Page 9 of The Secret Play

“You don’t need to overthink this, you know,” she said, breaking the silence. Her tone was light, but there was a firmness to it, like she’d read my mind. “You don’t need to take my number or promise to call or anything like that.”

I frowned, sitting up straighter. “I wasn’t—” I stopped, realizing I had no idea how to finish that sentence.

She smiled faintly, her mask still hiding most of her expression but not the warmth in her voice. “It’s okay, Red. We had a good time. Or, at least, I did. So?—”

“I did, too.” The best time ever, but I didn’t want to commit to anything by saying that.

“Then, let’s leave it at that.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure,” she said. “There’s no point in complicating things. It doesn’t need to be more than that, right? Making hollow promises to call each other won’t do either of us any favors. Besides, I’m moving out of state in two days. Well, one and a half now.”

My chest tightened, though I wasn’t sure why. “Where are you going?”

She hesitated, then shook her head. “Does it matter?”

I didn’t answer. It felt like it should matter, but she was right. It was better this way.

She walked toward the door and gathered my clothes where she’d torn them off of me. “Here you go.”

I dressed, regretting not having taken control of the situation. I finished the buttons on my shirt. “I’m used to being the one taking charge, maneuvering through things, planning everything. It’s part of my job. I’m the?—”

She pressed a finger to my lips. “No details. We are two people who shared a night of mutual attraction. Let’s not pretend it’s anything other than that by getting to know each other. I’d rather keep expectations to a minimum. Wouldn’t you?”

“I agree.” It was the right thing to do but part of me didn’t want to let her go. I wanted more of her, again and again. This had been the best sex I’d ever had. I’d been in love, for God’s sake. How had I never had sex this good before? But I hadn’t, and I wanted…well, I didn’t know what I wanted.

But it was clear she was done with me.Must be a Gen Z thing.

“Let me walk you to the door.” She hooked her arm in mine and escorted me to the entry.

I wasn't about to let it end here.

Not like this.

I moved in closer and pinned her against the wall. She caught her breath and I felt my cock fill with blood.

“This is so you don't forget me,” I said, kissing her like I've never goddamn kissed anyone. I could have tasted her forever but I ripped my mouth away from hers and glanced intensely into her eyes, burning my soul onto hers.

“Take care of yourself, Red,” she said with a flirtatious tone, opening the door. Then, as I stepped through the doorway, she added, “And go to Italy one day. I promise, you won’t regret it.”

And just like that, the door closed and she was gone.

I stood there for a few moments, my thoughts a jumble of emotions I didn’t know how to untangle.

Part of me felt like I should’ve stopped her, should’ve asked for her name, her number—something. But the other part of me—the part that had been too drawn to her to think straight all night—understood why she hadn’t let me.

She was leaving, or so she said. Whatever the case, she didn’t want strings. And maybe, just this once, I didn’t either.

And she was probably half my age.

Still, I couldn’t stop myself from wondering more about Blue. Who the hell was she? And would I ever see her again?

Chapter 4

Gemma - 5 Years Later

The humid Atlanta air clung to my skin as I watched the moving truck pull away from my new house.

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