Page 47 of Protect

I wait as I see three little dots pop up, then disappear, then pop up again.

Rowan

Holy fuck I can’t believe you agreed. Deal.

You still have to win, you know that right?

Rowan

Yep. I pick the game.

Agreed.

I wait a few minutes, trying to picture his face as he thinks really hard about what he could possibly beat me in.

I laugh out loud when a request to join him in a game of Wordbubbles comes through. It’s a game where you have to spellwords with your available letters over different colored bubbles that give you points based on their color. First to 250 wins.

Seriously? Word games are my jam. I’m going to wipe the floor with you.

Rowan

I guess we’ll see.

The first word comes through from him.GLOWING.

I quickly scan my letters and spell the only word I can. HOLD.

A few seconds goes by, and his second word pops up.PAST.

I add my next word. FIRST.

I’m sure I look like an idiot sitting here staring at my phone when his next word comes through.STRONG.

I smile, slapping a word in, when more letters generate. SAFE.

He retaliates a few seconds later with:LOVING.

I feel the blush creep up my neck. I shift a little in my seat.

I check my board, and grin, firing back with: HOT.

I wait with bated breath.

EYES.

I feel heat creep up my throat as his next words continue to filter through.

I’m convinced that he’s definitely got to be cheating somehow.BEAUTY.

I send back a real banger. BLUE, but it’s a double point word.

When the next word comes through, I feel that last little thread of control I was holding onto begin to slip right through my fingers.

GRACE.

I shamelessly smile down at my phone like a lovesick teen and send him back: HANDS

I wait what feels like minutes for him to enter his next word, I’m just about to text him to see if he fell asleep when it pops up.

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