastrophic. We’re … fire and ice, aren’t we? And I have a lot of shit to focus on right now. So do you. But letting off somesteam, playing into the obvious chemistry, might be the best option for us. No strings attached.”
“Oh my God.” She abruptly stands, arms folded tightly across her chest. “Thank you for the fuck-buddy proposal, but I’ll pass.”
The sudden shift catches me off guard. Her body language is defensive and her gaze cools into something I can’t quite read. I fumble, my mind racing to catch up.
Is this because she wanted something else? Something more?
Panic spins a tight coil in my gut. It’s not entirely surprising that I’ve messed this whole thing up. My brain circles back to all our past interactions, all the moments she might have been looking for something deeper.
“I’m sorry, El,” I say earnestly. “I didn’t realize you wanted more.”
Her eyes narrow. “Oh, don’t flatter yourself. I’m not looking for a relationship. Not with you, not with anyone.”
Well, fuck.“I’m … confused.”
“What else is new?”
