Page 156 of The Counterfeit Lover

"I don't think I told you," he smiles sadly, his voice semi-drowned by the music all around us. "But everything I did to better myself was for you. For the promise I made you before I escaped," he pauses, giving me an odd look. "I promised I'd come back for you, and I promised myself I'd take revenge on my brother for everything he's done to me. It seems I failed at both, didn't I…"

"Don't," I quickly shake my head. "Don't go there. I don't want you to beat yourself over that. And if you want to do something for me, then…love me. Just love me, Raf, and never leave me."

"Never," he murmurs before giving me a quick kiss. "Now let's have some fun. We didn't come here to sit on the couch," he chuckles, helping me up and leading me to where some people are busy playing beer pong.

Now,that, I've seen in movies. And as soon as we get closer, I get curious about it.

"Can we try?"

He gives me a nod, and as soon as the people currently playing finish, he reserves the spot for us.

"You'll get so drunk tonight, pretty girl," he teases me, pointing to the newly filled cups with beer.

"Oryouwill get smashed tonight, dear husband," I taunt right back, settling on my side of the table and stretching in an attempt to show him how serious I am about this.

He shakes his head, smiling. Picking up the ping pong ball, he hands it to me, signaling to start.

A smile probes at my lips as I decide to play with him a little.

In the beginning, I miss all the glasses on purpose, which prompts a shameless grin on his face.

In fact, slowly, people gather around us, cheering us on despite not knowing either of us. A few girls gather behind me while some guys are behind Raf. Suddenly, this seems to have turned into a battle of the sexes.

He smirks as he takes down another one of my cups and I'm forced to drink.

So far, I've lost three cups while he lost none.

Not for long.

Rolling my shoulders, I give him a look that saysthe war is onbefore I pick up the ball, flexing my elbow and throwing it into a cup—right on target.

Raf blinks in surprise before winking at me, all the while picking up the glass to drink and washing the ball in one of the water containers by the side.

He looks so cool and poised, the girls behind me are already swooning about him, their whispers reaching my ears. For a moment, I feel a low current of jealousy pass through my body. But I soon squash it as I sweetly turn to them.

"My husband thinks I can't win this just because I'm a girl. But I think the verdict is still to be determined."

My words work perfectly as they convey our connection and they also enlist some of the girls on my side, cheering me on and wishing for me to win to prove him wrong.

I'm quite surprised at the turn of events and the fact that they back off immediately, instead only gushing about my handsome husband and how lucky I am to have him.

Jealousy soon forgotten, I actually start having fun.

One after another, I sink the ball in Raf's cups while he misses every now and then.

Giving me a look, he chugs the last of his cup before he sets about his turn.

We're both down to two cups now, so the battle is tight.

"If I win," Raf speaks, his voice loud enough to be heard by everyone. "I get to choose the next show we watch," he smiles evilly when he sees me blink at him.

Pursing my lips, I see what he's trying to do.

For a few days now he's been bugging about a new show he'd wanted to watch—one I'd declared a little too cheesy. I'd kept talking him out of it, but it seems he has his hidden weapons.

"Fine," I nod, keeping my head high. "But ifIwin," I pause for the dramatic effect, all the while keeping the eye contact, "we're watching the showIwant to watch."

Not that I have one in mind, or anything that he could do for me that he isn't already doing. But I can't not issue a challenge of my own, especially seeing how many people are awaiting to see the winner of the game.

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