Romans & histoires Playing For Keeps Series

"Pim! Pim!! Pim!!!" The phone beeped indicating a message. I clicked it and it read "Be ready, the game begins in 5 minutes." Immediately I read that my heart skipped and literally stopped beating for a few seconds and it took me seconds to regain myself. My lids patted, I let out a huge sigh as I prepared for the worst with confidence. The game; Can you keep a secret? Appeared on the screen.

Lily excitedly snuggled into my arms, and Kael shifted even closer. Now I was truly sandwiched. A clingy little sister on my left, a possessive musician on my right, and a grumpy uncle on the floor ready for "guard duty" at a moment's notice. What was this, a horror game sitcom? The ghost version of Full House? On the sixth day, there were only three players left. Me, Ethan, and Chloe. 【GAME ALERT: Player Tom has been eliminated.】 【TIME REMAINING: 4 Days】

More jewels and gowns than I could count. Every night he needed me, I’d put on whatever lacy thing he picked out. We’d have sex. Five years. 999 times. There were moments—his sweat dripping on my forehead, his soft breaths inside me, the way he’d look at me—when I let myself dream he loved me. Then the video dropped. Him. On the street. Kissing another woman. I knew the truth. He was my keeper, not my lover. Everyone laughed. They couldn't wait to see me lose my mind, begging him to keep me.

Stephan, my assistant in overseeing the club's operations, was beside me, his normally stoic expression giving way to a subtle vulnerability as he stared at something on his phone. Curiosity piqued, I couldn't help but glance in his direction. I walked to his side but he didn’t notice me coming. A picture of a baby girl adorned the screen, a child with the same captivating blue eyes as Stephan. His gaze was filled with a mix of longing and sorrow as he gazed upon the image. It was a sight so out of place within the dimly lit storage area, it begged a question. "Is that your daughter?" I asked quietly, not wanting to intrude. He was startled and he didn’t know when I got to where he was stand

he asked. Chloe smiled at him, "I'm fine" she replied. "And I'm sorry about that. Work has been taking a lot of my time" Darrell Collins gave her another squeeze. "I understand dear. It's been the same with Peter, but I'm happy you are all here" “Where’s Bryce ?” she asked. “Where he always is whenever he comes over . Parked in front of the big screen, watching baseball.” Chloe slipped past Darrell while he greeted his sons and entered the house. When she got to the living room, she saw Bryce sprawled in the recliner, remote in hand as he flipped through footage of past baseball games.

She asks while looking up at her mother. Kesa replies while stroking her hair,”I’ve been in the study. This is Mr Mason, he’s going to be your new caretaker and he’ll help around in the house.” “Hello Mr Mason, I’m Debbie. Nice to meet you.” Debbie says to Mason. “Nice to meet you too” Mason replies with a smile on his face. Debbie leaves the room to go play. “Your duties will be explained to you. I expect that you pay attention to details”, Kesa said while turning to face him.

Finn stared at the outstretched hand, looking from the library aisle and the safety of his solitude toward the door where the world, his mom, and the gossip were waiting for him. Taking a deep breath, he adjusted his glasses and reached out. His hand felt smaller in mine, though his grip was tentative but firm. "Three months," Finn agreed, his voice shaking slightly. "But if you make me go to a football game, I'm breaking up with you." A grin broke across my face while closing my fingers around his, sealing the deal completely. "Deal," I declared. "Now, come on. We have a party to crash."

She just stares — wide-eyed, uncertain — as if she already knows the truth. I step closer, close enough to smell the rain in her hair. Close enough to whisper, if I wanted to. But I don't. Not yet. Tonight, the game has only just begun. ——— ALIE My heart is still hammering when they're gone, their drunken laughter fading into the storm. The alley feels emptier without them — but not safer. Because now he's here. The man who stepped out of the shadows.

"Come on dude, we should celebrate and you should forget about that fancy debutante of yours. You know I smell trouble the first time mom tried to introduce you to her. She looked too happy." My younger brother Winston kept on nagging me, to come to Players tonight. I was actually looking forward to relaxing and drown myself in pity. "Okay...Winnie, but just for a couple of hours okay? I got to go to the beach house tomorrow and air out the house. I need to start my training for my next championship." I said as I start getting my fresh shirt from the walk-in closet.

One drunk night with my best friend's brother, Eddie Sutton, and I became his secret girlfriend. Eight years later, my family finally snapped. They gave me a deadline and lined up a guy for me to marry. "Eddie, my family gave me a deadline. I have to get married this year." He went quiet, then kissed my forehead. Same old answer. "Just wait a little longer." Not long after, I found a post from his intern, Gina Yapp. The photo was of her and Eddie's marriage license. Caption: [CEO secured.] What I couldn't get in eight years, she got in three months. I swallowed the bitterness and hit Like. Then I commented: [Congrats. Wishing you both a happy life.] After that, I accepted the w