Page 23 of The Game She Hates

“What do you read?” I notice Robyn checking her phone, giving us some space to chat.

“I read it all. Fiction, nonfiction, textbooks,” Pearl answers with a laugh.

“I think the last time I read was in high school for homework,” I admit, expecting her to poke fun at me.

“Reading is a great escape for me. It’s like traveling without spending a dime. But I guess you already travel a lot for games and stuff.”

“Yeah, we do travel, but it’s nothing like going on a vacation. We’re only there for the game.”

Her phone rings, and Pearl looks at me apologetically. It’s the first time her phone has interrupted our conversation, and I don’t mind her taking the call. It’s probably important. I nod at her, signaling that she should answer.

Before she picks up, Pearl glances at Robyn, showing her the caller ID. Robyn’s expression changes, and I can tell they both recognize the significance of this interruption.

Sensing that they might need a moment to talk privately, I decide to give them some space. “Excuse me,” I say with a slight smile. “I’ll use the restroom real quick.”

I walk around the corner toward the restroom area, following the hallway that seems to lead toward the kitchen. The air is filled with the delightful scents of fine wine and freshly baked bread. Elegant chandeliers cast a soft light overhead, and I catch a glimpse of a vintage clock hanging on the wall, its hands ticking away steadily.

I stand by the restroom entrance and keep glancing at the clock.

Several restroom acceptable minutes pass and I’m about to peek around the corner to see if Pearl is done, when I inadvertently overhear Robyn’s voice echoing from our table.

I pause, caught between the desire not to eavesdrop and my genuine curiosity about Pearl’s difficulty in saying no to certain people—something she hasn’t struggled with when it comes to me.

“You have got to learn to say no sometimes, P. If you don’t want to be there, why force yourself, especially if they told you at the last minute?”

“How are you encouraging this? You’re the one who urged me to go back to church and stop wallowing in my pain,” Pearl’s voice echoes. “And Lydia thinks it looks bad that two bridesmaids are missing.”

“But you’re over Duke, aren’t you? It’s not the same as missing church because you were heartbroken. We’re out and having a good time with our friend, Zane Ortiz.”

“You just met him. We’ve known Kate for years, and we’re bridesmaids.”

My heart sinks at the mention of Duke and a broken heart. Frozen in place, I wrestle with the dilemma of having overheard something I shouldn’t have. Should I let them see me and let Pearl wonder if I heard about Duke breaking her heart? Or should I stay hidden, count to ten, and then return?

Deciding to stay put, I take a deep breath and quietly count to regain composure. After a moment, I turn and make my way back toward our table.

I clear my throat lightly to signal my return. The air around the table feels charged with the weight of what I had overheard, and I struggle to find the right words to break the tension.

“Everything okay?” I ask.

Pearl looks up, her expression full of concern. Robyn’s gaze meets mine briefly before she shifts her focus back to Pearl.

“You remember the couple that invited me to their engagement party?” Pearl begins, her tone slightly hesitant.

“Of course. That’s kind of hard to forget,” I reply, carefully avoiding mentioning Kate’s and Duke’s names after overhearing their conversation.

“Robyn and I are bridesmaids, and another bridesmaid called us asking us to come to the party for a few minutes. And, honestly, she has a point. We should be there.”

“So, I take it you and the bride are close?” I ask.

Robyn shakes her head immediately, but Pearl nods. “We’ve been attending the same church for a while. We’ve done small groups together and led the youth. I wouldn’t call her a best friend, but we’re definitely friends.”

“Of course you wouldn’t. That seat is already taken,” Robyn says with a mischievous smirk, pointing to herself.

The smile Pearl gives Robyn is one for the books. I can only hope to receive such a genuine smile from her someday.

“I can come with you if you want. It’s my recovery day,” I offer.

Pearl furrows her brow in confusion. “Why would you subject yourself to another fan attack?”

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