Page 20 of Dangerous Play

“Me too,” she whispered.

I nodded, and dropping my foot from the door pocket, I started the car. As the engine roared up, I turned to her and extended my hand. “I think we should shake hands. To seal the deal.”

“We met in July on the half marathon, texted through the summer and now are exclusive. No kissing in private and full display of PDA,” Ivy recited as she wrapped her small fingers around my hand, and we shook on it.

“Happy to do business with you.”

“You still haven’t told me your reasons,” she said as she dropped my hand, and I replaced her warmth with my sticky steering wheel.

“There are still many things we haven’t discussed,” I diverted, knowing full well I was going to have to get into the full Thalia story, but not wanting to ruin the mood. “But let’s start with food.”

“Food sounds good.” She nodded, her eyes glued to the road. “I think I should know more about you and your soccer… like when did you start playing? What’s your goal… things like everyone knows. That’s more important than your favorite color.”

“Green,” I replied without thinking. “Like the freshly cut grass. That’s also my favorite smell.”

She smiled. “Mine is yellow… like goldish yellow. And my favorite smell is… the smell of sea. Like the salty air. Or freshly baked cookies, could bottle that up… but they only make seawater scented candles, not cookie ones.”

I grinned, reminding myself to look for a freshly baked cookie candle for her. It would make a cool gift.

“Am I supposed to bring you flowers and gifts and shower you with attention?” I asked uncertainly. I did the whole balloons, roses, gifts and dinner dates with Thalia, and it wasstressful finding the right thing she wanted. Whenever I messed up, she was a bitch to me.

“Gosh no. That’s okay… not even Ander did those things. I don’t need that. Just the public display is enough.”

My chest felt a weird tightness from her words. She deserved to be showered with flowers and gifts.

“Guess your love language is act of service and words of affirmation,” I muttered to myself.

“What’s that?”

“Sorry… just came out. Not trying to analyze you. But sometimes I can’t help it.”

“What’s your love language?” she asked. “And what are love languages?”

“Words of affirmation, gifts, quality time, act of service, and physical touch. Like everyone has a different way of expressing and interpreting love. For example, if I express love with quality time, but you interpret love with gifts, we would have a problem in our relationship because you would think I don’t love you. That’s why many relationships get literally lost in translation.”

Ivy was silent for a moment. “I do appreciate compliments, but as for act of service…” Her gaze travelled to my face and I felt it scorching my skin. “I don’t know. Nobody has done anything nice for me really… just you.”

The bar was set pretty low for me to be an amazing fake boyfriend. It should have excited me; I was going to play at the World Cup and win best fake boyfriend of the year award with minimal effort.

Yet, the thought of someone being dismissive over her angered me. I didn’t understand how could someone not like her. I could see myself being friends with her.

“Noted,” I croaked out, my voice hoarse.

“What are yours?” she asked, curiosity coloring her voice. “Let me try and guess.”

I chuckled. “Give it a shot.”

“Hmmm… you sounded very dismissive over gifts and you don’t look like words of affirmation would mean so much to you, otherwise your ego would be already inflated.”

I tried not to laugh at her assessment. “My ego is doing just fine.”

“Exactly. Probably quality time. Since you are always so busy with soccer, you making time for someone is already a big thing, instead of you watching soccer in your free time.”

“Great way to make me sound like a soccer-obsessed jock.”

“Bet you were a jock in high school,” she muttered. “You are now.”

“Actually, no.” Ivy side-eyed me. “I’m not that tall, so I was teased a lot over being short. I actually sucked at soccer and everyone told me I couldn’t make it. Joke’s on them now.”

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